How to Develop Leadership on a Basketball Team
- 1). Develop a team philosophy and set of rules. This is the guide for the entire team.
- 2). Have a team discussion where you stress the importance of player leadership. Every player can play a role in this. It is imperative that players understand that leadership is not dictating-leadership is guiding teammates in alignment with the team plan.
- 3). Closely observe the team and determine which players exhibit strong leadership characteristics. Don't just focus on the best or most talented players. Note the interaction both on and off the court. Leadership is just as important off the court.
- 4). Based on your observations and input from the other coaches, choose two to three captains for the team. These captains will be the player leaders.
- 5). Meet with each captain individually to explain why they have been chosen as a captain, why their role is important to team success and what is expected of them. At that time, confirm that the player is still interested in being a captain.
- 6). Bring the captains together to discuss how the captains will work together as the leadership group of the team. Explain that the captains should be approachable by all team members and should be able to handle team issues in many cases before it elevates to the coach. It is important to stress that the captains should not take on an elitist status. Their role is to guide the team in alignment with team goals.
- 7). Have a team meeting where the captains are introduced and you explain their role on the team. Each captain should then briefly discuss how he/she will communicate with the team, as well as state goals in supporting team objectives.
- 8). Provide captains with visible opportunities to lead. This can be accomplished through leading drills, having players-only meetings and even organizing practice routines from time to time.
- 9). Have captains meetings at least once a week to provide support and get feedback about the team.
- 10
Monitor the effectiveness of each captain and make changes if necessary. An ineffective team captain can be damaging to a team's morale and effectiveness.
