FOCUSED ON WINNING
Throughout her playing career, U.S. Women’s National Team captain Christa Dietzen has always had her eyes firmly on the prize.
need to be able to hear all sides of an issue. And you also need to be able to chal- lenge the other side, whether it’s the players or the coaches. Sometimes, the issues are difficult. Sometimes, you have to hold people accountable. It can be tough, but to be a good captain, you can’t always take the path of least resistance.
Be open to feedback If you take your ego out of the equation, listening to feedback from others can be a huge benefit. Our USA coach, Karch Kiraly, is really good about that. He’s always asking others for input. That’s how you learn and become better at whatever you’re doing. Like I mentioned
earlier, you’re not going to have all the answers. It’s important to stay open-minded and take advice.
Go the extra mile If you see someone struggling or having
a bad day, spend a little extra time figuring out what’s bothering them. That might mean meeting them after practice or after class. Help them work through it as best you can. Show them that you’re there for them.
Embrace vulnerability Just because you’re the captain doesn’t mean
you have all the answers. If you’re leading by
example and doing the right things, one of the best gifts you can give younger players is sharing a moment when you struggled. That will help you form a closer bond with your teammates and show them that you’ve faced frustrating challenges too.
Develop other leaders If you see younger members of the team with leadership qualities, share what you’ve learned. Don’t worry that you might be train- ing someone who could become an even better leader than you are. Part of your legacy will be passing the leadership baton to the next genera- tion in a way that helps the program continue to thrive.
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