In this week’s BCS National Championship college football game here in the U.S., Alabama coach Nick Saban was overheard telling his kicker that he would be going to him later and that he needed him. This was just after a field goal was blocked. Alabama’s kickers have had a troubled season, missing key opportunities. Kicker Jeremy Shelley missed two field goals Monday night but made five, accounting for all of the points in the game until a late touchdown.

Jeremy Shelley is not the best kicker in football. He even missed the extra point on the touchdown. Everyone knows he’s not the best. Nick Saban knows it too. A big deal was made of the fact that coach Saban recruited the #1 kicker in the country for next year. He knows how important this position is.

I’ve been in the room with Alabama fans when a field goal is being attempted. You hear swearing, screaming, and groaning. But it was the national championship game and coach Saban needed a kicker. He has more than one. It may have been easy to replace Shelley after his first miss with the other kicker who specializes in longer kicks but Saban stuck with Shelley. Most importantly, he told Shelley he was sticking with him. And then he showed him he had confidence in him.

I’m sure coach Saban wished for a second he had a better kicker. But as a leader he was leading the players he had Monday night. He created a sense of confidence in his kicker in order to allow him to do the best he could. He missed a second one but Jeremy Shelly also kicked a 44 yarder, the longest of his career.

Assembling the perfect team happens over time. Getting the best performance possible from the team you have right now is leadership.

Photo credit: avinashkunnath

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