Marshall Redhawks: Building Leaders On and Off the Court

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Marshall Redhawks: Building Leaders On and Off the Court

The Marshall Michigan movement started by Tiffany Burns, the president of Marshall Junior Redhawks youth basketball has been fun to see develop.

She wanted her youth organization to be more than simply rolling the basketballs out and letting the kids play. She wanted to use this time to develop them as teammates and leaders as well.

So in 2021, she jumped all in with a winter season Lead ‘Em Up kickoff that included a three-hour training for all the coaches and a 90-minute leadership workshop with all the players.

It was a huge success

During the course of the season, the coaches continued facilitating the program while the kids were having a blast building their Green teams.

As Marshall Junior Redhawks basketball continued with the program, it was a year later when Mike Johnson (President of Marshall Youth Football) decided he wanted Marshall Youth Football to jump in as well.

Knowing that many of the players in the community play both football and basketball, the kids were experiencing leadership development in multiple seasons rather than simply in one.

Every year the coaches continued to engage in Lead ‘Em Up workshops, becoming more connected to the curriculum, helping them teach it and lead it better than before.

It was the most recent winter season when things jumped to another level as Burns coordinated a community event, inviting the school superintendent, high school athletic director, and various community leaders so they could be introduced to the program and discuss ways of implementing it throughout the larger community.

It was a great event and it appears Marshall, MI is continuing to level up.

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!