Blocking, Tackling and Leadership

by: Ted Roof
Duke University
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On behalf of our football program it is indeed a privilege for me to submit this article. As coaches we devote quite a bit of time and effort teaching the fundamental principles and techniques of blocking and tackling. We do this because we know what a tremendous impact these fundamentals have on our game. Another fundamental that I believe to be critical to an organization’s success is leadership.

Leadership is becoming increasingly more critical in college athletics as our level of control diminishes due to NCAA rules and restrictions and our level of accountability increases. We as coaches are being held accountable not only for the performance of our teams on the field but also for our student-athletes’ actions in many other areas outside of athletic performance.

The process of developing leaders within our program begins with the identification of the student-athletes who can best serve as team leaders. This process involves the players and the coaching staff. We want to make sure we are developing the real leaders of the team and not just promoting popularity contests. True leaders will help steer the ship through the rough waters while people interested in being popular will go with the flow of the waves. As coaches we want our team leaders to reflect the qualities we want for our football team. We feel that two of the most important characteristics for our leaders are courage and toughness. We feel it is very important to identify and develop leadership in our younger players. It is important not to wait until your leaders are senior to start working on their leadership skills. You have got to get your young leaders prepared because one day in the not too distant future they will become your experienced and seasoned leaders.

After the identification process has taken place, the developmental phase must begin. In developing our leadership outline we asked ourselves a few questions. The first question we asked was, “What is our definition of leadership?” After several hours of discussion and thought we decided on the following definition. We define leadership as positively impacting your sphere of influence with the positive involvement of others in the process. This definition includes responsibility not only for one’s self but the responsibility to add value to the other members of the team.

The next question we asked was “What thing do our team leaders need to know to effectively lead their peers?” The first things they need to know are the values for our program. Every program may have different values but they must be genuine. They can’t be fake or phony or else it won’t take long for the players and coaches to see and feel the disconnect between what is said and what is done. This type of disconnect can severely damage the leader’s credibility. The second thing leaders must know is the vision for the program or the team. They must know where the program is headed. If the leaders are going to lead people to this vision or destination they must have a clear picture of where they are going.

Another question we asked is “What must our team leaders do?” Leaders in our program must hold themselves and their peers accountable for their effort and their performance. This occurs in many forms and may involve confrontation of inappropriate behavior or attitudes. Such confrontation demands courage because of the risk that the leader takes when he confronts effort or performance or attitudes that don’t make the team better. Team leaders also engage their peers through positive affirmation. We feel that it is equally important for the leader to reward the desired effort or behavior. Another thing that leaders must do is to make tough decisions that are for the good of the team and not for individual gratification. This also requires courage.

The next question is “What must our leaders be?” They must be totally committed to the team not jus conveniently. They need to focus on their responsibilities to the team. They must be unswerving in their words actions and beliefs. The manner in which they speak or act can’t change with the wind or whether the outcome of the last game was a win or a loss. They stay the course and are unswerving in their approach.

The final question that we address is “What must our leaders see?” They must see everyday as an opportunity to improve and to have an impact on the team’s success. They must have a vision of the team’s success, accomplishment and achievement. They must have a vision of competing. They need to have a vivid picture of what finishing their responsibility to the team should look like. They must see everyday as an opportunity to beneficially impact their sphere of influence with the positive involvement of others in the process. In other words, they must see each day as an opportunity to lead their team. What an awesome privilege and responsibility.

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