I helped coach the carnival in Term 3, after being delayed from Term 2 due to COVID-19.

Given my own team of around 10 girls to coach in soccer, it allowed for more individual growth as I was learning to manage a group alone rather than with another coach. I lead the girls through a warmup and impromptu passing drill, showing my effective leadership as the girls followed the warmup I created on the spot and, with the help of other values like communication, I could lead a drill that ran effectively and quickly. This also shows my personal development as I struggled in the past at taking incisive and leading with efficiency and speed. I umpired every game myself even though I had limited knowledge of the rules, deciding to lead my team and coach them, even if I coached and umpired at the same time.

After 4 games, my team was exhausted. We didn’t have a break for hours so, knowing my team couldn’t wait, I took leadership and initiative by talking to the other team’s captain about playing a half game. Allowing my team the time they needed to rest and eat.

Being a leader means that you have to both guide and care for your team.

 I demonstrated both these aspects of leadership by guiding them through their games, cheering, coaching, and independently umpiring for them so that they could play. Also caring for them by letting them rotate off, allowing time to talk with friends, finding them when it was time to come back and caring for their wellbeing amongst many others.

My leadership payed off as we won our final game, after losing every game before it. Whist there were other values that I used throughout the day, like organisation and communication, the leadership I showed by managing my own team was the standout for me.