WEEK #19: BROOKE MCLEOD

 

Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

 

My name is Brooke McLeod, I am 13 years old and I am in grade 7. I love math and Phys Ed. I was on the track team, volleyball team, basketball team and cross-country team for my school.

 

I play OPDL soccer for the Richmond Hill Raiders. I play center back and I’ve been playing soccer since I was 4. More recently, I have been playing rep basketball and I currently play for North Toronto Huskies.

 

I have a younger sister named Taylor and I enjoy spending time with her. Taylor and I love baking together, going for bike rides, and playing at the park. I enjoy playing board games with my family and talking to my friends.

 

I am passionate about leadership because I enjoy helping people so they can be the best they can be. I lead when playing sports, I communicate on the field/court and the bench, during games and practices. I also love starting cheers on the bench. I am excited to practice my leadership skills as a new member on the Lead Thru Sport Youth Advisory Board.

 

I am passionate about competing and that drives me to do my best and work as hard as I can in practice so that I am ready for games.

 

I care a lot about other people and being compassionate towards others is important to me. The day before international kindness day we had a presentation at school where we were given examples of how to spread kindness to others like bringing a newspaper to your neighbours’ door or doing the dishes for your family. I thought, what if I could make my whole classes’ day by writing them each a note about what I think is great about them. I stayed up past my bedtime to create a note for each classmate and my teachers so that I could hand them out the next day on International Kindness Day.

 

What is a goal you have achieved you are proud of? How did you achieve your goal? 

 

After playing basketball for a couple years, I decided that I wanted a challenge on a new team. After going to a few tryouts with different teams, I made it my goal to make the North Toronto team. I didn’t know if the coach was even going to take any new players, but I was able to just go out a few times and play with the team. Every time I was there I gave it 100% effort and I even asked the coach what I should work on. After a lot of hard work and determination I ended up making the team and I am proud of myself.

 

What is something you have done outside of a sport you’re passionate about?  

 

I am passionate about practicing my leadership skills any chance I can. When I was 8 years old, my mom was running a mother and daughter event at circus school and I asked if I could lead it with her. She agreed because I am responsible and I care about doing a good job.

 

After we did the circus activities like the flying trapeze which is really scary, and climbing the silk ropes, we sat all together and my mom let me take 12 mother daughter pairs through some of the workbook she had prepared. When it was done I was really proud of myself and my mom and I celebrated together.

 

What advice do you have for parents, coaches or sport administrators to improve inclusion in sport? 

 

I think that it would be good for teams to have a leadership program. Where every week we invite a younger team to join us in practice, each player will be assigned a role model. They can get to know each other during challenges and partner work.

 

Please provide us 5 words that best describe you. 

 

GRITTY | COMPETITIVE | AFFECTIONATE | DETERMINED | INSIGHTFUL

 

 

Instagram: @brookemcleod17