skip navigation

Building Leadership in Young Athletes

By Dr. Timothy Baghurst, Team USA, 03/19/18, 12:00PM PDT

Share

As a parent, set the example at home but also show them examples, ideally in sports, where a leader has demonstrated leadership traits.

Is leadership taught or is it something we’re born with?

It’s a tough question, but it’s a little of both. There is no set “leadership” personality type, and leaders come in all shapes and sizes. Some children seem to be natural leaders whereas other children seem to be natural followers.

Often these traits are linked with whether they tend to be introverts or extroverts. The extrovert is often the leader and vice versa especially among young children. But this doesn’t mean that if your child is naturally shy he or she can’t be a leader.