1. Forging leaders in the weight room & Defining the role
The Squad Leader
Forging leaders in the weight room & Defining the role

2. Why Squad Leaders? All coaches want leaders on their teams
Never put players in a position to lead. (develop skills)
Builds a team of coaches
Self-facilitating a standard and creates a culture of accountability.
Creates well-rounded individuals
Applicable to life outside of sports & the weight room.

3. Squad Leader’s Responsibilities
Responsible
Accountable for what you do or fail to do.
Show that you Care
Ensure teammates clearly understand what they must accomplish and goal for the day
See that the team and its individuals are set up and successful (on time/fueled).
Provide struggling teammates with the resources/encouragement to overcome the challenge.
Know your Teammates
Provide the necessary guidance, assistance, and supervision necessary to individuals to better perform their duties and achieve success.
Squad Leader’s Responsibilities

4. Squad Leader’s Responsibilities
Build Squad Unity
Accountable for individual/team conduct and maintaining the standard
Foster an environment where teammates feel comfortable relying on each other for assistant and advice (freshman/transfers)
Lead by Example
Hold yourself to a standard that you would have others maintain when they fill your roll.
Cultivate Trust and Respect
Leaders past and present must work together to advise, assist, and learn from each other.
Strive for Excellence
Identify weak areas and strive to improve them.
Squad Leader’s Responsibilities

5. Coach’s Responsibility
Communicating and executing the goal.
Coaches are responsible for how well the team performs their mission.
Establish and communicate a clear reference of expectations.
Will not communicate how to do your job. (Facilitate development)
Establish and communicate a clear reference of standards
Coach’s Responsibility

6. Clear Reference of Expectations
1# expectation should always be accomplishing the goal for the day.
High variance in expectations.
Simple, clear, and concise.
Hard copy (I didn’t know I had to do that)
Must not communicate how to perform expectations (facilitate development).
Clear Reference of Expectations

7. Player’s Responsibilities
Hold The Line – Maintain the Standard.
Control what you can control
11 Things that require ZERO talent
Understanding the role of the Squad Leader
Be on time
Work Ethic
Effort
Body Language
Energy
Attitude
Passion
Being coachable
Doing extra
Being Prepared
Player’s Responsibilities

8. 10-15 min pre-lift/practice meeting with all necessary leadership present.
Communicating the goal to leadership.
Provide the HOW.
Discuss the specifics of lift/practice. (the flow/modifications/etc …)
Set the squad leader up for success.
Action Plan (AP)

9. Setting the Squad Leader Up for Success
Set up.
Provide the plan and the tools (hard copy).
Provide a window of time to address the team.
Have patience.

10. 5-10 minute post lift/practice meeting with all necessary leadership present
Check the ego (Extreme Ownership, 2015)
“ Ego clouds and disrupts everything: the planning process, the ability to take good advice, and the ability to accept constructive criticism. Often, the most difficult ego to deal with is your own.”
Feed back loop
What went right? What went wrong?
What can the squad leader do better?
What can we as the coaches do better?
Improvement Plan (IP)

11. Works Cited
cs/nco_duties/duties-responsibilities-authority-of-nco.shtml
20References/Squad%20Leader%20Handbook% %20FINAL_30JUL14.pdf
Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, Extreme Ownership, 2015.