Psychological Safety in Division Two Soccer Teams in the Central Region of Ghana: Exploring the Impact of Transformational Leadership on Player Well-being and Performance

This research examines how transformational leadership affects psychological safety in soccer teams by emphasising its influence on players’ well-being and performance in Ghana. Soccer teams encounter various stresses and obstacles that impact the mental health of players and the overall dynamics of the team. Psychological safety is vital to team cohesion, trust, and individual efficacy. Transformational leadership, defined by its inspirational motivation, individualised attention, and intellectual stimulation, is proposed as a significant leadership style that could improve psychological safety in soccer teams. This study employed a qualitative research method with 30 participants, consisting of 20 players, five coaches, and five team managers from different soccer teams in Ghana. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were performed to understand the participants’ experiences and views regarding leadership behaviours and their effects on psychological safety and performance. The results indicate that transformational leadership favours player well-being by establishing trust, open dialogue, and support. Players expressed higher confidence, decreased anxiety, and increased motivation due to the practices associated with transformational leadership. Additionally, team managers and coaches observed enhancements in team cohesion and performance, which they credited to the psychological safety fostered by transformational leadership. The implications of these findings are extensive and indicate that soccer teams in Ghana could greatly gain from implementing transformational leadership to create a nurturing environment that boosts both player well-being and performance. This research adds to the expanding literature on leadership in sports, particularly in the context of African soccer, providing insights that can guide coaching practices and team management strategies in Ghana and other regions.