Leadership isn't a title or being the loudest voice. It's how you show up for the people around you — teammates, opponents, coaches, family. Every athlete leads someone, whether they realise it or not.
We work on three leadership skills any young athlete can build: setting the example (arriving ready, working hard, being coachable), lifting others (spotting a teammate having a rough session and saying the right thing), and having hard conversations (giving honest feedback kindly, taking it the same way).
Teamwork is the daily version of leadership. Mentors help athletes understand their role in a squad, how to make the players around them better, and how to handle common flashpoints — being dropped, being subbed off, a teammate who won't pull their weight, a coach they don't get on with.