SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF INFORMAL LEADERSHIP TYPES IN PROFESSIONAL TEAM SPORTS

Abstract

This article investigates the socio-psychological nature of the informal leadership phenomenon and its systemic classification in professional team sports (football, basketball, volleyball). The study analyzes the internal dynamics of sports teams, inter-microgroup relations, and the mechanisms through which informal leaders influence collective cohesion. Utilizing sociometric and psychological testing, five primary types of informal leaders among professional athletes were identified and characterized based on their socio-psychological traits: constructive, destructive, emotional, professional, and situational. Furthermore, the paper examines the distribution of roles between the formal captain and hidden leaders, as well as the impact of this balance on game performance. Based on the findings, practical recommendations have been developed for coaches and sports psychologists to foster a healthy psychological climate within sports teams and neutralize the negative (destructive) impact of informal leaders.