oint where your team needs to turn it around, who does your team look to?
If there is drama happening in the locker room before, during or after the game, who can the coaching staff depend on when they are not around?
These unique leaders take pride in their team’s culture and do everything they can to enhance, protect, and preserve it.
If someone spazzes out in a huddle or locker room in a way that is outside of what is considered appropriate, the culture leaders will step in and set the person straight. They quickly confront those who do not act in a way that is aligned with the team’s vision, values, and standards.
In addition, sometimes the culture leader will contribute more to their team’s success with their leadership than they do with their individual physical talent.
Combining the above with your physical ability is a win-win for everyone.
Be A Social Leader
You know the guy that gets everyone laughing after a blow out loss.
Or the girl who arranges an ice-breaking social event between the lower and upperclassmen athletes on the team.
Now there’s a good and bad side to being a social leader.
While they are known to be the popular and funny individual who helps vastly improve team chemistry with social events or building strong relationships with the different mini-groups within your team, the social leaders are also known to make your team’s social life THE priority.
It’s cool and all to get along and have a good time at the parties they plan and host, but not at the detriment of your school team’s success and reputation.
Because after all, we all know or have heard about THOSE schools, right?
High School Athlete Leadership
In summary, we all know the importance of leadership whether in a huddle, in the locker room or outside of sports.
We also can understand it’s impact on team success and can recognize the characteristics when we see it.
There are a plethora of ways to lead, some of which include working the hardest, leading even as the most talented athlete, being a coach on the field of play, protecting your team’s culture and being the glue guy or girl socially.
The trick is to understand what leadership method best fits you and how you can utilize it to make an impact that counts.
Tell us in the comment section below, out of the 5 options presented above, what leadership method do you fit in? What other leadership methods have you used?
And if you are a high school student athlete, know of one or are a parent or teacher, sign up for our email newsletter by clicking here and you will get a free download of a sports specific workout co-created with the strength and conditioning coaches at Grunt Performance to help you dominate the sport you love playing.
We are committed to supporting and helping the next generation of student athletes be above their class both on and off the field of play.
-The Classlete Team