Author Information
Reine Joshua L. Cruz, National University, PhilippinesMariano Thomas S. Ramirez, De La Salle University – Dasmariñas, Philippines
Abstract
This study examined athletic leadership development programs at National University (NU), evaluating implementation, effectiveness, challenges, and improvement opportunities. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research collected quantitative and qualitative data via questionnaires and interviews with varsity athletes. Four guiding questions framed the inquiry: which leadership programs are implemented; what leadership roles and skills are developed; what challenges athletes encounter; and what improvements are appropriate. Results indicate NU provides a comprehensive program emphasizing core competencies, communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution with communication most prominently stressed. Delivery methods combine group coaching, one-on-one mentoring, leadership workshops, and experiential learning such as team drills, aiming to build individual leadership capacity and strengthen team cohesion. Despite these strengths, participants reported implementation challenges. Athletes described difficulty balancing academic, athletic, and leadership commitments, leading to fatigue and stress. They also noted the program’s rigid scheduling, insufficient emotional and psychological support, and overly academic content that lacked practical application. To address these gaps, the study proposes the NU Athlete Leadership Development Program (NALDP), a four-year, cohort-based model that begins with emotional intelligence training and advances to strategic leadership development. NALDP integrates leadership camps, reflective journaling, scenario-based simulations, and continuous assessment through peer evaluations and leadership portfolios. Designed to be adaptive and experiential, the program aligns with athletes’ schedules and real-life contexts, fostering sustained leadership growth at both individual and team levels. Implementation of NALDP should include stakeholder consultation, flexible scheduling, and integrated mental health resources; pilot testing and iterative evaluation will ensure relevance, feasibility, and measurable impact on athlete leadership outcomes.
Paper Information
Conference: IICE2026Stream: Learning Experiences
This paper is part of the IICE2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Cruz R., & Ramirez M. (2026) An Evaluation of the Athlete Leadership Development Program at National University ISSN: 2189-1036 – The IAFOR International Conference on Education – Hawaii 2026 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 105-118) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2026.11
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-1036.2026.11
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