Developing a player-led team doesn’t mean coaches give up control—it means they strengthen leadership from within. Research shows that high-quality athlete leadership boosts resilience, motivation, and team cohesion while reducing burnout. In this playbook, we break down the essential steps: co-creating standards for clarity and buy-in, redefining leadership as influence, highlighting individual strengths, removing the perfection barrier, and providing leadership reps. When athletes take ownership, teams thrive. Learn how to build a culture where leadership is shared, accountability is natural, and performance reaches new heights.