Quince Orchard: Building Championship Teams with Lead ‘Em Up

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Quince Orchard: Building Championship Teams with Lead ‘Em Up

Starting out in 2018 the Quince Orchard football program led by Coach Kelley decided to go all in on Lead ‘Em Up.

Over the next few years, the players fully leaned into the program and it helped elevate the Cougars to back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022.

During those years the players got verified, demonstrated great excitement in building their green team had TWO Green 13 winners. They were all in.

Other teams couldn’t help but notice and they began expressing interest.

It started with Coach Smorse with Girls Volleyball, then girls soccer then baseball and at that point, Athletic Director Jeff Rabberman invested in the program for all their varsity teams.

At this point, everybody was speaking the language and athletes were growing in their leadership not just in one season, but all seasons. This level of development and focus throughout the athletic program was leveling up these athletes in a way like never before.

Just to show you a glimpse into the excitement, the students even put a centerfold page in their yearbook spotlighting Lead ‘Em Up and the Green Team

Five years later the athletic program is still all in on Lead ‘Em Up and every player knows the language. The standard has been raised and remains raised.

Have fun and #LeadEmUp

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Green Team Framework

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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!