Unfortunately with England I
did not have the time to
cover many of these but
John Terry was such a
natural leader that it was
never a great concern.
However, I have made it
more of a priority at the
clubs I have worked with. At
Middlesbrough where I was
Assistant Manager I worked
consistently with Gareth
Southgate to help him
become a really fine captain.
For readers interested to
learn more about captaincy I
recommend an article I
wrote detailing my work with
Gareth in FHS, the Sports
Coach U.K. coaching
magazine, issue 19, April
2003.
Questions
1. What attributes are important for a good
leader to have?
2. Bill Beswick describes John Terry as a
LEADERSHIP
‘natural leader.’ What theory of leadership
would John Terry be in based on this
Do you do any specific work with the ‘captain’ of
description? Describe this theory.
each team?
In a competitive situation where teams must confront each
TASK:
other aggressively and consistently over the course of 90
List who you believe
plus minutes, leadership is vital. Of course finding such
would be a good
leadership is not easy because captains not only have to be
‘leader’ in your class?
“a team is
in control of themselves – their own fears, anxieties and Explain why you
emotional state – but have to be in a position to constantly believe this person different from
support their team-mates. Captaincy is not necessarily
would make a good
about the captain but how they boost the confidence of
leader.
a group of
everybody else.
people
The issues I would work on with captains are:
CLASS
DISCUSSION:
• Helping them build their own mental strength
because it
Make a list of the
• Encouraging them to set a personal example
different people that
• Making clear their responsibilities
have been identified as
agrees to
• Ensuring they understand what the coach wants good leaders and their
• Improving their communication skills
attributes.
work
• Teaching them to listen as well as speak
• Improving their understanding of how to challenge
Are the personalities of
others in a positive manner
these people the same
together to
• Making sure they stay optimistic
or different?
achieve
• Analysing games so there is a clearer understanding
If they are the same
of ‘leadership moments’
what attributes do they
• Understanding how to ‘switch on’ to leadership on
share? If they are
something
the field but ‘switch off’ back to friendship off different what does this
the field
indicate about how
worthwhile”
leaders should address
different situations?
16 Sport IQ : September 2008