Sports can be a great way for children to exercise and make friends. As they grow older, sports can and will create an inner sense of leadership ability. After all, competitions are won by teams, but teams are only as strong as the leaders that empower them. Teams can win on the basis of inspiration: if they see their leader or a former player winning competitions, they, too, can feel compelled to win.

Leadership can mean two things in sports: first, you can be the leader of your team and walk with it on its road to greatness, perhaps as the coach, manager, or captain; second, you can be the leader of your particular sport by being its best player. In either case, you will need to be focused on individual excellence and determined to win. This is the first step to being a leader in anything, you must know what it is that you want. You must know where you want to go otherwise you will not recognize when you arrive. Without knowing what you want, you will not be able to formulate a game plan designed to reach it.

Do you aim to be a soccer player, football player, baseball player, or basketball player? Is it your desire to be a gymnast, javelin thrower, or pole vaulter? Do you like working with a team or do you prefer to workout on your own? You must recognize your talents and know exactly what you are good at, and, moreover, you need to know and understand your good and your bad habits or attitudes because they affect your talent. Not all people are suited to work on their own, and not all people work well with a team. Know your abilities, your limits, and your capacities before you embark on your quest for leadership in your sport.

Next, work toward being the best in your chosen sport or discipline. This means that you must train every day, practice every day, and work as hard as you can every day on all aspects of your sport. Victory is a result of the effort you put forth on the practice field, not on your efforts in the arena or the stadium. The adage practice makes perfect is not a cliché: it is a universal truth. As unfair as it may seem, natural giftedness can only get your career started, becoming the best in your sport will require training.

Invest money in you and in your sport. Pick the best trainer, the best equipment, and the best uniform and gear. The very thought of investing money in a sport can motivate anyone to do well, if only to recoup their initial investment. If you are working with a team, encourage people to make wise investments in sports-related goods, products, and services. If your team thinks with one mind, it can play with one mind, and as a result, win easily.

Lastly, stay healthy! You need a well-built, well-maintained, physically fit body that can withstand the pressure of your chosen sport and stay in top shape for many years. Eat a balanced diet, drink a lot of water, use supplements that can support realistic muscle and bone development. Health is the single most neglected area of our lives today. We would rather treat an illness rather than prevent its occurrence. We would much more willingly treat an injury than spend time and money on its prevention. Consult with your doctor regularly. Follow these guidelines, and soon, you, too can be well on the way to becoming the leader you were meant to be.