What defines a leader in a team sport environment? That's a really good question. Someone that many teammates are looking to for an answer when the team is down or not performing that way they should be. Someone that is consistent in their performance on a daily basis. Someone that comes to practice early and leaves late if their individual game needs work. Someone that when they walk into the locker room or clubhouse, everyone takes notice. Are there any more true leaders out there? Sure there are. The question is who are they and do the know they are leaders?
It is just important to understand that your teammates look up to you for support, understanding, and quite frankly a foot to butt if needed. I wold love to share with you a small sample of the athletes that I believe are leaders in sports today.
Baseball: Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Joe Mauer
Basketball: Shaquille O'Neal, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James
Hockey: Jaromir Yagr, Sid Crosby
Football: LaDainian Tomlinson, Michael Strahan, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees.
Do you know that the biggest problem with my list is that so many sports and team do not have a leader in the club house. Either the individuals that should be leaders are too ensconced in their checkbooks to care, or they do not have what is takes to be a leader. I wish there were more leaders in professional sports today. It would be refreshing to see someone stand up for the team during the down times, not blame individuals, forget yesterday and focus on today.
I dare you to go ahead and look at your own favorite team no matter what the sport, and tell me who their leader is. I am going to tell you that being a perceived leader is way different than being an actual leader.
Not only that, but you can also understand why there are so many mediocre teams today.It has nothing to do with parity, it has to do with dishevelment. That is a direct cause of the lack of someone to steer the ship.
Ahhh thank goodness for the north star, or we would all be lost.
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