Throughout sports we are constantly reminded of how champions are made, how championship teams are assembled and how in every battle we follow someone toward our end goal. No truer are these ideals followed than in lacrosse games.
Webster's New College Dictionary defines leadership as, "The position or office of a leader, the capacity or ability to lead." Coaches look for those members of their teams who can lead - in the locker room, the classroom and on the field. They look for those who will find a way to out-perform someone else, a way to inspire the play of a teammate, somehow going that extra yard to push those around you.
Sometimes the leadership role is placed on the captain of his/her team. Other times the elder players are expected to assume and exemplify leadership. However leadership is seized, no team can perform without following someone or something.
Leadership is important. It allows others to reach, to stretch the extra mile, to follow someone who will make a sacrifice in order for others to achieve greatness, whether it is a personal or team goal. Leaders come in all different shapes and sizes. Some yell, some talk. Others pick and choose their moments to say or do something, always trying to inspire those around them. Whether it is a big hit, an important groundball, solid defense or a great offensive play, the capacity or ability to lead is what characterizes a team. Teams without a leader will find it tough to be inspired. When the going gets tough they might not be able to reach or stretch that extra mile because they have no one to lead by example.
Erin Wellner
Coaches look for their players to lead. They look for someone to step up and assume responsibility for mistakes, to take the heat and not walk out of the kitchen. Someone who will turn to a teammate and explain that in order for the team to be successful, they must make a sacrifice. Leaders make sacrifices for the betterment of the team.
All the great teams in sports have had a leader. From Roberto Clemente to Jackie Robinson, Reggie White to Phil Simms, Wayne Gretzky to Mario Lemieux, Frank Urso to Mike Powell, each and every one of their teams was led by someone willing to make a sacrifice, willing to take the bull by the horns and fill the most important role of leader. The importance of leadership in sports today should be stressed. Every team needs someone to dig down deep to pick a teammate up when his/her confidence is down, to have a catch with a teammate who may not have the best skills, to give the team something to look for, to find a way to win that championship. Through hard work all great things will be achieved.
Champions are made each and every day, if each and everyone of us would find a way to lead each other and a way to inspire someone else, we would all be on a championship team.
|
