Dina Alexandra Marques Miragaia

This study aims to investigate the perception of trainers on official football courses regarding the development of leadership knowledge and competencies in coaches’ teaching learning process. Understanding the Union of European Football Association trainers’ perception of the importance and role of leadership knowledge and competencies in football is fundamental in order to raise the quality in preparing future coaches. A qualitative approach was adopted by conducting semi-structured interviews with Union of European Football Association trainers in Portugal. The data were subject to content analysis using NVivo software; the following three dimensions of leadership were observed: knowledge, training, and competencies. The results revealed that trainers recognise the importance of the three dimensions analysed, emphasising the relevance of leadership competencies in improving coaches’ interventions. The trainers also highlighted the need for coaches to develop effective communication skills, the capacity to make decisions under pressure, and interpersonal skills to lead football teams efficiently. In addition, they reinforced the importance of coaches’ continuous training, encouraging them to seek learning opportunities in this field of knowledge. They suggest that coaches must be able to adapt to different contexts and learn from practical experience. These results have practical implications for football coaches’ training and development, namely the need to reflect on current training programmes.

The COVID-19 crisis represented a major challenge in various social and economic sectors, and the sport context was no exception. Professional clubs had to deal with an intense organisational and operational environment, which is essential to apply their tangible and intangible assets to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage. This study aims to examine the role of entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation and learning orientation in the performance of professional football clubs. In light of the lens of the resource-based view and adopted a qualitative approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews during the pandemic period with stakeholders from five football clubs participating in professional competitions. The results show that entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation, and learning orientation influence sports clubs’ performance. This study is relevant for sports organisations as it identifies a set of assets that, when strategically managed, can increase organisational performance and generate and enhance their competitive advantage and sustainability. It shows a relation between organisational orientations, the resources implemented in clubs and their performance. Competition stimulated sports organisations to adapt, renew, reconfigure and re-create their resources and capabilities in tune with the environment. Furthermore, professional sports clubs try to follow strategies that improve their sports performance, adapting entrepreneurial orientation to developing new services, products and activities, accepting risks and being proactive. This study is relevant for sports organizations in general, as it identifies a set of assets that, when strategically managed, can increase organizational performance as well as generate and improve a competitive advantage.

Leadership has been studied as one of the main variables for football clubs’ good sporting performance. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the impact of football coaches’ official training on these coaches’ knowledge of leadership and competences. The sample includes 211 qualified Portuguese football coaches, irrespective of their level. A questionnaire was used, with 32 items divided in 4 dimensions: management/supervisory skills, organisational leadership, personal domain, and resource management. To validate the hypotheses, structural equation modelling (SEM-PLS) was used. The results indicate that training has a positive and statistically significant impact on leadership skills. A statistically significant effect of training on leadership knowledge was also found. Concerning the impact of training on leadership skills mediated by knowledge, there was no statistically significant impact. The results also show coaches’ positive self-perception of their leadership skills. However, recognising the need for more thorough training in the field of leadership, they are aware of the importance of continued professional development in the topic. As practical implications, the study suggests reflection on the pedagogical content and structure of the training process, whether formal or informal, of official football coach courses. El liderazgo ha sido estudiado como una de las principales variables para el buen rendimiento deportivo de los equipos de fútbol. Así, el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el impacto de la formación obtenida a través de la capacitación oficial de entrenadores de fútbol, en los conocimientos y habilidades de liderazgo de los respectivos entrenadores. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 211 entrenadores portugueses, titulados como entrenadores de fútbol, independientemente de su nivel formativo. Se utilizó un cuestionario con 32 ítems divididos en cuatro dimensiones: i) habilidades de gestión/supervisión, ii) liderazgo organizacional, iii) dominio personal y iv) gestión de recursos. Se utilizó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM-PLS) para validar las hipótesis. Los resultados indican que la formación tiene un impacto positivo y estadísticamente significativo en las competencias de liderazgo. También se pudo comprobar un efecto significativo de la formación sobre las competencias de liderazgo. En cuanto al impacto de la formación sobre las competencias de liderazgo mediadas por el conocimiento, se comprobó que no existe un impacto estadísticamente significativo. Los resultados también muestran una autopercepción positiva de los formadores respecto a sus competencias de liderazgo. Los entrenadores reconocen que es necesario seguir formándose en el ámbito del liderazgo, muestran ser conscientes de la importancia del desarrollo profesional y continuo en este tema. Como implicaciones prácticas, el estudio sugiere una reflexión sobre el contenido y la estructura pedagógica del proceso de formación, formal e informal, de los cursos oficiales para entrenadores de fútbol sobre este contenido. A liderança tem vindo a ser estudada com uma das principais variáveis para o bom desempenho desportivo dos clubes de futebol. Deste modo, o objetivo do presente estudo é o de analisar o impacto da formação obtida por via da formação oficial de treinadores de futebol, no conhecimento e competências de liderança dos respetivos treinadores. A amostra incluiu 211 treinadores portugueses, habilitados para a atividade de treinador de futebol, independente do grau. Foi utilizado um questionário com 32 itens divididos em 4 dimensões: competências de gestão/supervisão, liderança organizacional, domínio pessoal, e gestão de recursos. Para a validação das hipóteses foi utilizado um modelo de equações estruturais (SEM-PLS). Os resultados indicam que a formação tem um impacto positivo e estatisticamente significativo nas competências de liderança. Foi ainda possível verificar um efeito com significância estatística da formação nos conhecimentos de liderança. Já no que diz respeito ao impacto da formação nas competências de liderança mediada pelo conhecimento, constatou-se que não existe um impacto com significância estatística. Os resultados evidenciam ainda uma autoperceção positiva dos treinadores referente às suas competências de liderança. Ainda que reconheçam que exista a necessidade de formação mais aprofundada no âmbito da liderança, mostram a sua consciência sobre a importância para o desenvolvimento profissional e contínuo sobre este tema. Como implicações práticas, o estudo sugere uma reflexão sobre o conteúdo e estrutura pedagógica do processo formativo seja ele formal ou informal dos cursos oficiais de treinadores de futebol.

This study aims to analyse the efficiency of sports clubs belonging to the Academic Federation of University Sports and the influence the organisational structure holds over their performance standards. First, we included 92 clubs that registered points in the University Club. The analysis was carried out using the two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology to analyse their efficiency. Second, we analysed how strategy, stakeholder relations and funding issues influence organisational efficiency, through a semi-structured interview with the dually efficient club manager. The results show the relevance of analysing the efficiency of these non-profit and public sport organisations.