Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT)
Friends School of Baltimore not only fields competitive athletic teams, but also promotes high standards for excellence, and a healthy perspective on competition for its students. The Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) plays a pivotal role in this process. This team provides a forum for student-athletes, coaches, and administrators to learn about themselves and grow as the next generation of leaders. Members help coordinate guest speakers, spirit events, and volunteer service learning opportunities.
SALT was established in 2018 under the leadership of Athletic Director Kara Carlin in her first year at Friends. Carlin felt strongly about teaching student-athletes that there are many ways to be a leader, both on and off the field. As team captains, these students must remember that they are setting the tone for the team; if they express frustration or disappointment during a game, this may trickle down to teammates and affect the full team's performance. SALT is an important resource for captains to learn how to stay positive even when a game isn’t going their way. Leading from the sidelines is also a critical skill to learn; you can still be a strong influence on the team even if you are injured or unable to play.
When selected to be the captain of an athletic team at Friends, students automatically become a member of SALT. Team captains can be selected in a number of ways, such as team nominations, coaching staff selections, or students can self-nominate. This group works to bring in coaches, alumni, health professionals, nutritionists, and local collegiate athletes to present on a variety of topics, including goal-setting, social equity, Quaker values, leading from the sideline, and mental health. Carlin, who oversees SALT, has many ideas for the future of the program:
“Next year we would like to have the Upper School athletic leaders teach leadership skills to the Middle School captains so they can start putting them into practice at a younger age.” She also envisions a more structured framework for the program, finding a regular time to meet and having a “playbook” to work from.
Over the past six years, students in SALT have voiced their opinions on topics they believe will be most beneficial. Previous conversations and presentations that students have enjoyed include hearing about the transition to college as a student-athlete, going from a captain to a freshman player, and learning about nutrition, fitness, and wellness. SALT also focuses on the pressure that athletes experience in individual sports (such as racquet sports) and roles like goalie or pitcher when you feel like it’s all on you.
As a Quaker school, it is important for our students to be conscious of how to be a leader when the focus is more about consensus and community rather than leading from the top. Team captions are encouraged to incorporate Quaker values during their season by having a moment of silence before a game or posing something to think about as a team.
At Friends School, the expectations for the athletic program mirror those for academics and the arts; high standards for all involved, full commitment from adults and students, and continuous, differentiated support that allows every child to fulfill their potential.
