Appendix - Athlete Self-Evaluation
The self-evaluation tool on the following page is designed to be something that you can distribute to your athletes at the beginning of your season (the first day of practice is a great time), as you introduce them to the study and pursuit of the discipline of leadership.
Before you distribute the information to your athletes, you’ll need to understand the categories of “Disciple Athlete”, “Apprentice Athlete”, and “Servant-Leader Athlete”. The following information is not necessarily intended to be read directly to you athletes, but to give you an understanding of the categories as they relate to athletes at different levels of maturity and development. You can then decide how you want to present the information to your athletes; usually it’s easiest and most effective to divide athletes by grade levels (freshmen, sophomore/juniors, seniors).
The first level is the Disciple Athlete; he needs to be taught the fundamentals, and his development requires a lot of oversight. Repetition of basic habits is critical at this stage; this athlete’s focus is on training. The second level is the Apprentice Athlete; he is committed to and actively working on improving. His faithfulness to the task can be trusted, so he needs less oversight; this athlete’s focus is on practice. The third level is the Servant-Leader Athlete; his habits and example have elevated him to a leadership position, and he understands that leadership is defined by a responsibility to serve others. He does things with care, and he gives oversight to others. His sees the “big picture” of team and is motivated by helping others to learn and grow; this athlete’s focus is on maintaining the health and success of the team.
These different levels are often closely associated with age. You might identify freshmen as Disciples, sophomores and juniors as Apprentices, and seniors as Servant-Leaders — and that’s an alright starting point. However, keep in mind that you will have older athletes who are less mature (and not ready to lead), and you will have younger athletes who are more mature (and capable of more demanding challenges). Treat each athlete as an individual; don’t assume that an athlete of a certain age should be “lumped in” with others his age, when using these challenges to encourage and guide him in his submission to discipline throughout the season.
Encourage your athletes to read over the appropriate category (based on their grade level); then ask each athlete to evaluate whether each characteristic or behavior is a strength or a weakness of his, and to identify one particular way in which he would like to grow or improve this year. (This can be done privately, or you can allow time for athletes to voluntarily share with one another, if you’d like.)
At the end of the season, ask your athletes to use the “leader athlete” list (which you will compile throughout the season) to evaluate their submission to and growth in the discipline of leadership. You can also have all athletes (except seniors) look forward to the set of “sport applications” of leadership for the next level, and to identify goals for growth for the year ahead.
“Sport Applications” of Leadership
Athlete Self-Evaluation
How does a Disciple Athlete train in leadership?
· Recognize the areas in which you may already be in a position of leadership (among younger students at school or church or in the community, among siblings, or among your peers). Do not tease, trash talk, make fun of, or demand service from these people. Take on the nature of a servant so that you can lead rightly.
· Watch older and respected teammates, and identify those who display positive and effective leadership. Follow their example.
How does an Apprentice Athlete practice leadership?
· Evaluate how you are doing in areas where you are now in a position of leadership. Commit to serving those people who you currently struggle to understand, appreciate, or love.
· Encourage teammates who seem tired or discouraged. Make yourself a servant to them by tutoring them in techniques with which they are struggling, or helping them to learn plays or offensive/defensive concepts.
· Pray for your teammates — both Disciples and Servant-Leaders.
How does a Servant-Leader Athlete maintain leadership?
· Carry the equipment. Invite a Disciple to help you.
· Finish your run or drill; then help others who are lagging behind.
· Use Isaiah 35:3-6 to evaluate your work as a Servant-Leader:
- “Encourage the exhausted” — Some are not prepared for the rigor of practice; go out of your way to encourage them.
- “Strengthen the feeble” — Some have not developed the physical strength or intestinal fortitude or mental toughness for the rigor of practice or competition. Go out of your way to encourage them, even when you don’t feel you have the strength to do one more thing.
- “Encourage those anxious in heart” — Some are not confident and worry that they’ll fail. Help them to break skills and concepts down to goals that are attainable today. Help them find courage in God. Pray with them.
-Open others’ eyes to see what they have not seen. Understand what is confusing to them.
Help others to shout for joy when they accomplish goals. Rejoice with them. Accept them as members of the team, even in their struggles. Remember when you were in their place.
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