THE IMPORTANCE
OF LEADERSHIP
By Will Brown, Albany
Leadership is crucial for any team, program, or
organization to be successful. Many young people do not
understand what it takes to be an effective captain or
leader. I always look for the individuals who are
capable of leading by example and leading vocally. The
ideal situation is if your best player is your hardest
worker and best leader. Only if it was that easy! Too
many individuals are concerned about what their peers
think. They are afraid of the reaction they might get
from a teammate or a friend.
A good leader is not concerned about what people think.
A good leader is concerned that everything is getting
done the right way and that the team is being productive
on a daily basis. It is much easier to lead by example.
The real leaders speak their mind.
Coaches often talk about the importance of senior
leadership. I agree to a certain extent. I am more
concerned with leadership from our upper classmen. They
should have the experience and savvy to guide the young
players in the program. They need to lead and continue
to raise the bar on a daily basis. Younger players tend
to be followers and they often look for the veterans to
pave the way.
We have three captains in our program and they are
similar in how they lead. They want to play hard and
lead by example. The common denominator is that they are
not comfortable holding their teammates accountable in
front of the entire team. They are too concerned about
what their teammates think! A leader cannot be hesitant
or afraid of what people might think. A leader needs to
worry only about doing what is best for the success of
the team and the program.
Being a leader is not an easy job! Certain individuals
thrive in a leadership role and others struggle. Being a
captain or a leader is a privilege. It comes with a lot
of responsibility. I expect our three captains to be an
extension of the coaching staff. We meet with our
captains regularly to educate them and to give them some
ideas about being effective leaders. We pick their
brains and we allow them to pick our brains.
It will be a long season if the coaching staff has to
lead every minute of every day. The team needs voices
from within.
Our three captains are getting better each day. It is a
feeling out process for them. They are talking more and
more each day. They are doing a better job of leading
and holding teammates accountable. Now they just need to
do it on a consistent basis!
