The Student Athlete Leadership Team

First published in 1987, The Leadership Challenge is a guide for becoming leader. The book received many awards and its above two million copies are internationally sold. The book teaches principles of leadership that apply whether the leader is running a sports team or a fortune 500 organization. The book includes stories and examples of many leaders from micro to macro level (Founders and Authors, 2013). The basic leadership principles can be adopted by anyone to challenge status quo and increase leader productivity multifold. The book tells about the flow and hierarchy of values too (Machedo, 2013). One can use the guide without an instructor to develop leadership traits.

Being a leader on a sports team meant that I had to be physically and mentally strong in situations where others might be weak. Physically, I had to be an example on my team by never quitting and never giving up when things were tough. That way when my teammates seen me pushing through physically adverse situations they have someone to follow

I started out as a student-athlete in which I depicted great leadership skills and positive role model qualities such as diligence, enthusiasm, and passion for the sport. Hence, after my first year of college, I was named the team captain. I worked closely with the coaches, helped to resolve team conflicts, established the tone for practice, and modeled responsibility, decision-making, and a strong work ethic. I also promoted a positive attitude and team interactions, and encouraged and supported all of my teammates. Throughout my experience as team captain, I showed mental toughness by remaining confident and focus, and respond to individual and team mistakes in an appropriate manner.

Since childhood, I had a chance to develop my leadership and organizational skills through sports and had my school team win many competitions. My school is one of the places where my leadership qualities are valued as I often become a head of many activities, such as staging plays, organizing shows and school trips with my teachers. Being a leader gives me the opportunity to work in a team and consider my peers’ ideas to make our plans creative and enjoyable for everyone. My personal traits help me to gain trust and respect of my peers as they believe me to be a positive, open-minded and reliable person. I have learned to solve problems and conflicts thanks to this great experience of leadership, and I am always ready to assist my peers when it is

Sports make people come close together like family,” because of the opportunity to train, try, win, or lose together.”( The Mental Benefits of Sports, Kathryn Watson, para. 8) Winning and losing as a team is very important to learn how to do. Everyone has to work as a group in something of their life and no one wants to work with a sore loser or winner. Leadership qualities can, “range from being a good character, to respecting others, to being task oriented can be accomplished in both team and individual sports,” because of that “team mindset” ability.(What Do Youth Sports Teach Our Children Really? Suzanne Pish, Michigan State University, para. 6) The “team mindset” is a key thing to strengthen leadership qualities. Leaders are what makes up teams or groups of people or student athletes. Something to improve leadership is, “encouraging and inspiring team members to attain their own personal goals and reach their potential can help you become a better leader.”(Goals to Increase Leadership Skills for Personal Development, Laura Jerpi, para.5) Also, students that are more task oriented or who have better interpersonal skills tend to be healthier than an average human being. Leadership is an significant title to be able to claim. Having the title can get people a long way in

It all started with an email seeking freshman male in his coaching and administration program. The 2012 graduate of UConn’s Sport Administration and coaching program, William Aloia, says this future success as the Associate Athletic Director for The College of St. Rose started out by almost” falling into his lap”. The New Jersey native began his undergraduate experience with two Division-I parents, and like an abundance of people he knew that working in sport was something he wanted to do. Previously a part of the Kinesiology department under the late Joe Marrone, Will jumped on the opportunity posted through an email and started his freshman year as a basketball manager for the very successful UConn’s basketball program. He explains how this experience “opened his door up”. Will states; “once I started at UConn working with the women’s basketball program and being around collegiate athletics at such a high level it’s really something in itself, and unbelievable experience. I knew it was for me, I didn’t know which part for sure, but I knew this was something I wanted to do.” What Will realized very quickly realized about working in sport is that often times it is a thankless job. However, that did not stop him from finishing his undergraduate career as a four-year manager for the basketball team. The motivation for Will early in his career has been a two-dimensional illustration of success.

Each year, thousands of high school student athletes graduate without ever having left their mark on the community. They breeze through these four years of life as if they’re nothing whether they are playing or sitting on the bench. They receive average grades and never find ways to give back to the community that has allowed them to be in the position that they are today. I have always looked at things from a different perspective. I believe student athletes should be a leader to their peers and in their community.

Leadership is an important character trait of National Honor Society. Last summer I had the opportunity to lead a team during the off season. At the end of the regular season, there were no captains elected. Captains are in charge of organizing events and practices when the coaches are not allowed to communicate with the team. I took on the responsibility of organizing activities. I communicated with other players and got their input for the activities. I had to reach out to incoming freshman by organizing a group message as well as emailing parents. I also made sure to keep our coach updated on how everything was going.

I believe that I should be accepted into the National Honor Society because I embody all four principles. Although I’ve never held a leadership position, I have demonstrated my ability as a leader in both clubs and on sports teams. I have great character; I have never caused issues inside or outside of school, and I am honest. I have kept a high GPA throughout my high school career and place heavy emphasis on academics. Lastly, I have gathered several volunteer hours and have happily contributed to helping my community.

As one of the sixteen members of the inaugural class of Terry Scholars at UT Arlington, I have proven my ability to lead. My passion for leadership has given me the initiative to get involved with as many organizations as possible, and network within those groups. Freshman Leaders on Campus is the perfect medium through which I can refine my skills and collaborate with other leaders all across campus.

A leader must be dedicated to serving their community, which is something that FBLA has forever instilled in me. In less than two years, I have completed over 300 hours of diverse community service. I am a competitive swim coach at my local YMCA, where I have the privilege of helping young athletes achieve their goals. I enthusiastically participate in my local chapter’s community service events, such as the law enforcement appreciation dinner, Community Service Day, and Wildcat Christmas.

As Vice-President of my student council, I am constantly cooperating with my peers to plan events for the school and community outreach fundraisers. It is not without their approval that I maintain my position today, and together we work cohesively to donate thousands of dollars to local and state causes. Additionally, they help me realize shortcomings so that I may learn from them and improve myself in time to come. During my role with student council, along with captainships in my school track and cross-country teams, I am granted the chance to display servant leadership to better the respective parties. Positions as such require cooperation on many fronts and communication from coaches, athletes, students, and administrators. Among these is the necessity to draw lines. While working as a captain for my team, it follows that the team is my top priority. In team

Playing on a high school tennis team, being a freshman advisory peer leader, and volunteering at various locations has provided me with the tools to be a good leader in anything I do. Being a member of my tennis team has taught me to be supportive and spread positive motivation to all my teammates through all the losses and wins. As an upperclassman, I stand as a role model and mentor for the younger athletes, a peer to approach when needing to perfect a serve or gain confidence before a match. Freshmen Advisory had taught be the importance of being receptive towards new high school students, being a point of reference for anything from getting an A in a difficult class to making new friends. I was able to help guide the freshmen in my school through their first year while at a new stage in their lives. I have also been involved within my community at numerous volunteer locations such as Center for Food Action, New Life Senior Center, Valley Hospital and many more. I have learned to be a leader within these organizations by giving back and influencing my peers to do the

I have been helping coach high school athletics for a few years. These leadership positions have enabled me to develop communication skills, gain responsibility, improve on my management skills and build relationships with other leaders in the field of sports. My future career goals include obtaining a job as a head coach or athletic director in some field of sports. I know I will need good communication and negotiating skills and I need to understand that gender sometimes plays a role in leadership positions. Leadership is defined as a person who guides or directs a group. Successful leaders are confident and responsible. They are able to problem-solve and discover new talents in those they lead.

Borland, J. F., Kane, G. M., & Burton, L. J. (n.d.). Sport leadership in the 21st century.