emonstrate a high work ethic since their talent temporarily gets them by
Arguably, the best athlete already has a certain level of respect from the team because of their athletic skills. Their physical talent gives them an undeniable advantage to their teammates when it comes to leadership and provides them with an early platform from which to lead.
If you can combine your physical talent with effective leadership skills, you will become an imposing force on your team.
The end result of possessing the “Best Athlete/Best Leader” combo is a certain presence and respect that gets everyone on the team to listen to you and follow your lead. It translates to a team that trains hard and competes at a high level, #WINNING!
Be An Extension Of Your Coach On The Court/Field of Play
Athletes who echo their coach on the court or field of play are typically the most committed and competitive athletes on the team.
They commonly also have the most seniority and are upperclassmen because of the long term relationship they have built with their coach in understanding their philosophy, coaching style or cues.
They want to be the driving verbal force that won’t let standards slip. Through being an extension of their coach, they can often lead teams with ordinary talent to win championships.
Why don’t more athletes do this?
It may be because they lack confidence in their leadership skills. They don’t demand enough from their teammates because they worry too much about what others think of them.
This lack of leadership then puts all the burden on the coaching staff to continually set the tone rather than the athletes, who are in action, to step up and take responsibility.
By building some level of a relationship with your coach to understand his or her coaching philosophy may better enable you to be a vessel of reinforcement while huddled or in action with your teammates.
Be Protective of Your Team’s Culture
I cannot tell you how important this is and why it is constantly overlooked.
If you are mid-season and have reached a critical point 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, protect