West Essex Sports Captains Learn Leadership at Yogi Berra Museum

West Essex High School winter sports captains and coaches attended a recent special Sportsmanship Workshop at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning center, where they learned how to lead their teams by giving their best effort and setting good examples for underclassmen.

The captains also learned how to help their coaches, run better practices, compete with character, become the best teammates, demonstrate leadership, prevent hazing and create and maintain a positive culture within the athletic program. All winter athletes in grades 7 to 12 and their parents also attended a similar program for players and parents Nov. 20 at West Essex High School.

Several captains said they found the program very helpful. Captain Ann-Marie Lee of Roseland said she found the program very interesting.

“We need to try to give the underclassmen their own leadership roles,” she said. “We can use these roles to build up morale on the team.”

“As captains, we need to be more enthusiastic,” said Marina Hahn, a junior from Fairfield.

Who’s Who in the Photo Gallery

1) West Essex High School winter sports captains and coaches participate in a sportsmanship workshop at the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center in Little Falls in November.

2) West Essex High School senior Shannon Bertscha of Roseland talks to John McCarthy at the sportsmanship workshop. McCarthy holds his book “What Would Yogi Do?: Guidelines for Athletes, Coaches, and Parents Who Love Sports.”

Photos courtesy of Allison Freeman