Kentucky Youth Soccer Learning University

DEVELOPING A LEADERSHIP CULTURE WITHIN YOUR TEAM

By: Cristin Czubik AllenInfluence

Empower. Inspire. Serve. Grow.

A Review of the Past YearHARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A former UConn soccer player who lost her scholarship after giving the middle finger to a television camera plans to sue the school, alleging her punishment was excessive.

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Washington University on Friday suspended the men’s soccer team for comments about the women’s team that were “degrading and sexually explicit.”

NBA executives aren’t concerned with Duke guard Grayson Allen’s tripping incidents of late. They’re more worried that his production has regressed since entering the season as the consensus No. 1 player in college basketball.

U.S. Soccer suspended goalkeeper Hope Solo on Wednesday for behavior it called “unacceptable” and that does “not meet the standard of conduct we require.”

Leadership Is A Skill■ Leadership is a skill that can be developed, just liked dribbling,

passing, and finishing, etc.■ Every player has leadership skills, and has the capacity to put their

leadership skills into action■ Coaches must be intentional about training leadership■ Coaches must consistently train leadership■ Practicing the Skills of LEADERSHIP will empower your team to

develop a Leadership Culture of their own**If you only practice leadership a couple times a year, then you should only expect leadership to happen a couple times a year!!**

Leadership Must Be the Foundation

LEADERSHIP

TECHNICAL AND TACTICAL ABILITY

WINNING

RELATIONSHIPS

YOU

Excuses, Excuses…

■ We don’t have time■ We need to focus on winning games ■ We don’t have money■ I don’t know what to do and don’t want to screw it up■ I don’t have anyone I trust■ We just had a leadership session with our team last month■ I don’t know where to start…

Start With Your Crappy First Draft■ Your first draft will never be your final draft■ You don’t have to be extraordinary or have

extraordinary ideas to serve and help develop leaders.

■ Start small and be intentional, even with the simplest of ideas

■ The small, ordinary habits will, over time, create the biggest impact

■ Don’t compare yourself to what others are doing; comparison is the thief of action

■ You will never have regret in doing; only in not doing

Establishing Your Core Values■ Ask your players what values are important to them and write them on a

board – Some examples they might say are: hard work, good attitude,

committed, selflessness, etc.

■ Then ask them to “fight” for their values by describing WHY each value is important. – If there is not a WHY to each value, then there will be no connection to

that value

■ Try to find the commonalities of the values and narrow your list to a manageable number (2-4)

■ Have your players provide tangible ways to enact their values

■ Place your team’s definition of Leadership and their values in a visible place

Living your Core Values■ Articulate your Core Values with each other■ Review the actions■ Make this list public■ Practice them on a daily basis■ Hold each other accountable to the values■ Reward them■ Repeat

-Accountability -Preparation

-Good Attitude-Extra Work

U9 Girls’ Select Team Values

Practice and Game Checklist of what to bring

ALWAYS BE PREPARED!

Practice:Good attitude and work rate—don’t step out of the car unless you’re ready to goNotebookPUMPED UP ballPlenty of water/GatoradeShoesShinguards

Game Day:All the aboveBlue and White SocksBlue and White ShortsBlue and White JerseySoccer BagSunscreen

Rain/Cold Day Extras:2 plastic bags: one for your shoes and one for your uniformNews/magazine paper: If shoes are wet, stuff this in themExtra clothesUnder Armour long sleeve shirts (white, black, or light blue)Warm-ups: Top and BottomHat

At Home Skills

Foundation Work: Inside-Inside

Inside-Outside Same Foot Inside-Outside Both Feet

Cone Dribbling

Turns: Outside Foot Turn Inside Foot Turn

Stepover Turn Pullback Turn

Cryuff

Volleys:

Inside Foot Volleys Volley with Laces

Volley Thigh to Foot Volley Chest to Foot

Passing and Receiving/Shooting:

1 Touch passes 2 Touch passes

Inside and outside foot passing Driven Balls--both feet (laces)

Shooting (laces) Flighted/Chipped balls

Juggling:

Feet Juggling Thigh Juggling Head Juggling

Combo Juggling

Moves: Scissors/Double Scissors

Stepover/Double Stepover Matthews Maradona

Sole Role Scissors V – One and Two Feet

L

Leadership Training Ideas■ Big/Little Sisters ■ Write a “Thank You” letter to someone who has influenced

you and helped you along in your journey■ Read a book and discuss as a group■ Perform a service project together, and let them pick the

project!■ Individual Recognition■ Divide your team into smaller Councils and empower them to

make decisions and be responsible. Ie: Social Council, Gear Council.

WHAT IS YOUR IMPACT??

■ INTENTIONAL■MODEL ■PRAISE ■ACCOUNTABILITY■CONNECTION■ TIME

INTENTIONAL■ Be authentic and lead from the heart■ Be purposeful in your actions■ Your purpose should be to serve the needs of your

players■ You are here for a purpose much greater than yourself■ Believe in your purpose and that you can make an

impact in the lives of your players

MODEL■ Walk the walk--Model the standard for Leadership:

– “Each person must live their life as a model for others.” –Rosa Parks

■ Model what is expected on and OFF the field■ We all make mistakes, so model how to deal with them

appropriately. Your players will appreciate your vulnerability as you grow with them

■ Train Leadership skills and challenge them with various situational activities (WWYD activities)

PRAISE

■ Praise your players for positive Leadership moments, not just their performance– Develop an idea for recognizing players each week

■ Praise them publicly and praise them individually■ Find ways to praise each player every day

– “Good effort, Jan!”– Pull them aside and let them know you appreciate them

training extra at home– A simple pat on the back goes a long way

ACCOUNTABILITY■ Hold your players AND yourself accountable to your team’s

core values– If you don’t hold ALL players accountable to the same core

values, then you will lose your team’s respect and trust■ At times you will have some difficult decisions, but if your

Leadership foundation is not firm, then everything will eventually crack and crumble to pieces– “What you allow is what will continue.” - Unknown

■ Remember that you are teaching life lessons, as well as soccer lessons, and only one of those lessons will be applicable for their entire life…

CONNECTION■ Connect with each and every player on and off the field. Build a

relationship with them and get to know who they really are.■ Building connections and relationships will build trust■ Building trust energizes all players to play for one another, not just

themselves■ Guide players on how to connect with each other—every teammate■ True connections between team members and staff builds value

– Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued. - Brene’ Brown

■ Develop connection routines for: Goals scored, goals against, mistakes, subs, etc.– Developing routines for connection will provide a process for how

ALL players will celebrate and recover, etc.

TIME■ Leadership is a lifetime investment. This is not a diet, and change

will not happen overnight, just like your players won’t become Alex Morgan and Messi overnight

■ You must be patient, persistent, and be consistent in your actions. Impact takes time

■ Leadership is not a destination. Leadership is the vehicle and the hope is that you will just keep trading it in for a new “model” whenever it breaks down. And just like a car, it will need repairs, and gas, and oil changes

■ Empower your players to drive the car, not just sit in the passenger seat, because eventually they will get their own set of keys

WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PEOPLE

■ Empower your athletes to be the greatest version of themselves.

■ Understand that each player is carrying burdens, big and small, and part of your role is to be patient with their burdens, mistakes, and imperfections

■ Help guide them through the mess, but do not clear a path

■ Leadership is a skill that can be developed in ALL PLAYERS

■ Have fun and remember the true reason WHY you coach and why your players play

“The two most important days of your life are the day you were born, and the day

you find out why.”–Mark Twain

Influenceempower.inspire.serve.grow.

Cristin Czubik AllenLeadership Consultant and Facilitator

C: 615-473-0642Cristincallen@gmail.com

@cristincallenImpactingleadership.wordpress.com

apersonofinfluence.com