|
|
Post by toprowguy on May 16, 2007 17:32:58 GMT -6
How do make leaders on your team or develop leaders???
Is it possible???
Are leaders born or are they developed???
|
|
|
|
Post by brophy on May 16, 2007 18:00:51 GMT -6
1) you have to TEACH what a leader is (and is not)
2) you have to role model those qualities
3) you have to instill morals...integrity to do the RIGHT thing (the right thing is to lead) "a real man takes responsibility"
4) you have to mentor them, guide them along, help them see the opportunities to lead
5) you have to put them in positions to lead (put them in positions to be successful)
6) reward good decisions
7) teach the burden of leadership is to serve the good of the group
8) serving the good of the group is mentoring,encourage tomorrow's leaders.
|
|
|
|
Post by touchdowng on May 16, 2007 18:19:38 GMT -6
You need to teach them how to lead themselves first. If they can't lead themself to do the right things, they should not be placed in a leadership position. This is not to say that they have to be perfect (it's our job to work with them) but they shouldn't be leading others if they can't make good choices for themselves. If you allow this, the hidden message is that you don't value a true leader and the true meaning will be very mixed up.
Some kids will follow and some will lead. I think all people can be taught how to lead but some won't have the readiness while they are in high school.
You have to do the obvious; role model, be explicit with your expectations, create opportunties, allow for mistakes, spend time reflecting with the leaders what they have learned and what they will do the next time. Praise them in front of their teammates when the evidence of good leadership is apparent.
Leadership is a journey and the path isn't always the most popular path. This is the toughest aspect of leadership for students to accept. They have to have the courage to stand up for what is right and call out their teammates from time to time. If they walk their talk, they will have credibility. If not, nobody will listen.
We talk about "Leadership" all of the time because we want our players to be leaders in and around our school and community. It has to be a serious discussion that is revisted weekly or high school kids won't "get it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Coach Vint on May 16, 2007 18:26:52 GMT -6
Awesome! As coaches we must also set the example. Brophy hit the nail on the head, point by point! This is such a great topic because too many teams fall short of their potential because of a lack of leadership.
|
|
|
|
Post by fbdoc on May 16, 2007 19:28:32 GMT -6
Brophy's list is very good, and I would suspect the truly good coaches strive to do all of those... However, in my experience, there are kids who, while they are with us, simply don't have the skills or the ability to lead. Just as you wouldn't ask a kid to play QB if he didn't have the skill set, it is not fair to expect a young man to "Lead" if he simply can't (or isn't ready to). I had a group of seniors this past year that were leaders, but they were "negative" leaders. 5 years ago I had a group of seniors that were good kids with good work ethics, but not one was able to become a leader! Make sure as you are trying to develop leaders you keep an eye on those who will excel as well as those who are struggling and may need a different "position."
|
|
|
|
Post by brophy on May 16, 2007 20:00:06 GMT -6
Brophy's list is very good, and I would suspect the truly good coaches strive to do all of those... However, in my experience, there are kids who, while they are with us, simply don't have the skills or the ability to lead. Just as you wouldn't ask a kid to play QB if he didn't have the skill set, it is not fair to expect a young man to "Lead" if he simply can't (or isn't ready to). I had a group of seniors this past year that were leaders, but they were "negative" leaders. 5 years ago I had a group of seniors that were good kids with good work ethics, but not one was able to become a leader! Make sure as you are trying to develop leaders you keep an eye on those who will excel as well as those who are struggling and may need a different "position." those "alpha-dog" kids are GOING to be leaders...they are confident, maybe brash, aggressive... whether you sit them down or promote them, they ARE GOING TO TAKE THE REIGNS and lead kids (good or bad) Coaching is about control - Can you control the environment (directly or indirectly)? Just like a runaway truck down a hill - you can't stop it, but you can STEER it. You can steer it to prevent mowing down a bunch of 3rd graders....you could steer it toward an abandoned building and tear it down (something you would've done otherwise)... you could steer it into a lake....etc Keep pushing the kids to take leadership, let them TAKE IT, but influence (and manipulate) the momentum they are creating. You can't suppress a real leader, because it is not just actions...its attitude, a lifestyle of being the one calling the shots. Kids are clay -- its up to LEADERS to teach, mentor, coach them into MEN What would happen if that "street thug" kid that is always yapping (and influencing his peers) suddenly developed a strong moral conviction? Holy crap! Now you've got a dominant locker room and community presence... Character counts....and ultimately, thats what every great leader is founded on. However, if the kid isn't responsible, isn't reliable.....don't waste your time developing him one on one....but minimize his influence & control by undermining his attempts at leadership (not overtly, divide and conquer....marginalize his contribution). |
|
|
|
Post by briangilbert on May 16, 2007 22:51:02 GMT -6
I recently, 10 days ago talked to a JR (SS/WR) and a FR (LB) about vocal leadership. Both were starters and will be a SR and a SO respectively next season. We were 3-7 last season, and because of transfers and returning 9 on both sides of the ball expect a conference title and a playoff birth.
After a workout session I pulled them aside after and talked to them for 3-5 minutes about where they expect the program to go, and where they fit into our program. Long story short... they agreed that we are a title team, and since then... They have helped bring our workouts to the next level.
My point to your leaders would be this.
And I'm going to be real honest cause I've been at a school with more talent but less leadership, I hope your staff has coaches that can relate to players. Because if you can't you're in trouble. But if you do; you can use this to your advantage. When the kids believe in you, they will believe in themselves. We were 3-7 last year, and I believe we will be 7-3 at worst because the players and the coaches believe in what they can accomplish. Our workouts this season have has a sense of ergency because we have a SR heavy class.
If you have all of these factors working in your favor it's easy to produce a winning attitude. If you don't, my suggestion would be to start it with the team you have now, but lessen the expected results until you can realisticaly expect bigger things.
|
|
|
|
Post by coachjim on May 17, 2007 5:39:07 GMT -6
Totally agree with what was previously stated. I am less experienced but have already seen that the a-males will dominate and should be the leaders, and steered in that direction. I would also add that imho you cannot force someone to be a leader. I've also seen that occur and although the kid might perform to your expectations and things turn out well, the strain on the kid to be something that he isn't is tremendous.
My kid was asked to be the QB on a D-team when he was seven years old. I wasn't coaching then. He performed (and of course I had tears in my eyes every time I watched him do something good, as a dad) but he stressed about it badly, because he isn't a natural leader and once or twice threw up before a game. I believe the pressure on him to perform had something to do with this also, not pressure put on him but pressure he put on himself; concientiousness and all. He was a good QB but the leader thing really got to him. I advised the HC of this and they had another QB installed, so everything wasn't "riding" on him and things got much better. But still, because he wasn't and didn't think of himself as a leader the kids didn't either.
Point being, from the youth perspective, you've got to be careful and leadership is a tough responsibility. Go for the kids, as Broph said that will "take the reins." Mold them to be leaders and leave the kids that will always be followers where they are. It just doesn't work, at youth level, and there are other factors like their mental health, to be concerned about in making these types of decisions.
|
|
