Vocal Leaders Involves 6 Main Characteristics: Commitment Confidence Composure Character Encourager Enforcer

http://www.standard.net/stories/2014/05/05/q-man-quentin-marcelin-powers-layton-baseball-squad

Vocal Leader: Encourager (75%) Refocuser Team Builder Helps teammates stay mentally tough when faced with adversity. Emotionally intelligent to sense mood of team. Refocuses teammates when they are down or distracted. “You’re ok. Don’t worry about it. Get the next one.” “Get your head out of your ass and start playing.” Communicates a sense of optimism and hope. Control the controllables; Focus on the present, the positive, and the process; Play with perspective; Focus on the Message, not the Messenger (feedback); Take responsibility for mistakes Unifies team around a common goal. Establishes and focuses team on a common goal. Helps teammates understand, accept, and feel appreciated for their roles. Brings team together and builds team chemistry.

How To Get Your Team To Commit To A Common Goal Establish a Common Goal: Divide your team into three groups. Each group discusses and answers the question “What could we achieve if we play up to our potential this season?” (10-15 minutes) Groups get back together to share their answers AND their reasons why they think they are possible. Together the team writes their goals: Must be realistic and challenging.

How To Get Your Team To Commit To A Common Goal 2. Clarify the Commitments and Standards You Need To Get There. Once you have established a clear and compelling goal to pursue for the season, you then need to discuss the commitments and standards it will take to get there. Get your team back into 3 groups: Answer the question ‘What are the 10 most important commitments we will need to make to each other throughout the season to give us the chance of reaching our goal.” Groups share their thoughts with the team. The team then comes to a consensus agreement with 10 or so commitments.

Examples of Commitments Consistently give our best effort in sport and in school. Respect our teammates and coaches and handle conflict constructively. Take care of our bodies and stay away from alcohol and other drugs. Understand and accept our roles and play them to the best of our ability.

How To Get Your Team To Commit To A Common Goal 3. Create a Mission Statement and Commitment Contract. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCo-_QAGKTg&list=SP73A950492030240B (Mission Statement) NEXT SLIDE Type the commitments onto a piece of paper and give one to each team member. Each teammate then signs the “Commitment Contract.” Hang the “Commitment Contract” on the locker room wall. Each teammate will display the “Commitment Contract” in a visible location. Add teammates pictures to the contract; shrink the contract down to wallet size and give each teammate a copy.

How To Help Your Teammates Accept Their Roles “Sometimes the player’s greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.” ---Scottie Pippen Getting people to accept their roles depends on two factors: Clearly defining their role. (Coaches job) Showing appreciation for their role. (Job of Vocal Leader and the Coach)

How To Show Appreciation For Roles. It is the job of the Vocal Leader to help the people who don’t get to play as much feel they are still an important part of the team. Vocally acknowledge and praise the big and little things they do. Need more praise and attention than the starters. Call attention to the effort they give in practice and the support they give from the sidelines. Let them know you appreciate their words of encouragement. In media interviews, look to mention the people who don’t always get a lot of attention or credit.

I long ago learned that publicly acknowledging the people who don’t get a lot of the limelight does wonders for team morale. You must make these people know you not only are aware of their efforts, you appreciate them.” ---Rick Pitino

Show Appreciation With Awards Practice Player of the Week/Day: Award given to the player who was the best performer in practice during the week/day. Nails Award: Award goes to the player who was mentally tough as nails. Glue Award: Award given to the player who did a great job of putting the team first and was the glue that bound the team together. Game Balls, Special Forces Player of The Week, Currahee, Bone Crusher (911), Helmet Stickers.

Team Bonding Vocal Leaders look to set up opportunities where your teammates can hang out and get to know each other better outside of practice time. Build bridges between the various subgroups on your team. Do not let cliques exist at your team bonding activities. “A sure thing to break down a team is little cliques. The veteran players must make an effort to socialize with the younger players and the less popular players. It’s easy after you have broken the ice.” ---Julie Foudy, U.S. Soccer National Team

Team Building Activities and Ideas Team Retreat: Team “Day Activity” or plan a team overnight event to kick off the season. Team Dinners Family Pictures: Teammates bring in pictures of their family and each is given 5 minutes to introduce their family to the team. Service Projects: Forever Strong 29:47-32:10 Movie Night Support Squad: Pair up each teammate every week. At the beginning of the week the two meet to answer and discuss 3 questions: Challenge me to… Support me if I struggle with… If I get frustrated/discouraged, remind me to… Other Ideas?

Assignment List 3-5 things you learned from this lesson. Is team chemistry important to you? Why? What are some problems that get in the way of good team chemistry? What do you do to build and maintain team chemistry? What are some ideas of things you can do to build team chemistry?