Become The Coach Your Athletes Will Learn From

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Become The Coach Your Athletes Will Learn From

Who Do Athletes Learn From?

Which coach did you learn best from growing up?

Were they the “cold, ivory-tower” type of leader or were they warm and personable?

We are willing to bet the coaches you learned best from were also the one’s you loved the most.

Are today’s athletes different from ones in the past?

Today’s athletes are no different. They learn from coaches they love.

As we enter the summer months it is the perfect time to reflect on what, and why we do what we do as coaches. We’re in this together and it’s our mission at Lead ‘Em Up to help coaches build meaningful relationships with players.

If you want to build a strong program, relationships should be one of your top priorities. The key for coaches is to be personable. Oftentimes we think we have to put on a front and show no emotion, but it’s quite the opposite. It’s good for your athletes to see your vulnerabilities. It makes you human, builds a connection, and eliminates walls between you and your athletes.

There is a connection between the quality of emotional relationships and level of learning which takes place. Monty Williams, who was recently hired as head coach of the Phoenix Suns said, “Players want to know the guy who’s giving them direction and leadership really cares about them.”

Information is plentiful in today’s world, but true connection is scarce.

It’s what we do away from the x’s and o’s which really matters most. Athletes learn from the coaches they love.

Fear is not the answer to reaching today’s athletes. They don’t respond to brow-beating or extra laps. This doesn’t mean coaches can’t be tough and effective. Today’s kids also seek discipline and guidance. Great coaches are able to be tough and relational at the same time.

In the educational setting, many ed-reforms have been centered on relationship-building. Educators are starting to realize what Coach Frosty Westering stated so wisely long ago: “Athletes don’t care what you know until they know you care.”

Socio-emotional learning is how we reach today’s athletes.

Becoming the coach your athletes love

Here are five ways you can become the coach your athletes will love:

  1. Tell them about a mistake you learned from when you were their age.
  2. Host a team dinner and let them see you around your family.
  3. Meet individually with each athlete and discuss their future dreams and goals.
  4. Play a game that is not related to the sport you coach with them after practice one day.
  5. Purchase Lead ‘Em Up and begin taking them through our fun and dynamic exercises.

Are you new to Lead ‘Em Up?  We provide teams leadership drills and exercises they can use to turn their players into the leaders needed to win.  

Interested in giving it a try?  Sign-up to receive three FREE Lead ‘Em Up exercises by clicking HERE.

Have fun and #LeadEmUp

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2025 Green 13 Recipients

2025 Green 13 Recipients

The Green 13 Award celebrates student-athletes who lead with heart, uplift others, and consistently live out what it means to be a great leader.

Podcasts

The Green Room Ep. 4: Unleashing The Secret to Leadership – Why It Starts with Being Leadable

The Green Room Ep. 4: Unleashing The Secret to Leadership – Why It Starts with Being Leadable

Watch the full video here: leademup.com/greenroom

What if the key to unlocking leadership potential in your team isn’t just about developing others, but about being the kind of person who is a joy to lead? In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked truth: leadership flows best through people who are enjoyable to lead. You’ll learn the four traits of these individuals and how cultivating them can create a culture where leadership multiplies.

We’ll also explore a simple yet powerful question: Where are you today? Challenging, easy, or enjoyable to lead? Your answer could change everything about how you lead, and how others rise around you

The Green Room Ep. 4: Unleashing The Secret to Leadership – Why It Starts with Being Leadable

Green Room Ep. 3: Know Me to Lead Me – The Power of Connection on Championship Teams

Watch the full video here: leademup.com/greenroom

You can’t challenge someone to be great if you haven’t earned their trust. In this episode, we unpack one of the most overlooked truths in sports leadership: before you can lead me, you need to know me.

Championship teams aren’t just talented, they’re connected. They build relationships deep enough to allow for honest feedback, accountability, and real growth. So why do most teams skip straight to “calling each other out” without laying the foundation? In this episode, we will explore the truth that you can’t challenge someone to be their best until you’ve earned their trust, and that trust only comes through genuine connection. This episode breaks down why peer leadership often fails in sports teams and how coaches and players can build the kind of culture where teammates lead each other effectively.

Download the Green Room Player Reflection Template, a simple PDF that coaches can use to have their players reflect on the episode. It’s perfect for sparking discussion and capturing key takeaways.

Download here: https://leademup.com/the-green-room-player-reflection-worksheet/

Get Part 1 Free

Get access to part 1 of the Green Team Framework FREE!