This story initially appeared on Behind the Whistle, the official blog of the IWLCA, and is being republished with permission from the organization. Laura Field is the head coach at Fairfield University.

“The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated. The mind is the athlete; the body is simply the means it uses to run faster or longer, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further, or box better. Hoppie’s dictum to me, “First with the head and then with the heart,” was more than simply mixing brains with guts. It meant thinking well beyond the powers of normal concentration and then daring your courage to follow your thoughts.” — Bryce Courtenay, author

When I discovered this passage from “The Power of One” in high school, it quickly became the centerpiece of my ultra-cool quote wall and a message that I stared at daily for most of my athletic career. Depending on my mood, almost every line has spoken to me in different moments of my life. Almost two decades later, pieces of Courtenay’s passage seem even more relevant when I think about the challenges we have faced as coaches and leaders for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the wild summer of 2020.

I don’t have to remind anyone in this community that 2020 has been a year of unrest and instability. Social distancing, social unrest, difficult and necessary conversations about how to be actively anti-racist and support Black Lives Matter as a movement to meaningfully improve the sport of women’s lacrosse has put many coaches in unfamiliar territory. As creatures of habit during the summer — recruit, run camp, repeat — we are now facing new challenges to our daily lives, and as coaches, we are simultaneously helping our athletes navigate the adversity of the dramatic changes to their prescribed journey through college. As my father is fond of reminding me, your life will be defined by how well you handle adversity. Anybody can deal with success. Anyone can manage good fortune. It is what you do when you are down that makes all the difference. Simply put, adversity is an opportunity to define yourself as a leader.

What I have learned in the last six months is that leadership in a pandemic — whether you are a coach or an athlete, a parent or a teacher — is measured in equal parts head and heart.

Leading with your head seems obvious and more familiar. Making intuitive decisions to be smart with your actions, safe and respectful of the greater good, has become a way of life for much of the county. In the time of COVID, our decisions and our choices have a ripple effect for good or for bad on everyone around us, and we are compelled to make decisions with the thoughts of others prioritized perhaps for the first time ever. Being a good member of your community, leading with your head, is a necessary part of life for all athletes and even more so now.

Leading with heart, I would argue, is the most vital necessity of life in the pandemic or otherwise. Athletes who play with heart are resolute — set in their pursuit of victory, intrinsically motivated and resilient toward setbacks and adversity. Leaders who prioritize heart, support, empathy and compassion for those around them can have an equally powerful impact on the effects of adversity on their community.

Compassionate leadership entails bringing a community together by cultivating relationships, now often through virtual connections and conversations that have been a lifeline for many who have felt disconnected and disengaged from their regular routine. Talking, listening, laughing and learning about each other doesn’t have to stop even if we can’t be in person. Communicating authentically on good days and bad ones can amplify the shared human experience of life during a pandemic and lessen the feelings of isolation. Talking about mental health, acknowledging the daily strain on even the strongest personality and normalizing those feelings, is a form of leadership during this chaotic time. Especially in a crisis, we cannot forget that we are all human. We all need help, motivation and sometimes just a good laugh to battle the pressures put on our mental health and well-being.

In the midst of all the upheaval resulting from the stressors of Summer 2020, it’s natural for leaders to feel powerless and anxious. However, the ability of each of us — as individuals, first followers or as leaders — to have a positive impact on our teams or our peers is immeasurable. It is vital to take care of yourself and your own mental well-being, but don’t forget to also take a look around you and reach out to your peers who may “seem” fine and as if they have it all together.

Providing mental health support to assist friends and teammates dealing with anxiety and other issues this pandemic has unleashed can be as simple as picking up a phone and making a connection. Highly visible and caring leadership becomes even more important — remember, the power of one person reaching out can make the difference in the life of someone in need!