Topic: Leadership

Activity:

• Mojo Tank demonstration (Need: Cups and Water)
• Start all players will a full cup of water. The cup of water is a "confidence tank"
• Tell Player 1 that they got a hit. Add water to their cup
• Tell Player 2 that they made an error. Dump some of their water out
• Tell Player 3 they made a diving catch. Add water to their cup
• Tell Player 2 that they struck out. Dump out more water.
• Tell Player 2 that they went out to the field, and when they were still thinking about their strike out, they made another error in the field. Dump the rest of their water out.
• Ask the team how useful Player 2 is with an empty tank of confidence
• Have several players pour a small amount of water from their cups into Player 2's.
• Teammates can do to help when they notice someone has an empty tank.

Conversation Starters:

• Q: How will you notice when your teammate's tank is running low? What do they look like?
  • A: Answers will vary. Hanging their head. Slapping their gloves. Look sad or mad. Watch your teammates body language after they make a mistake.
• Q: What can you do to help fill your teammate's tank?
  • A: Help rebuild their confidence. "You'll get the next one." Remind them to take a deep breath and refocus.
• Q: What can happen when your teammate has an empty tank?
  • A: They focus so much on their last mistake that they make more. Even worse, they can start to empty everyone else's tanks.

Key Points:

• Things leaders do:
  • Identify your struggling teammates.
  • Fill their tank. Encourage and refocus.
  • Keep a positive attitude and infect the rest of their team with that attitude.
• Wk6 Callback: The goal is to fill up your teammates, and keep them "pointed towards home" with encouragement

“The Ride Home”

• I loved watching you play.
• Who are some leaders that you know?
• What makes them leaders?
• Explain that even though a group may not have "someone in charge," they might still have a leader. A good leader is someone that people WANT to follow. That may happen naturally.
• Have you player list the qualities of someone that they would like to be led by, and why they value those qualities.
• Explain that not everyone's list is the same. Some people value different qualities, so the best leaders can change their leadership approach to best serve each member of their team.