November/December 2022 - 35

W
inning isn't everything - there are a number
of other advantages people of all ages can gain
from sports. One of those things is leadership,
especially for high school students who have yet to reach
their full potential.
At a Michigan High School Athletic Association clinic,
sports psychologist Scott Pierce and former athletic
director Scott Westfall, who works at the Institute for
the Study of Youth Sports, shared the four pillars of
leadership with the high school athletes in attendance.
With a little motivation, good communication, a focus on
positive peer modeling, and team cohesion, your athletes
can become leaders on the court and in the classroom.
1. Motivation
A leader's role revolves around motivation - motivation
to achieve team goals, improve various skills and become
better people.
It starts with training. Have your leaders promote the
basics: Working out, or running a few extra laps. Ask
them to push the team physically and motivate players
who see no benefit in strength training. Encourage your
leaders to focus on their education - after all, it's called
education-based athletics. Make good grades a priority
with your team.
Attitude is everything, especially in athletics.
When things go wrong or your team loses the big
game, look to your leaders to maintain a positive
attitude. And let your leaders have a management
role, especially when it comes to goal setting.
Goal setting is a multi-step process. Pierce
encourages captains to start with outcome goals
and work backward.
* Outcome goals: " Focus on a competitive
result of an event. " Whether it's to win the
championship or finish above .500, it needs to be
realistic.
* Performance goals: " Focus on achieving specific
standards of performance. " These goals should build
up and increase the chances of achieving the outcome
goal.
* Process goals: " Focus on the actions an
individual must engage in during performance
to execute or compete well. " These goals
are typically specific actions you can do in
practice to improve your
team's skills.
Once complete, ask your captains to share
the results with your team. Is everyone in
agreement? Implement and motivate, and
allow your captains to do the same.
2. Communication
" Be honest, positive, consistent,
empathetic, and respectful, " he said. " Be
sure to praise and criticize the behavior - not
the person. Never be sarcastic or demeaning. "
And remember to be an active listener.
COACHAD.COM 35
" Have good eye contact, " Westfall said. " Lean forward,
clasp your arms, nod and smile during the parts that
resonate with you. Show interest by paraphrasing what
you heard and ask follow-up questions. "
3. Positive Peer Modeling
" Captains are role models and everyone is watching, "
Pierce said. " Your teammates will watch you in games
and learn from the positive and negative consequences of
your performance. Your teammates will watch you behave
and act in practice and off the field and learn from the
positive and negative consequences of your actions. "
Encourage your captains to be good citizens,
compassionate, competitive, confident, encouraging
and motivating, hard-working, honest and trustworthy,
humble and modest, good listeners, and mediators.
If your captain is failing, your team will fail. If your
captain is late to practice, the team will accept it as the
norm. And if your captain isn't dedicated to the sport,
your team won't be either.
4. Team Cohesion
The goal is to be a tighter team. How can this be
accomplished?
Schedule team dinners, team
trips, and team campouts. Get
your team together outside of
school and sport, Westfall said.
Plan team fundraisers and
encourage your athletes to
work together toward a
common goal.
It's also
important to
participate in
community
service.
http://www.COACHAD.COM
November/December 2022

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