Sports and Politics

There were a couple of victories in the election this year that had ties to the athletic arena. A former NFL coach, a Heisman trophy runner-up, and an NBA all-star were all elected to significant leadership positions. I don’t believe that it was just the “celebrity status” or “name recognition” that gave them this opportunity, though it certainly helped. I believe that there were significant leadership character qualities developed through athletic experiences that helped each of these men gain a position of influence in their “life after sports”. We should never underestimate the importance of the lessons learned through athletics as they have carry-over value to other areas of life and leadership. It is important that coaches take advantage of the opportunities to teach the character lessons through the sporting experience and give athletes an opportunity to lead their teams. A good coach doesn’t just “gather followers” or build a team, he prepares others to lead in areas of life after sports. Read the election stories of Sam Wyche, Heath Shuler, and Kevin Johnson and be reminded of the future potential leaders you have under your care as a coach. Leaders that won’t just lead your team, but will eventually lead a family, a church, a community, or a nation.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3683217&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines