Off-Field Leadership: The Impact of Athletes' Developing Motivation Capacities on Success During the Training Process

This study systematically reveals how athletes' motivation is strengthened by off-field leadership support and the positive effects this has on success. In the world of sports, leadership is shaped not only by on-field performance but also by psychological and social factors off the field. This study aims to examine the impact of off-field leadership on the motivation capacities developed by athletes throughout their training process and the relationship between these capacities and success from a theoretical perspective. Although leadership in sports is mostly evaluated in the context of on-field performance, off-field leadership plays a decisive role in athletes' psychological development, identity construction, and long-term success. In this context, the research is structured around three main dimensions: the role of off-field leadership in the construction of athlete identity, the interaction between leadership and motivation in the training process, and the impact of psychological factors on success. The study was conducted within the framework of a qualitative research approach, and the multidimensional meaning of off-site leadership was theoretically analysed using phenomenological analysis methods. In this study, which is not based on field data, the analysis was conducted based on the relevant literature and theoretical framework. The findings reveal that athletes' motivational development is strengthened by leadership-based social support mechanisms and that this development contributes significantly to success. The original value of the study lies in its multidisciplinary perspective, which relates off-field leadership to motivational capacity and considers individual success not only in terms of physical performance but also in terms of psychological and social processes. In this respect, the study makes important contributions to the literature on sports education, leadership theories, and sports psychology.