What Leadership Is

Jan. 20

Every year, seniors leave. Early season practices are strange; simply put, it is an unusual time. What we always thought would be there is now gone. New seniors are left trying to fill the void of those who had led before them. As much as we do not want things to change, they do.   

When seniors leave, many of the leaders leave as well. We have all seen how others must take their places and become leaders of a team. Leadership goes far beyond being a captain. While captainship officially denotes someone as a leader of a team, being a captain is not necessary for being a leader. There should be many more leaders on a team than just two or three captains. 

Leadership should be genuine. You shouldn’t lead because you want to be named captain, or because you think that others will look up to you. Leadership shouldn’t be forced. You should lead because it comes natural, because it is part of you. Leadership is more than just the senior class. It goes far beyond; a true leader leads regardless of age. 

Although it may seem as if there is only one way to be a leader, there are many different types of leadership. There is the leader that is vocal. He/She will always be there helping motivate teammates during practice, helping organize people before practice and becoming a vital extension of the coaching staff. But there is also the leader that is silent. This type of leader leads by example. They exemplify athletic spirit, and through their hard work and dedication, are able to motivate teammates around them. Of course, those two types of leaders are to the extreme. No great leader is truly just vocal or quiet; they are a combination of both. 

Leadership is about action. It is about what you do and how you do it. A leader cares about everyone’s practices (attendance, effort, etc.) and is not afraid to talk to someone if they feel like they are starting to drop the proverbial ball. A leader cares about everything for everyone. They are always there for their teammates during competition: wishing them luck, giving support, and noticing when they have just done something extraordinary. 

Most importantly, a leader is an ear. The best leaders are able to listen to their teammates talk about anything they need to talk about (related to your particular sport or not). They are able to offer advice and they are able to demonstrate empathy. Leadership is a 24/7 job. It doesn’t start when you walk in for practice and it doesn’t end when you walk out the doors. 

With all this being said, I challenge you to become a leader for your club/team. It is the most worthwhile experience that you could ever take on.