September/October 2021 - 4

EDITORIAL between the lines
the billboard of your
PROGRAM. WHAT
DOES YOURS SAY?
By Wesley Sykes, managing editor
If behind every great program is a great coach, the same could
be said for the presence of strong student-athlete leadership.
Having your athletes take up the model of what you want
your program to embody can be far more impactful than simply
telling them your expectations. After all, a picture is worth a
thousand words, right?
In education-based athletics, winning is a byproduct of
instilling all the other aspects, qualities, and values that
your athletes should gain by being a part of your program.
Leadership should be among the top of those values you're
looking to instill in your team. And identifying student-athletes
to help convey those values can help them gain the lifelong
skills and qualities that come with leadership.
Team captains are expected to model leadership,
sportsmanship, and good citizenship to not just their
teammates, but also their competitors, and the school
community. Once identified, organizing a " Captain's Clinic " to
support and groom varsity team captains in their leadership
roles. This can be a space where captains from a particular
season's sports gather with athletic administrators and/or
coaches to discuss current issues relating to their teams, the
athletic department, and the high school overall.
While some are certainly born to lead, leaders are not solely
born - they are molded through experience, both positive and
negative, and defined by their response. The same could be
said about captaincies. In Coaching With Education-Based
Athletics, Dr. David Hoch wrote, " Captains are not ordained
or guaranteed. ...leadership can be taught and learned. Most
individuals can improve this quality with proper instruction,
guidance, and a little practice. "
Much like the only way to improve at your sport is to practice
continually over time, that same thought must be applied to
intangible traits like leadership. Offering tools like educational
resources, clinics, whether it be from your state organization or
national organizations like the NIAAA or the NFHS is another
step in the right direction.
According to Hoch, giving progressive, incremental
responsibilities can be a great learning laboratory for your
players. Maybe start by detailing the importance of the
stretching routines to start and end the practice and go from
there. And then during your weekly meetings with the captains,
get feedback and input on how things went.
So with that, I hope that you take a few tips and tricks from
these pages and incorporate them into your everyday life - if
you're not already.
Enjoy this month's issue!
4 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
TOM BASS, Former NFL Assistant, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
& San Diego Chargers * DR. DAVID HOCH, Retired Athletic Director, Baltimore
County, MD * ABE WEHMILLER, Director of Athletics, Charlotte Country Day
School, Charlotte, NC * ALAN STEIN, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach,
Nike Elite DeMatha Catholic High School, MD * PETE KITTEL, Principal, Brillion
High School, WI * DARREN FENSTER, Minor League Manager, Boston Red Sox
& Founder/CEO, Coaching Your Kids, LLC, Neptune, NJ * JOSH HILS, Soccer
Coach, Coe-Brown Northwood Academy, NH * DR. BRANDEN LIPPY, Athletic
Director, Lampeter-Strasburg High School, Lancaster, PA
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September/October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September/October 2021
