Stephen Lewis earned a place on the 2022 Dimensions Learning Disability and Autism Leader’s List for his contributions to Sport and Disability Advocacy Work. Here Stephen explains why he is passionate about breaking down barriers to inclusion both on and off the pitch
I have been fortunate to spend time around all different types of leaders over the years including politicians, people who work in public roles, and even people who have played professional football in the Premier League in front of more than 50,000. During this article I will be sharing some of the things I have learned about leadership.
What makes a captain?
Football can teach people a lot about leadership. Every team has a captain- a player often picked due to their leadership skills. But how and why are they chosen? A captain can be the most experienced player in a dressing room, or can be chosen for their communication and organisational skills, or be the loudest player on the pitch, or quick to put a big tackle in. But that doesn’t represent every leader. I know myself from captaining teams that you can often lead by example by showing, rather than telling people. Often, respect on a football pitch can be gained as much by showing your technical ability as it can be by being the biggest voice in the room.
Coaches, and dealing with disappointment
Now, what about the coach? Among your many responsibilities, you have to manage the expectations of a club, develop players and get a group of players to work together as a cohesive unit. Of course, at a senior level, you must get the all-important 3 points. From an outside perspective, most people think a coach chooses 11 players, but a coach’s job often can be spent managing people not chosen for the team. How you manage that situation can often show your leadership skills. As a coach, you’re normally dealing with an average of 18-25 players. When you pick 11 people, this usually leaves 5-8 substitutes, that whilst normally disappointed, are still involved. How you learn to deal with their disappointments can be a sign of what type of group you have and how successful you’re going to be that season.
Representation in sport
When I was growing up, people with disabilities were underrepresented in leadership positions in sport. There weren’t people I could watch in football that had dyspraxia or autism. But it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to take part in sport that I saw quite how low the numbers of participation are for people with these conditions, and how important it was that this was changed. When I first joined Newtown community session in 2015, I couldn’t have imagined the things I would go on to achieve both on and off the pitch. Over the years I have become one of the most recognised disability footballers in Wales and broken-down barriers in coaching for people with hidden impairments.
It’s why I am incredibly proud to have used my success in football to have an influence, changing attitudes for people with hidden disabilities within my local community. Nationally, I work with a number of different charities and not-for-profits, like the Dyspraxia Foundation and Dimensions UK. I do this alongside my work with people in the professional game to improve awareness of hidden impairments and the importance of inclusion in football.
Being a Leaders’ List Ambassador
In 2022 I was named in the Dimensions Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List for my contributions to Sport and Disability Advocacy Work. The list celebrates influential people in the UK with autism and learning disabilities. Being named in the LDA Leaders’ List has given me confidence that times have changed, and that people with autism can be leaders in their fields, communities, and professions. Now in my Ambassador role I look forward to celebrating more of the talented people we have all around the UK on the 2024 LDA Leaders’ List.
Find out more about it at www.dimensions-uk.org/dimensions-campaigns/ – ldaleaderslist
@DimensionsUK
dimensions-uk.org
