How can i be a better leader for my football team?

Question

i want the younger kids on my team to look up to me not to be so scared of me that i can't even pat them on the back without them flinching... i just wanna be a role model fo my teammates.

Answer 1

Stop patting them on the back?  Maybe you are sending them the wrong ideas.

Answer 2

stop being a d**k. lol.  

dumbass.

Answer 3

I think in order to be a great leader, you must show your teammates that you are also a great follower.  As long as you work hard for every rep in practice, you should gain some respect from the other kids on the team.  However, respect does not translate into trust.  Like someone earlier mentioned, taking an interest in the players lives outside of football will greatly help.  The younger kids are trying extremelyhard to do what everyone else thinks is cool.  If you help them to realize that they are good people to you without "people pleasing", they will find something different in you than everyone else.  Then you will find that they will trust you, and respect you at the same time.  

Also, keep in mind that keeping your cool, and calmly explaining situations to the players will help as well.  For example, if you are a DB, and someone misses a tackle, you could teach them by saying, "You know, when I was younger, I used to do this or that, but what I found to help me is..."  Then they will think that you are not that much different from them.  Maybe take one or two of them to lunch after practice/school one day and find out more about them.  That will also help.  

The bottom line is that if you stay calm and explain things extra nice to them, they will trust and respect you, and they won't flinch anymore.    

Answer 4

Encourage them. That doesn't mean yell "Run you ******* dumbass" that means yell "C'mon, lets go, c'mon, finish" Then when they finish, you tell them good job and give them a high five or something.  

Answer 5

Ask them to be on our contact list here on Yahoo Answers.

Answer 6

I would say the most important part of being a leader in football is showing them you have commitment on and off the field. If your teammates know that you care about them and that you care about winning, they'll follow you. A lot of this has to do with leading by example. A lot of the time talking in the huddle and whatnot can hurt your ability as a leader. It's not an easy thing to develop, it'll take time to do right. But if you are truly committed and show that with your play, you'll be a leader.

Answer 7

Lead by example, don't worry about what other people think.  Whatever you do, don't start that yelling c**p, people nowadays don't respond to that very well.