Where you lead, they will follow

It’s my favorite time of year!

Okay, so I have several favorite times of the year, but right now this is No. 1, because it’s the time when Dogie sports are back up and running.

After a summer of relaxation and kind of a disconnect from sports as I’m not a baseball fan, it’s great to dive back into it with football, volleyball, cross country, swimming and new this year, golf!

Last weekend, all the teams had their first competitions of the season — golf actually had their second — and after talking with coaches these past couple of days and even in talking preseason with them, a common thread is emerging from each sport.

That common thread is the importance of leadership.

Obviously, the coaches will be leaders for each of the different programs, however, in order to truly be successful as a team, players must step up into those roles out on the field, the court, the course and the pool. 

Coaches aren’t out in the playing arena with the athletes, therefore there are many situations in which it is up to the players to make decisions and execute those choices on their own.

Especially in times of adversity, a team desperately needs someone to take the reins and lead them out of crisis and into success. Without a leader, they can become like sheep who don’t know where to go or what to do.

So, who will be those leaders?

Oftentimes teams look to the most veteran and experienced players — perhaps the seniors or the oldest of the kids on the squad. More often than not, those are the kids who step into those leadership roles and put the team on their backs for the season.

However, just because a player is older doesn’t mean they have the tools to be the decisive and strong leader that is needed.

Maybe then it’s the star player who should naturally move into the role of being a leader. After all, their performance on the field or court or wherever is often vital in a team’s success. 

But, the star player may also not possess the kind of personality to take on that challenge along with everything else they bring to the team.

Maybe it’s a role player that doubles as a hype-man. You know those kids — the ones that come in off the bench to provide a much needed service to the overall team effort. And when they are on the bench, they are cheering on their teammates. These players often have good sports IQs, even though they may not be the most multi-talented athletes.

My point is that leaders are not all cut from the same cloth, but in order to achieve to the best of your ability, every team needs people who will step up and lead them to success.