Student Athlete Leadership Academy, Western PA; August 7. 2009

It was my pleasure to present 3 sessions on Leadership Development to the approx. 200 student/athletes attending the event at Robert Morris University in Moon Township last week. I was contacted by the organizer through the USOC's Athletes Referral Network, which is a way the USOC tries to get athletes into the local markets via events just like this one.

My main goal was to help these kids how to go about creating a plan for their leadership goals. We discussed what they see as important leadership qualities and then how those apply - or don't - to their leadership capabilities today. We then looked into some ways they can improve the areas they need work on. I tried to help them understand that they are more than just athletes - they are students, someone's kid, church goer, worker, etc... They can draw on all aspects of their lives to help build their leadership qualities and the respect they earn from each area of their lives will help them on the field.

It was a fun morning. Some coaches and athletic directors attended also attended and they all had some great questions and comments. The kids were all pretty good about discussing their strengths and weaknesses and drew from what others were suggesting on how to help build a specific quality. Some of the qualities they saw as making an effective leader:

- Good communicator
- Confident
- Able to handle adversity
- Positive attitude
- Inspirational
- Respected/respectful

I hope I get the opportunity to participate again next year - it is nice to get in front of kids to share my story and try to help them as they build theirs.