Coaches Can Help Student-Athletes Enhance Leadership Skills

The distinguishing and critical word in the education-based philosophy is education. As stated in a simple, straightforward definition, winning is not the only or ultimate goal. The fundamental objective is the growth and development of student-athletes with respect to lifelong values and qualities, and one of these qualities is leadership.

Instruction in the academic arena is guided by objectives, and the instructional approach is well-planned and organized. Also, it is often purported that coaches are, or at least should be, teachers. With this understanding, coaches should provide opportunities to learn or enhance life-long qualities including leadership. It shouldn’t be haphazard or casual; it has to be planned and organized with clear objectives.

Of course, athletic administrators also play a critical role. They serve as the chief educational officer for the department and provide guidance, direction and oversight of the instructional efforts of the coaching staff. The following are resources or approaches that coaches should use to help student-athletes to either learn or enhance their leadership skills:

• Utilize the NFHS Learn courses. There are two that are directly dedicated to the concept of leadership: Student Leadership: Becoming a Leader and Student Leadership – Leading Others. Coaches can ask their athletes to take these free courses, and then lead a discussion session to examine and have the students share what they gained.

• Also use the NFHS Captains Course. Even if a student isn’t selected as a captain, the lessons contained in the course will benefit all athletes. Just as academic offerings may have a prerequisite, you might consider using this course to create a pool of possible candidates from which captains would be selected.

• Incorporate Teachable Moments with their teams. These mini lessons can be interjected at a point during a practice session or during the concluding comments at the end. In addition to using incidents that commonly occur during practice, athletic administrators can also share links to pertinent articles that coaches can use with their teams.

• Form a student-athlete leadership advisory group. Some might refer to this collection of athletes as a captains council, but it could be open to any athlete who demonstrates leadership qualities beyond just selected captains. You should meet with a representative leader from each team at regular intervals, or when a situation arises that would necessitate input or the sharing of concerns. The student team leaders serve as the conduit between the team and the coaching staff in order to solve problems or to possibly create a better learning environment.

• Collaborate with your coaching staff and develop a leadership workshop for your student-athletes. By taking aspects and approaches used in your state and the NFHS student leadership events, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Your program can involve a motivational speaker, problem-solving and team-building activities, and group discussions. Also, your workshop should be open to any student who would like to take advantage of it.

• Use team community service projects as a practical platform for student-athletes to enhance their leadership and organizational skills. When young people actively are involved in selecting, organizing and conducting a service project, they will have the opportunity of gaining hands-on, practical experience. While coaches will provide supervision and oversight, the student-athletes will gain a great deal and not only will the receiving individual or group benefit, it will be a win-win situation for all involved.

• Establish a program of guest speakers focusing on the aspect of leadership. Bring in successful professionals from the community who are recognized within their field or discipline to share with your student-athletes their thoughts, insight and best practices. In this manner, leadership may not be viewed as a nebulous concept, but that it actually exists and contributes to groups, organizations and the community.

In the athletic administrator’s role as the chief educational officer for the athletic program, it would be your responsibility to make the coaches aware of these resources. Also, providing tips and ideas as to how to get started would be part of your involvement as well as constantly looking for more and new ways to help your young people with educational opportunities. Coaches help their student- athletes, and athletic directors help and guide their coaching staffs. The end result is a well-coordinated, successful effort.

References
Hoch, D. 2022. Leading an Education-Based Athletic Program. Hoch, D. 2024. Refocusing on Education-Based Athletics – A Call to Action.

Dr. David Hoch is a former athletic director at two high schools in Baltimore County (Maryland) for 16 years. He has 24 years of experience coaching basketball, including 14 years on the collegiate level. Hoch, who has a doctorate in sports management from Temple (Pennsylvania) University, is past president of the Maryland State Athletic Directors Association, and he formerly was executive director of the Maryland State Coaches Association. He has had more than 800 articles published in professional magazines, as well as four textbook chapters. Dr. Hoch is the author of 11 books, including Coaching within the Education-Based Athletics Concept; The Parents’ Guide to Education-Based Athletics; Leading an Education-Based Athletic Program; A Lifetime of Memories from Education-Based Athletics: Humorous, Inspirational and Occasionally Sad; Refocusing on Education-Based Athletics – A Call to Action; and Management – The Misunderstood and Underappreciated Process and Skill Sets. Hoch is a member of the NFHS High School Today Publications Committee.