Student Leadership: Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Athletics

It’s no surprise that high school athletic programs build strength, agility, and other physical skills in student-athletes. But these programs also provide an increased level of mental strength and agility. Student-athletes are given an early introduction to the importance of concepts like character, teamwork, prolonged learning, discipline, achievement, and more. These skills can serve them well throughout the season, the school year, and even into their careers. 

Research shows that student-athletes are more drawn to leadership roles when compared to non-athletes. In simple terms, they’re usually better at understanding and managing their own emotions and attitudes, as well as sensing and influencing the feelings of others. Athletic directors and coaches have a unique opportunity to train the next generation of leaders through special programs, mentorship, and hands-on leadership experiences.

Keep reading to learn how to incorporate leadership training into your school’s athletic program. 

Leadership Training: Structured or Personalized 

A strong leadership program can transform your athletes from players to leaders on and off the field. To achieve this, you have two main options. 

Implement a Formal Leadership Program

Many organizations offer structured leadership programs. Structure makes it easy for everyone to understand expectations and follow the program. These types of programs may include the following:

• Video lessons
• Online sessions
• Interactive activities
  

Structured programs are usually well-developed and age-appropriate, making them an easy solution for athletic departments. However, some come with a big cost, which may not work for every school’s budget.

Create Your Own Leadership Program

If you’re dealing with budget constraints, designing a program specifically for your student-athletes is a great alternative. This approach lets you personalize the experience based on your school culture and the needs of your students. 

Your program could include:

• Scheduled leadership training sessions during team meetings
• Guest speakers, like alumni or local community leaders
• Opportunities for hands-on leadership, like organizing equipment, leading warm-ups, or setting meeting agendas

Start small by giving students limited responsibilities, like running a short segment of a meeting. Then gradually increase their duties until they gain confidence in leading full discussions or planning team events. Be encouraging while they find their voice. 

Define & Model Leadership Qualities

A great leader isn’t driven by decision-making power. Great leaders focus on how they can inspire and support others. As an athletic director, it’s important to ensure your actions and attitudes give the students a leadership example they can aspire to. If you define the important core leadership traits and then demonstrate them, students are more likely to want to emulate you. 

Top 10 Traits of Strong Leaders

Throughout athletics and beyond, here are some traits of strong leaders. 

A Strong Leader …

1. Makes real commitments
2. Communicates clearly and often
3. Listens well
4. Has mastered effective problem-solving
5. Keeps a positive attitude, always
6. Does what they say they will do
7. Shares the credit with the team
8. Keeps learning and improving
9. Works hard even when they don’t feel like it
10. Set goals, then feels driven to achieve them

The best way for student-athletes to learn these qualities is through direct coaching, real-world applications, and continuous feedback and encouragement.

Identify and Develop Future Leaders

It’s easy to assume that leadership roles should go to the most vocal or well-known athletes, but leadership potential sometimes hides in unexpected places. As an athletic director, you need to ensure you’re giving everyone a chance to step up to the plate, and sometimes that requires outside opinions or a little extra encouragement. 

• Ask for recommendations from other coaches and staff.
• Closely observe students who show strong character, responsibility, and teamwork.
• Encourage the quieter students to step into leadership roles.

Leadership development should be inclusive. All student-athletes should have opportunities to grow into leadership positions, no matter their personality or initial skill level.

Create Hands-On Leadership Opportunities

Leadership skills are best learned in a hands-on environment. It takes more than just written lessons and lectures. Students need real-world opportunities to develop their skills. Here are some ideas for how mentors can provide opportunities for real leadership development. 

• Assign small leadership roles within the team, like equipment management or pre-game preparation.
• Encourage students to lead team meetings or pre-game speeches.
• Have students mentor younger athletes.
• Involve student leaders in organizing community service events.

By offering these opportunities, athletic programs help students grow their leadership skills in a meaningful way. 

Developing leadership skills in student-athletes is an investment in their future. The lessons they learn through sports, like communication, responsibility, and teamwork, will undoubtedly carry over into their careers and personal lives.

Incorporate a leadership development program, either through a structured curriculum or customized training. Athletic directors have the power to create an environment where student-athletes thrive and leaders are born.

A Strong Foundation for Your Athletic Program 

Eventlink^® makes it easy to manage schedules, update calendars, organize fundraisers, and more. Let us handle the behind-the-scenes work while you inspire young leaders in your school. 

Eventlink^® is the best-in-class software for schools and athletic departments. Trusted by schools nationwide, Eventlink is the go-to tool for Athletic Directors, coaches, administrators, parents, and students to manage day-to-day activities for each season. Eventlink streamlines game and practice schedules, e-contracts, facility management, digital tickets, athletic websites, and more. It simplifies the workload for schools and athletic departments while providing a user-friendly, ‘One Spot’ platform to connect with their parents, students, and community.