TEACHING YOUR CAPTAINS TO LEAD Sean Dowling

Madison High School

“Who’s Gonna Lead Today?”

Lombardi

LEADERSHIP Defined as organizing a

group of people to achieve a common goal

LEADERSHIP Is ultimately about creating a way for people to contribute

to making something extraordinary happen

GO DODGERS!

BEAT CHATHAM!

Why A Student-Athlete Leadership Council

Need to give our Captains • Purpose • Direction • Motivation

Selecting Your Captains

Do your coaches: 1. Appoint their Captains 2. Have athletes vote for

their Captains

Coaches’ Expectations?

• Coaches must “BUY IN” • Make your coaches aware of

how Captains can assist the team

Coaches’ Expectations?

• Have Coaches brainstorm expectations and a list of criteria for Captains

• Present to Captains

What Does it Take to Be a Successful Captain?

SUCCESSFUL CAPTAINS ARE: • CREDIBLE

• COMMITTED • CARING • CONFIDENCE BUILDERS • COMMUNICATORS • CONSISTENT • of outstanding CHARACTER

Captains must: I. Have a VISION II. Possess PEOPLE SKILLS III.Have good LISTENING SKILLS IV.Be able to EMPOWER TEAMMATES

Captains must: V. Be COMPETENT VI. Possess a certain BOLDNESS VII. Have a SERVING HEART Pat Williams

“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have”

Vince Lombardi

LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Meetings? How Often?

• Three (3) times per year – Before each season

• Monthly

Sample Monthly Discussion Topics

1. Leadership 2. Hazing/Bullying 3. Code of Conduct 4. Sportsmanship/Improving School Spirit 5. Conflict Resolution 6. Nutrition/Training 7. Effective Leadership Strategies

First Meeting • Define Leadership • Why were you selected Captain? • Strength & Weaknesses of other

Captains • Expectations of Coaches

First Meeting • List expectations of Coaches • Responsibilities On/Off the field • Act like a Leader – You are

Special! • Captain’s Retreat • Select Underclass Reps

2nd MEETING

HAZING/BULLYING

NIAAA Hazing Video

3rd MEETING

New York Jet visit

4th MEETING

SPORTSMANSHIP

SPORTSMANSHIP

5th MEETING

CONFLICT RESOLUTION • Discuss any issues faced this year • Have sample scenarios ready for

discussion

6th MEETING

College Captain Visit

7th MEETING

Nutrition & Training • Trainer • Local Sports Nutritionist • Speed & Conditioning

Coach

8th MEETING

Effective Leadership Strategies • Review of the year so far • Have examples of different

leadership styles (Autocratic, Democratic, Delagative, Laissez-faire

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Madison Boys Basketball team members working at the Cheshire Home

Other Important Items

• Selection of Underclassmen • T Shirts • Bulletin Board/Show Case

recognition • Attend other non-Athletic functions

– Play, Musical, Concerts • Field Trips – Pro/College Games

TIPS

• FEED EM’ • DON’T GO AT IT ALONE • ROTATE THE PERIOD YOU MEET • WRITE AN ARTICLE – PRESS RELEASE • USE CAPTAINS AS HOSTS • HAVE A REP ON STUDENT/PRICIPAL

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WHO’S GONNA LEAD

TOMORROW?

FOOTBALL VIDEO

Link: For PPT - Movie - USE with PPT.wmv

GO DODGERS! Sean Dowling Madison High School dowlings@madisonpublicschools.org (973) 593 – 3117 x3144