Youth Inc. Recommends: Four terrific resources about the intricacies of leadership

Leadership may come naturally to some, while it may be more difficult for others. But make no mistake, leadership is a trainable skill. A good leader is not only a good player. Most importantly, a good leader is a great teammate.

What does it take to master this very important skill? Like anything else, leadership requires a lot of work, practice and dedication. To help better understand the intricacies of leadership, the Youth Inc. team uncovered four terrific resources on the subject. 

A coach on how to pick captains 

What it is: A relatable and fast-moving video from Group 82 basketball, Coach Dorian offers sound advice to athletes at every level and it applies to any sport. He details how anyone can become a captain and what traits they need to have.  

Why we like it: Dorian, who coached at national high school basketball power Montverde Academy in Florida, says that captains have to be the balance between the locker room and coaching staff. Being a captain isn’t for everybody but it’s an immense responsibility that has last benefits in life. 

Developing Leaders on the Pitch 

What it is: A post on leadership by Evie Cerys for the blog Switching the Field. While this is written from the soccer perspective, it applies to any sport. 

Why we like it: This is written by a coach and is for coaches, but it applies to parents, too. We really love the principal the author starts off with at the top. “The best coaches, after all, are leaders who not only train kids to be better players, but also to be future leaders on and off the field.” 

You're creating more than a great soccer player 

What it is? An excellent and comprehensive blog post on developing leadership skills through soccer by the site The Football Hub. Applicable to any sport, this European site gives a different perspective and valuable insight. 

Why we like it: The practical tips for coaches to foster leadership are money and are transferrable to any aspect of life. They are: delegate roles, set expectations, promote communication, develop decision-making skills, lead by example and encourage team building. 

Leadership is a Trainable Skill   

What it is: An insightful video by performance coach Brian Cain that goes into a lot of detail about how to train leaders. 

 Why we like it: Cain is master motivator and an excellent communicator. We love his style and his six Cs of leadership: connection, character, consistency, communication, courage and competence. Cain also give terrific step-by-step instructions of how to train athletes in each of the six Cs.