The effect of shared leadership on team commitment among young football players: The Konya example

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of shared leadership on team commitment among U-15 and U-19 football players in the Central Anatolia region. In addition, the study aims to adapt the Shared Leadership Scale for Young Athletes to Turkish culture. The study sample consists of 301 participants actively playing football in Konya Province, with a mean age of 15.627 years. Data were collected using a personal information form developed by the researchers, the Sport Commitment Scale, and the Shared Leadership Scale for Young Athletes. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software package and its extension, AMOS. The questionnaire forms collected from the participants were first transferred to a digital environment. Prior to the data analysis process, outlier and missing data analyses were conducted, and no outliers or missing data were detected. The skewness and kurtosis values were examined to check the distribution of the data. Upon confirming that the data were normally distributed, the fundamental tests assumed for scientific analyses were conducted. Subsequently, structural model tests were performed using the AMOS program. The findings revealed that the Shared Leadership Scale is valid and reliable for the Turkish culture and that shared leadership positively influences team commitment. In conclusion, shared leadership is a management model that not only enhances individual performance but also strengthens team culture and the sense of commitment. This form of leadership fosters mutual trust among athletes, encourages collective motivation toward team goals, and supports the achievement of sustainable success. Keywords: Football, Leadership, Shared Leadership, Team Commitment,.