The second point in my team philosophy is about working with our school, student body, and community.
We understand that we can't be successful alone. We need the support of our school, it's faculty, staff and administration. One of my goals is to show our appreciation for all those at the school who make our success possible. Everyone wants to be associated with winners. People will go out of their way to spend time supporting people they feel connected to. We want the people we represent to feel proud of our team and to feel like they are connected to what we are trying to accomplish. We want to show our respect to the Snowflake High School faculty and staff by being outstanding representatives of what they've taught us.
We also want to connect with our student body. Not all students can play football but we want them to be a part of our success. We want to give them a sense of pride by performing our best when we take the field.
Our community is what drives our school. Our alumni, boosters, and parents are all a part of the tradition we are building. We can't win games without their help and we want them to know we appreciate their hard work for the school and the football team.
As a demonstration of support and teamwork between the school, student body and community our football team will join them in singing the fight song before every game. I believe this can be a great tradition we bring back to the school.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
PHILOSOPHY: PART 1
The first part of my team philosophy is to have fun. To me, fun is a descriptive word that you use when you are talking about something you like doing. Most coaches wouldn't describe football as fun at the high school level. There's pressure to win, high expectations, hard work and tough decions to make. Having said that I look forward to the process. It's "fun" to me.
I think it's important to point out that "fun" activities aren't always accompanied by laughter and cotton candy. Fun activities can include hard work (and most of the time they do). The younger we are the more instant gratification we need. What little kid doesn't love getting a trophy for being on the team. As kids get older, however, they have to learn that to be good at something you have to work for it. That process can be fun.
So, where does "fun" fit in our program?
1. Athletes need to choose to participate. That choice makes all the difference. I've talked with the kids a lot lately about choosing to improve. I don't want to force the kids to come to passing league and weights. I want them to want to be there. I think they are doing that.
2. Athletes must feel like they are progressing and becoming better in the sport. The end goal is to perform well. It's not fun to look like a fool. Most kids will persist in hard work if they feel like it's worth something. Practices, drills and weightlifting can be a fun part of the learning process if they can see that it's helping them improve.
3. Athletes need to feel like they have something to contribute. Every athlete can find a place on the team. Not everyone can start but everyone can find a role to play.
I believe football can be a great tool for learning to have fun while working and playing extremely hard.
I think it's important to point out that "fun" activities aren't always accompanied by laughter and cotton candy. Fun activities can include hard work (and most of the time they do). The younger we are the more instant gratification we need. What little kid doesn't love getting a trophy for being on the team. As kids get older, however, they have to learn that to be good at something you have to work for it. That process can be fun.
So, where does "fun" fit in our program?
1. Athletes need to choose to participate. That choice makes all the difference. I've talked with the kids a lot lately about choosing to improve. I don't want to force the kids to come to passing league and weights. I want them to want to be there. I think they are doing that.
2. Athletes must feel like they are progressing and becoming better in the sport. The end goal is to perform well. It's not fun to look like a fool. Most kids will persist in hard work if they feel like it's worth something. Practices, drills and weightlifting can be a fun part of the learning process if they can see that it's helping them improve.
3. Athletes need to feel like they have something to contribute. Every athlete can find a place on the team. Not everyone can start but everyone can find a role to play.
I believe football can be a great tool for learning to have fun while working and playing extremely hard.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
PHILOSOPHY
Creating and implimenting a team philosophy may be the most important thing we do this year. I'm not talking about a "theme". A theme is something you function under for a while and then discard. NO, I'm talking about a team philosophy. It should be deeper and more foundational than that. It's what drives you. It's your identity.
It's been said that a team philosophy is a reflection of what's important to the coach. So, here's some things I think are important.
1. We will have fun.
2. We will work as a team with the school, student body, and community.
3. We will respect our opponent.
4. We will fear nothing.
5. We will execute with exactness, confidence, and passion.
6. We will end every game with a possitive turnover ratio.
7. We will support and believe in our teammates.
I believe these things are fundamental to our success. I'll spend some time explaining these over the next few posts.
For now, I think it's important to point out that I'm trying to focus on the "controllable" things. John Wooden is one of my coaching heros and I have to give him credit for driving this home for me. You'll notice the words "State Championship" or "Win the East Region" aren't in that list. They are important bench marks that let us know how we are doing but they are an outcome of action not an action you can control. We definitely think winning is important but how you win is more important.
More to come.
It's been said that a team philosophy is a reflection of what's important to the coach. So, here's some things I think are important.
1. We will have fun.
2. We will work as a team with the school, student body, and community.
3. We will respect our opponent.
4. We will fear nothing.
5. We will execute with exactness, confidence, and passion.
6. We will end every game with a possitive turnover ratio.
7. We will support and believe in our teammates.
I believe these things are fundamental to our success. I'll spend some time explaining these over the next few posts.
For now, I think it's important to point out that I'm trying to focus on the "controllable" things. John Wooden is one of my coaching heros and I have to give him credit for driving this home for me. You'll notice the words "State Championship" or "Win the East Region" aren't in that list. They are important bench marks that let us know how we are doing but they are an outcome of action not an action you can control. We definitely think winning is important but how you win is more important.
More to come.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
WHO'S ON YOUR TEAM
I've always found it ironic that people will join a team, set goals to accomplish something and then fight with the very people that can help them accomplish the goals. I think we do that as coaches. I'll be the first one to admit that it's a weakness of mine.
How can you make sure your team doesn't fall apart because of petty disagreements or differences of opinion? I'm not sure I know enough to have the final say on what works and what doesn't but here's what I've learned so far:
1. Have the courage to approach disagreements head on.
Whether you are the leader or the follower you have to be willing to deal with differences of opinion. If issues are unresolved and you keep them bottled up you'll never work effectively. You may even be tempted to voice them to people outside of the team or coaching circle and that's when the real problems start.
2. Recognize the nature of disagreement and don't see them as a negative.
I used to think that anyone that disagreed with me was wrong. I was ready to defend my opinions at the drop of a hat. I had to learn that disagreement was healthy and if handled correctly could be a great stepping stone in building a team.
First of all you can't fear differences of opinion. They are the natural outcome of bringing individuals together. No two people have had the exact same experiences so everybody will look at the world just a little different. Building a team means you talk about your differences in a way that, when your done, you understand the other person's point of view, respect their right to have an opinion, and then find a way to make the difference of opinion a strength rather than a weakness.
3. Don't become defensive.
I believe it is a skill or a God given trait to not be defensive. Think for a second about what your opinions are. They are what you believe because of your experience and teaching. Are they you? Do they dictate who you are? If the answer is yes, then you probably get defensive every time someone challenges your opinion because they are attacking "you".
My wife gets the credit for kick starting my change of attitude. I was talking to her about how I was tired of getting everyone mad every time I talked to them. She said, "You should fight for correct principles, not opinions." That did it for me. There are things worth fighting for but my pride isn't one of them.
If you are going to be a good team member you have to let your pride take a hike. If you have a solid foundation of correct principles you can listen to other people's opinions, compare them to the principles you know and then deal with them in a productive way. Again, getting defensive is just pride at work and it will tear your team apart. Believe what you believe but be willing to change if what you believe is wrong.
4. Never leave a discussion angry or on the defensive.
This is great advice no matter what your doing. If you can avoid becoming angry and defensive that's always the best road but if things get heated, don't allow the conversation to end without letting the other person know you respect them and their willingness to have an opinion. Most importantly, you must recommit yourself to the goals of the team. It is possible to fundamentally disagree with someone and still be great teammates that respect each other.
Teams win when individuals can't because teams go through the process of growth that comes from melding opinions and then approaching their goals together.
How can you make sure your team doesn't fall apart because of petty disagreements or differences of opinion? I'm not sure I know enough to have the final say on what works and what doesn't but here's what I've learned so far:
1. Have the courage to approach disagreements head on.
Whether you are the leader or the follower you have to be willing to deal with differences of opinion. If issues are unresolved and you keep them bottled up you'll never work effectively. You may even be tempted to voice them to people outside of the team or coaching circle and that's when the real problems start.
2. Recognize the nature of disagreement and don't see them as a negative.
I used to think that anyone that disagreed with me was wrong. I was ready to defend my opinions at the drop of a hat. I had to learn that disagreement was healthy and if handled correctly could be a great stepping stone in building a team.
First of all you can't fear differences of opinion. They are the natural outcome of bringing individuals together. No two people have had the exact same experiences so everybody will look at the world just a little different. Building a team means you talk about your differences in a way that, when your done, you understand the other person's point of view, respect their right to have an opinion, and then find a way to make the difference of opinion a strength rather than a weakness.
3. Don't become defensive.
I believe it is a skill or a God given trait to not be defensive. Think for a second about what your opinions are. They are what you believe because of your experience and teaching. Are they you? Do they dictate who you are? If the answer is yes, then you probably get defensive every time someone challenges your opinion because they are attacking "you".
My wife gets the credit for kick starting my change of attitude. I was talking to her about how I was tired of getting everyone mad every time I talked to them. She said, "You should fight for correct principles, not opinions." That did it for me. There are things worth fighting for but my pride isn't one of them.
If you are going to be a good team member you have to let your pride take a hike. If you have a solid foundation of correct principles you can listen to other people's opinions, compare them to the principles you know and then deal with them in a productive way. Again, getting defensive is just pride at work and it will tear your team apart. Believe what you believe but be willing to change if what you believe is wrong.
4. Never leave a discussion angry or on the defensive.
This is great advice no matter what your doing. If you can avoid becoming angry and defensive that's always the best road but if things get heated, don't allow the conversation to end without letting the other person know you respect them and their willingness to have an opinion. Most importantly, you must recommit yourself to the goals of the team. It is possible to fundamentally disagree with someone and still be great teammates that respect each other.
Teams win when individuals can't because teams go through the process of growth that comes from melding opinions and then approaching their goals together.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME
This is just a reminder to take some time to breathe.
Summertime should be a time to build strength, size and generally rest from the specific sports you are involved in. Remember, sports are supposed to be fun and you'll enjoy them more when you're not burned out.
The only thing you should make mandatory for yourself is lifting weights. Your athletic talent will improve if your body is strong and healthy.
Take a break from the competitions, tournaments and all the other sport specific things for a while and I'll bet you'll have a better season this next year.
Summertime should be a time to build strength, size and generally rest from the specific sports you are involved in. Remember, sports are supposed to be fun and you'll enjoy them more when you're not burned out.
The only thing you should make mandatory for yourself is lifting weights. Your athletic talent will improve if your body is strong and healthy.
Take a break from the competitions, tournaments and all the other sport specific things for a while and I'll bet you'll have a better season this next year.
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