Introduction
Q1: How does Coach Knight approach player motivation and leading his team? What does this say about his view of players and people?
Coach Knight approached player motivation and leading his team by having a close approach to the players. Knight put emphasis and focus on the exercise and the talents of the players. He showed the talents of the players are great and important in the overall achievements of the team, in basketball. He approached player motivation through rewards and close association with the players. He spent most of his time eating with the players in order to understand their skills and talents, as well as potential grounds of improvement in the field. Knight says that the player motivation is dependent on the extent to which the players come back to appr6eciate the works of the coach because it will encourage him to put extra efforts in training to gain expertise and skills in the field.
Q2: What leadership behaviors and styles does Coach Knight Exhibit?
Coach Knight exhibits the participatory leadership style in the way he handles players. The coach allowed the players to participate in decision making pertaining to the field activities and practice. Knight also encouraged the decisions of the players in setting up the regulations and tactics of the game. He also encouraged full participation of the players and trainers in all matters concerning the Basketball in order to reduce the aspects of resistance among the employees. He demanded discipline from the players in all aspects relating to the team. The coach was also passionate and demanding in relation to the practice and activities of basketball. The demanding style helped in diverting the attention and efforts of the players in developing their talents and skills in Basketball. His positive and passionate attitude towards the performance of employees is very essential in promoting the success of the players in the field as well as achieving high performance in Basketball.
Q3: Is Coach Knight a good leader? Were his teams successful because of him or in spite of him?
Coach Knight is a good leader because he encouraged the participation of the players in all aspects of the game and practice. Coach Knight demanded respect from his team .This was a good quality of leadership in promoting the success of the players in Basketball. The aspects of hard work are also evident in the way Coach Knight carry out his tasks and responsibilities and training the players. Hard work is an important quality of leadership. The listening aspect is also a good quality of leadership shown by Coach Knight by the way he gives attention to his players while training them. He treated the players as his children in order to facilitate thorough training and careful attention in relation to the needs of the players. Coach Knight is a solution oriented person because he calls and meet the players after every win or loss of the game in order to initiate strategies of promoting success.
Q4: Would you play for Coach Knight? Why or why not?
I would play for Coach Knight because I like his approach of leadership and training in the field. His close attention on the needs of the players and the whole team in general makes me admire to play for coach Knight. His passion for the success also makes him a good coach and leader as far as basketball is concerned. His strict rules pertaining to discipline and behavior of the players is effective in facilitating the success of the players. Coach Knight is, therefore, a coach I would like to play for.
Comment:
Coach Knight displays a participatory leadership style in his field activities and training. His observance on discipline facilitated success in the teams that he coached. He led his team through participation and involving the players in the formulation of rules and implementation of such so as to reduce the aspects of resistance from the players.
