Home Study Recreation Leadership Course
Become an effective Recreation Leader
Take the first step toward a career; or enhance your existing experience to work with any demographic group in the fielde of leisure leadership.
Course Structure
There are 7 lessons as follows:
1. Introduction to Leadership (nature, scope, styles, differentiation from management, supervision, planning etc).
AIM: Describe the nature and scope of Leadership.
2. Leadership Characteristics/Qualities.
AIM: Determine the qualities which are required in a leader, in different leadership situations, including the workplace, recreation industries and developmental applications.
3. Interpersonal Relationships.
AIM: Manage interpersonal relationships in support of effective leadership.
4. Communication Skills.
AIM: Communication leadership messages effectively to those you lead.
5. Team Building.
AIM: Explain methods that may be used for effective team building by a leader.
6. Systematic and Lateral Thinking.
AIM: Select appropriate thought processes to follow in order to deal with different leadership problems.
7. Applications.
AIM: lead teams through innovative and creative processes
What qualification will I achieve for completing this course?
This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.
If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.
If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.
If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.
There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.
Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.
You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.
You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.
Sample Notes from this course:
Leadership is important in society generally. Leaders are needed, and found in all aspects of our daily life, from the workplace to the school ground; and from the social club to government. When leadership is good, there is an increased probability of things being achieved with greater efficiency, and a higher level of satisfaction amongst all concerned.
Good leadership is however not something a person is born with. Certain personal traits, such as self confidence, may give some an advantage over others; but effective leadership requires more than simply a forceful personality that is capable of dominating everyone else.
A leader is not the same as a manager or supervisor. This is a key point to remember. Managers and supervisors are able to cause things to happen because they have legal authority to enforce orders. Leaders do not cause things to happen because of any legal authority.
People follow leaders of their own free will; and leadership skills are those skills that allow a leader to effectively communicate with, and influence the actions of their followers. Leaders are people who are in a position of power, and who use that position to influence the environment in which they abide, and the others who share that environment.
Leadership contributes to order, motivates productivity, and influences the way in which resources (human and material) are used.
Positive leadership enables things to happen. The leader in effect influences the environment in a way that encourages certain actions. Negative leadership disables things from happening.
Leaders have an affect upon the environment through different types of actions:
• By setting goals (eg. Time limits, production standards, budgets, etc)
• By determining values (eg. Levels of quality, ethical behaviour, reliability, etc)
• By establishing concepts (eg. Different ways of doing things, Project reviews, new management approaches)
In a recreational context good leadership encourages and inspires both staff and participants to extend their recreational experience whilst at the same time ensuring safety practices that limit personal risk.
QUALITIES OF A PROFESSIONAL LEADER
Not all leaders (in fact very few), are likely to have what might be all of the desirable qualities of a leader; however the following qualities are usually considered desirable in a leader:
1. A real interest in people. Leadership is a person to person business which requires a positive attitude about people from the leader.
2. Imagination and enthusiasm. Imagination allows the leader to adapt to situations which are continuously changing. Enthusiasm is contagious, and by injecting enthusiasm into the participants, the leader can increase the participants’ enjoyment and involvement in activities.
3. Sensitivity. Problems, disagreements, apathy, etc. all arise from time to time. The leader must be quick to sense these things if they are going to be stopped before they grow.
4. Honesty and Fairness. Without these things, the respect at least, of some of the participants is lost, and the leadership role can become ineffective.
5. Respect for ones self, and others. Self respect and self confidence are very important. Poor self respect does little to secure the participants is lost and the leadership role can become ineffective.
6. Patience and Persistence. Do not become discouraged. Some people you lead are quick to follow...some are impossibly slow.
7. Know your limitations. It is dangerous for a leader to try to do something s/he is not capable of - that will almost certainly dent the confidence of the participants.
8. Be able to make decisions. Often a poorer decision made quickly and acted on is better than a better decision which you take a long time to act on. People are often impatient. Do not delay decisions too long.
9. Be able to evaluate situations in their proper perspective.
10. Be able to organise, administer and plan. Even though these functions might sometimes be the job of someone other than the recreation leader; they are an integral part of the leader's job and the leader almost certainly will find him/her called to undertake these tasks at times.
Course Duration: 100 hours
More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses
Who are our tutors?
Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.
Sample Course Notes
Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.
What learning method should I choose?
We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”
How Long will it take to complete the course?
This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.
Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”
What Do Our Students think of us?
If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.
I don’t think this is the right course for me.
If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.
You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.
If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk
Recognition and Accreditation
For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.
Who is ACS Distance Education?
If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”
