This is the first of a series that is a 7 part approach to developing a leadership academy into a school’s football program.
You can read all other posts from the series at this link: Leadership Academy
Part 1: Building Character and Leadership within Your Football Program
Building Character and Leadership in your Football Program is built around the 17 laws of leadership and will be divided up into 5 different segments. Part one the building of a leadership program will take you through your off-season and into the summer months leading into the start of the upcoming football season. During the off-season your foundation is built and your championship run begins. During the off-season you will ask your coaches and athletes to “Leave No Doubt” that they have done everything possible to make themselves champions.
Leadership is critical to the success of any team or organization. The importance of establishing a leadership program is for all athletes to focus on character development, leadership and team-building skills, developing trust, citizenship, time management, communication skills and goal setting. The best time to develop a leadership program is during the off season because time will permit a dedicated focus to tailoring it based on what has worked in the past and planning for the future. It is not likely that every component of a program works right away and adjustments may be necessary. The off season is the time to make these adjustments and craft the program based on taking advantage of the team’s strengths, building on the weaknesses, and building other future leaders. It is also a good time to assess whether or not the goals and visions for the program are on track and if not, adjust those also to fit the team’s assets.
Leadership Academy Part 1: 17 Laws of Leadership and Team Building
Coaches must be able to build upon a foundation and so, the next step is determining what the foundation will be built upon. Having 45 years of coaching experience I believe the foundation for team building starts with leadership. Each year we start turning towards our seniors to provide that leadership so, what process did you use instill into those young men in their previous years to get them to a position so that they can provide what it takes to build and hold the team together.
Leadership, Commitment and Character Academy is a six week process which becomes a big part of the off-season program in which we will present to our athletes after the Christmas break our Leadership Academy. The academy is designed to instill the importance of leadership and character. Each athlete will learn all 17 points of our Leadership program presented below. Set a weekly agenda for introducing your Leadership Academy.
The 17 laws should adhere to your steps in building you team leadership and unity. The first law deals with understanding that a team doesn’t consist of just one person it takes the team.
What Makes the Difference: Leadership, Commitment, and Character?
Mission of the Leadership Academy
To enhance the leadership, decision making, and skills of our football players who have been lead to there coaches and teammates. This year round program will prepare our players to lead new roles on the football team and learn life skills after they graduate from their institution.
Traits of a Good Leader
- They encourage others — “You Can Do It”
- They praise and compliment others — “Great Job”
- They build others — “Let’s Keep Getting Better!”
- They celebrate with others — “I Appreciate You!”
- They believe in others — “I’m Proud Of You, I’m For You.”
“A leader is a person who has the ability to get other people to do what they don’t want to do, and like it.” President Harry S. Truman
” Leadership is the ability to decide what is to be done, and then get others to want to do it.” President Dwight D. Eisenhower
“The leader must have infectious optimism.” Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery
You can read all other posts from the series at this link: Leadership Academy
About the Author of this post:
Jerry Campbell has over 30 years of high school and college coaching experience. He has experience as a head coach, offensive coordinator, and various position coaches. He has written numerous football coaching articles in various publications, is the author of over 30 books on coaching football, and has produced 12 coaching video series. Additionally, he is a nationally sought after speaker on the coaching clinic circuit.