The Monthly Ü: Sturdy Leadership

This month’s Grit and Growth theme is sturdy leadership.

Sturdy leadership is a term borrowed from Dr. Becky Kennedy’s best selling book “Good Inside”. This book is a parenting resource which also makes many of her concepts useful for coaches and captains.

As a coach or captain, your athletes don’t need you to be perfect, unshakably calm, or endlessly positive. What they need is sturdy leadership—your ability to stay grounded and steady no matter what’s happening around you.

To assess for your own sturdiness, ask yourself these three questions:

Do I model calm and consistency for my athletes, even when games, practices, or conflicts get intense?
Do I balance empathy with clear expectations?
Am I leading in a way that builds trust and resilience?

Here are some ways to build this type of leadership within yourself and/or your captains:

Contain the moment: When emotions run high—whether it’s frustration after a loss, nerves before a game, or conflict on the team—your job isn’t to mirror that chaos. It’s to hold steady and give your athletes the sense that the team is safe and contained.
- After a heartbreaking overtime loss, a few players slam their gear and start arguing. Instead of yelling or walking out, the coach calmly gathers the team, acknowledges the disappointment (“This hurts—we all wanted that win”), and lays out next steps for recovery and tomorrow’s practice.
Strength + warmth: Sturdy leaders aren’t harsh drill sergeants or pushovers. They set clear limits, demand effort, and hold athletes accountable—while also showing respect, care, and humanity.
- During a tough workout, a teammate cuts corners on a drill. The captain calls it out—“We need full reps if we want results”—but follows up with encouragement: “You’ve got this; let’s push through together.”
Confidence, not control: Athletes perform best when they know their coach can handle adversity without losing composure. That steadiness builds trust and frees players to focus on their performance.
- After a call, a few teammates complain loudly to the ref. The captain quickly huddles the team: “Let’s move on. Focus on the next play—we can still control the outcome.”
Model composure: By staying regulated under pressure, you teach athletes how to respond to challenges—whether that’s bouncing back from mistakes, handling refs’ calls, or pushing through tough training.
- At a brutal early-morning conditioning session, athletes groan and complain. Instead of snapping, the coach maintains a steady tone: “I know this is hard. That’s why it matters. Let’s finish strong together.”

Sturdy leadership is about being the anchor in the storm: strive to be a leader who athletes know can absorb pressure, set boundaries, and lead with both toughness and empathy.

If you would like to request a session for your coaching staff or captains to develop the skills that build study leaders, this form to connect with us.

The Resilience Report

We are always watching sports and it’s not hard to find examples of moments when mental fitness is on full display. Each month we will feature a story or example of one of these moments.

After a long absence due to a major knee injury, the Australian soccer star, Sam Kerr, has made a sensational return. She scored her 100th goal for Chelsea in her first game back. She understands the challenges of watching from the sideline during rehab.

"She's someone who you have to tell her to go slowly, to stop her a bit, because she's so excited and she wants to be on the pitch as much as possible, which we understand. Kerr came off the bench to tap home Chelsea's third late on in the 3-1 win over Aston Villa - for her first goal in 634 days, after around two years of injury hell.

That's important for her confidence, her morale. She is human. It was a long time for her rehabbing and all these months and weeks were tough. That's normal, just for her to see the end of the tunnel is a really nice feeling.”

Sam Kerr sounds like so many athletes we have the opportunity to work with…recovery patience is hard for elite athletes.

Playbook:

Did you know that we are able to offer support specifically for coaches? Coaches deserve the same level of support they give their players and we’re here to help you strengthen your own inner sturdiness.

Connect with us to build an ongoing relationship and receive support throughout your season and beyond. Athletic programs, schools, and national coaching associations can also partner with us to provide dedicated services that uplift and sustain their coaches.

If this sounds like something you’d like to hear more about, reach out to us through this link.

What are we tuning into?

Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy isn’t just a parenting book– it’s a playbook for leaders. As a coach, you know athletes perform best when they feel seen, supported, and guided—not just corrected.

Good Inside offers powerful, practical strategies for building trust, fostering resilience, and navigating tough moments with empathy. While written for parents, its core message—that people are “good inside” even when they struggle on the outside—applies directly to coaching.

This book equips you with tools to manage emotions, set clear boundaries, and strengthen relationships, helping you bring out the best in every athlete on your team.

Want to book a consult? Do that here!

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