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11/1/09 Proactive Coaching Spotlight on Character in Action – Mike Maghan Athletic Director at McNary High School, Salem Oregon Mike has developed a Captains Academy at McNary High School using several support materials including the Proactive Coaching booklet, 7 Ways to Lead Your Team. They have also hosted a Captains and Coaches Workshop. Mike says the results of the Captains academy have been great for mutual team support, solving team problems, avoiding potential problems, and improving overall leadership in the school. The following note came to Mike from an official this fall: “I want to commend your JV volleyball team for their honesty at last night’s match with (opposing school). This demonstrates all that is good about sports. During the match I had an incident that I’ve never had in all my 20 years. Match point, the line judge to my left had a side line call in the opposite court. She called it out (match over). I was blocked from the line and accepted the call. The opposing team immediately complained, coach standing and yelling. Having had great calls from the line person all match, I proceeded to end game protocol. The girls on McNary’s team were looking at me and I heard one say, “it was in”. I called the captain over and she said it was in. I honored their honesty and over ruled the line judge and continued with the match. I called the opposing team’s captain over and said, “that was an honor call by them, I would have taken the call from the line judge”. McNary came back to win but honesty and leadership won the day. New Additions to the Proactive Coaching Team: We are pleased and thankful to announce that we have added two new speakers from Nebraska to our team. Steve Joekel and Randy Bates are both former coaches and Hall of Fame Athletic Directors in Nebraska. For more on each of these new team members you can check their bios on the “Contacts” page of our web site. Their first Proactive Coaching speaking engagement will be on Wednesday November 18th at the Nebraska Sportsmanship Summit on The Parents Role in Athletics. Speaking in September and October – Proactive Coaching presenters combined for 156 presentations in the last two months, speaking in 16 states and Canada, reaching 19,962 coaches, athletes, parents and business participants. New Book Recommendations: 1) Courage is the Backbone of Leadership by Gus Lee 2) For those of you coaching youth sports, The Discovering Greatness Playbook by Dave Johnston 3) The High School Sports Parent – Jim Thompson, Positive Coaching Alliance (everything Jim does is great!) 4) Uncommon – Tony Dungy Looking Forward to November – We would like to feature two groups really focused on impacting the culture of sport in their entire region, in LaCrosse Wisconsin, The LaCrosse Activities EXPO (November 13th and 14th) and in Port Coquitlam British Columbia, the Port Coquitlam Sports Summit (November 20th and 21st).
Looking back at August - In August 2009, Proactive Coaching presenters combined for 98 presentations, speaking to over 18,000 coaches, athletes, parents, businesses, leadership groups and teachers. New Additions to the Proactive Coaching Team - We are very pleased to announce that Jim Ater and Dave Tobin have joined the Proactive Coaching team. Jim was most recently the District Director of Athletics and Activities for the Olathe School District in Olathe Kansas. Jim and his wife Gwen now live in Texas. Dave was a former player of Bruce Brown and has been a coach and athletic director. He is currently the co-principal at Ilwaco High School and resides in Long Beach Washington.
The 2009 Oregon Tour - Proactive Coaching just finished the third year of the Oregon Character Tour sponsored by a Northwest company, Bi-Mart. Presentations were given to athletes, leaders, coaches, teachers and parents in Pendleton, Hillsboro, Salem, Eugene, Newport, Klamath Falls and The Oregon Institute of Technology. Again this year, we would like to thank the host schools the OADA (Oregon Athletic Directors Association) and Don Leber from Bi-Mart for the tremendous job they did in preparation for our tour. In the three years, Proactive Coaching presented a variety of character based messages to 4330 parents, 4940 coaches and teachers and 22,850 athletes. 2009 Captains and Coaches Workshops – Workshops have been conducted Washington, Michigan, Kansas, Montana and Idaho so far this year. Assessment Question: Was this workshop beneficial to you and your team? Very High Impact – Athletes (77%) Coaches (87%) Some Positive Impact – Athletes (21%) Coaches (11%). Bottom line statistic, 98% of athlete/leaders and coaches attending had high or some positive impact on themselves and team for the coming season. What athletes would like to tell parents The following thoughts are from athletes who were interviewed after their high school athletic experience had ended. Common sense from kids.
What do your parents do at games that really make you feel great and proud to have them present?
7/1/09
I would like to feature a coach of significance in this newsletter; University of Washington softball coach Heather Tarr. Her team not only won the NCAA Championship but they did it with absolute class. They demonstrated a level of unbelievable determination by going on the road for all three rounds of post season play leading to the WCWS. Anyone who followed the Husky Softball program this season witnessed a tremendous combination of toughness, selflessness, confidence and joy exhibited in the team’s performance. No surprise, those are the same qualities that can be found in their coach. Watching Coach Tarr just makes you want to play for her. She is obviously a focused and disciplined competitor but she constantly lets her joy show. Her style allows her athletes to compete confidently and fearlessly. Success is not an accident – it requires leaders who inspire greatness and lead with intention and modeling. Teams are a direct reflection of the character of their coaches and seniors and this one was a spectacular.
The newest Proactive Coaching booklet, The Impact of Trust, is now available on the web site.
New Booklet – The Impact of Trust The next Proactive Coaching booklet is now at the printer and should be ready in the second week of June. It speaks to the importance of trust on teams and with individual performance as well as what allows a coach to be trusted by players. Leadership is about developing a climate of trust that gets results. Therefore coaches need to be proficient at understanding, developing and extending trust. On high trust teams there is a collective responsibility – players and coaches are not driven by fear or anger but by the feeling of not wanting to let each other down. There is an emotional attachment, a strong personal commitment and also an element of joy. Trust pays in results.
As part of the booklet, I interviewed hundreds of current and former athletes and asked these questions: If you have had a coach that you trusted, why did you trust them? What difference did trust make in your performance? If you had a coach that you didn’t trust, what made them untrustworthy? What difference did mistrust make in your performance?
There are many quotes from athletes in the booklet – here are a few samples: Trusted coaches · Time, consistency, and love. I believe it takes time for an athlete to learn to trust a coach, to see their true character – a lot of kids life experiences have taught them that they CAN NOT trust people because they will be let down. First impressions are good but real character will come out eventually. If a coach can demonstrate to an athlete over time that they will consistently hold true to their core principles then an athlete will grow to trust them with everything they have. Ultimately, if an athlete can see that their coach loves them and is making decisions that are to the betterment of the team, the athlete will grow to trust their coach. · The coach has to know what they are doing – lack of ability cannot be hidden from even an average athlete. The team lost confidence in them, even though they were nice · “I trusted coaches who had high standards for us and who followed their own rules even when it wasn’t easy.” Difference trust made in your performance · Trust makes all the difference in an athlete’s ability to perform. When you trust your coach entirely, you are able to compete fearlessly; knowing that your coach is going to do everything they can to put you in a position to be successful. Lack of trust leads to hesitation, which leads to poor performance. · Playing for coaches that I trusted was not only more enjoyable, but also much easier. When an athlete doesn’t trust a coach it causes them to question their judgment and motives, even during competition. To perform at the highest level, an athlete needs to react in situations as if they are second nature and with confidence. Anything short of that can spell the difference between success and failure. Coaches you didn’t trust: · The worst combination for coaches is micromanagement and insecurity. They analyze everything to death and need to be validated on everything. This causes slow progress, suspicion, missed opportunities and tentative play. · I have seen a lot of coaches that are unwilling to be the ‘bad guy’ so they tell players what they want to hear. While this may calm the tides initially, ultimately it leads to players being disgruntled and feeling lied to. Kids have long memories – if you lie to them once they will remember it forever. Difference that mistrust had on your performance: · Throughout a season, it would always make the difference in being a winning cohesive, fun situation and usually a losing, disconnected frustrating situation. Personal performance and confidence can be undermined especially during the core development years (12-17). When you get older, personal performance can overcome trust through sure determination and positive experiences from the past. · Whenever there was mistrust, it disrupted focus, it made for a decreased sense of purpose. The team was dysfunctional.
GREAT STORY The following story is from a blog sent to me by Swen Nater about his college coach, John Wooden. “Consideration for Others” About seven years ago, Coach Wooden and I were in Boise, Idaho, speaking to a group of educators. I don’t think they wanted to hear from me so much; they wanted to hear from Coach. How do I know? It’s simple. When it came to the Questions and Answers segment, I had lots of answers, but nobody asked me a question. They put us up in a high-end hotel. You know, the kind where you get the “His and Hers Terry Cloth Bathrobes?” The morning after, we were preparing to head to the airport to return home. I was already in the hotel lobby when Nan, Coach’s daughter, asked if I would go up to Coach’s room and help him bring his bags down. As I approached his room, I saw his door was propped open with his neatly-placed luggage. So I walked in. The 90 year old “Coach of the Century” was washing out the coffee maker in the bathroom sink. He took out the coffee bag and placed it in the trash and then rinsed the dispenser until the water was clean. Then, he placed it carefully, upside-down, in the sink so it could drain. Walking with a semi-shuffle because of his bad knees, and slightly bent over, he next collected the trash from the other baskets in the room and consolidated them into the bathroom basket. Finally, he placed all the dirty towels on the bathroom sink. When I looked at the bed, I saw Coach had stripped it, leaving a neat pile of sheets and pillow cases. Then he looked at me, smiled, and said, “OK, Swen. I think we’re ready to go now.” Then, he walked back into the room, turned off the light next to the bed, walked out into the hall, and closed the door behind him. When I was at UCLA, after we played a road game, Coach made sure we left the locker room as clean, or cleaner, than we found it. All towels were placed on a table in one pile and all trash was picked up and put in its proper place. I clearly remember three occasions when, before a home practice, Coach would read us a letter he had received from the custodian of a university we had competed with, expressing amazement and gratitude for our consideration. Is it a coincidence, the most successful men’s basketball college coach of all time has deep consideration for others and believes he is no better than anyone else, or is there a direct relationship between consideration and success? Just asking. By the way, to this day, when I lodge somewhere overnight, I leave my room in the same condition Coach did, just in case he’s got a spy reporting to him from Motel 6. I wouldn’t put it past him.
New Booklet – Athletic Traditions, Round 2 The 14th Proactive Coaching booklet is now available: Athletic Traditions – Round 2. At the end of our book, 101 Positive Athletic Traditions, I asked readers to share their traditions. We have received hundreds of traditions from all over the country and chose 65 of the best ones for this booklet. Positive traditions are fun; they bond teams together and give your program history and a legacy. When traditions are intentionally created by leadership they allow you and your players to celebrate all the different parts of the season and to support your team’s core values.
Ten Traits of Successful Programs
The Influence of a coach never stops
I recently attended the funeral of one of the father of several young people I had the honor to coach and teach. This man had earned a PhD, been a father of seven great kids and an extremely successful engineer with an aeronautics company. But many of the people in attendance were also men who had played for him as a youth coach. One of the tributes to him was a letter he had written to his youth team many years ago. His words still resonated in his player’s ears long after they had left childhood and become successful adults. It is one of those messages that every young athlete should hear.
“To the Lake Hills Vikings: In order to be successful in the up-coming State Soccer Tournament, each of you must come to each game with the right mental attitudes and in the proper physical condition. In terms of attitude, I consider the encouraging of your teammate to be very important. The last thing we want is to tear ourselves apart. We all make the dumb play every now and then. When it happens, back up the player, restore his confidence, react positively, but whatever you do, keep playing as a team, hold your head high and give it all you’ve got.
Part of the right mental attitude is to never five up hope, never stop playing your hardest, and never concede defeat. Remember, there is no disgrace to losing, only playing like a loser. The player with the right attitude will pass up a good chance to score when his teammate has a better chance, or pass a ball when his teammate is open rather than when he himself is under attack. He will be unselfish in his approach to the game and try to make his teammate look good even at the expense of not looking quite so good himself. Remember that individual contributions are very important but only if they contribute to the total team effort.
Now for physical conditioning. When you come to the games on Sunday you should be prepared to play the entire game and to give all you have whenever you are called on to put out. It is not fair to your teammates if you are slow to recover on defense of fail to support a running attack just because you are tired. Take care of yourself, not just in the game, but all week. Get a good nights sleep before a game, this is very important for those of you who ski on Saturday. Come to practice ready to work yourself harder than you ever expect to work in a game. Only then can you be sure that you will have the little extra when it is needed.
One word of advice about sportsmanship. Remember the referee who calls you for foul or off-sides is doing what he thinks is right. There is nothing personal about the call, he is calling it the way he sees it. Don’t talk back to the referee of proclaim your innocence, rather say nothing and quickly get in position for the next play. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by giving the referee a bad time and it could get you removed from the game. It is my job to talk to the referee and your job to play the best game of soccer you know how.
Finally in closing, I don’t know how this tournament will end, we might lose the first game…. or we might not lose any. But no matter how it all ends, I want you to know that in my mind both as soccer players and young men, you are second to none.”
As one of his players told me, “these are words and thoughts that every coach should read”. Obviously his words and his coaching style had impacted many of the people who were at the service. A coach of significance stays in your life, even after death.
We are thankful for coaches of significance who are impacting the athletes who will become the next generation of coaches and leaders. We are also thankful for other people who are making a difference. In this newsletter I would like to honor two men who are difference makers and positively shaping the character of our nation.
Russ Williams from the Passkeys Foundation – Jefferson Center for Character Education
If you are looking for a great gift for anyone who has a mentoring role with children – Parents, Grandparents, Teachers, Coaches or Community Leaders - I would like to recommend Russ Williams new book KIDS OF CHARACTER – One Minute Mentoring Messages. This book provides a collection of 89 one page essays that are thought provoking, impactful and practical lessons that can be taught and modeled to young people.
The book can be purchased from the website - www.passkeys.org
Jim Thompson – Positive Coaching Alliance - “Honoring the game and developing winners in sports and life.”
Jim and his team have changed the culture of sport by developing programs to build positive character and change the way coaches work with young athletes. Jim understands the impact that coaches have on the athletic experience and provides application principles in his workshops and great books, Double Goal Coach and Positive Coaching.
Oregon Tour Organized by the Oregon Athletic Directors Association (OADA) and sponsored by a local company, Bi-Mart, we completed the second year “Oregon Tour” from August 17th to the 24th. This year’s tour focused on athletic leadership and the parent’s role in athletics and included stops in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Bend, Medford and Coos Bay.
On the first evening 400 parents came to a 45 minute presentation and the following morning 38 bus loads of athletes and coaches filled the Rolling Hills Church in West Linn for a three hour training. In the six locations over 8,100 athletes and coaches and approximately 2000 parents attended. Our special thanks go to Don Leber, CEO of Bi-Mart for his vision and action in support of high school athletics in the state of Oregon.
New Presentation offered by Proactive Coaching for athletes and parents Playing Beyond High School – Realities and Options of College Scholarships
Seven Deadly Sins for Athletes and Teams Shared by Ray Wanty – Teacher/Coach, Shelby High School, Shelby Montana
The Lacota word “Wica”, It means complete man. A person who demonstrated the highest of Lacota virtues – Generosity, Courage, Fortitude and Wisdom
400,000 Since we started keeping track in January of 2004, Proactive Coaching has presented to over four hundred thousand athletes, coaches, parents and other audiences.
Have Standards – Not Rules Young people will test rules; they will push them to the edge and question their purpose. Young people will rise to standards. “This is what our team stands for” will allow your athletes to raise their own expectations for effort and behavior. Rules box you in – Standards allow room for discretion. As a leader you need to be comfortable using discretion.
Captains and Coaches Workshops - May and June 2008 In the last month we have conducted six workshops in Kansas, Missouri and Washington. They have involved 37 high schools, approximately 600 coaches and 2000 leadership students. These are four hour sessions with athletes and coaches working together to prepare for the upcoming season. Goals of the Workshop:
The summary question on the assessment sheet is – Was this workshop beneficial for you and your team? Results from the 2008 May and June Workshops Athletes Coaches Very high impact – 89% Very high impact – 88% Some impact – 11% Some impact – 11% No Impact - >1% No impact – 0% Don’t know - >1% Don’t know – 1%
Example of Team Values: Rex Norris and his leadership team – Women’s Rugby and Football Coach Ambitious – Dedicated – Passionate Competitors – Courage – Physical and Mental Toughness - Class Each value is broken down into what it looks like in practice, on game day and away from the team. Passionate Competitors In Practice – The coaches and players will work to make every drill competitive. We will strive to be first in drills and we will practice with intensity and challenge each other to be better players everyday because we care. Game Day – We will set goals for ourselves and our team before every game and reflect on them at halftime. We will gain the respect of our teammates by knowing the calls and challenging every opponent no matter the score or situation. We will play with passion and with courage. We are willing to make mistakes at full speed and full effort and encourage teammates to do the same. Away From the Team – We will be on time to class, participate and compete to achieve the best grades we are capable of. We will be willing to talk to those who are not meeting the expectations of the team covenants because we care about each other and talk through our problems.
It is no surprise that both Coach Norris’s teams are extremely successful.
If your school is interested in hosting or attending a Captains and Coaches Workshop, please contact us at 360 387 5998.
Humility From the booklet, Team Stories
If humility was important for everyone to practice, it was absolutely essential for a Lakota leader. A warrior who had been successful in battle was entitled to wear the symbols of those achievements. Those symbols were usually in the form or a fancy headdress or eagle feathers. The greatest of the Lakota warriors, Crazy Horse, was known to always dress plainly and if he wore any decoration at all, it was usually a single feather. His exploits on the battlefield are legendary but those who knew him best spoke more often of the humble and quiet way he lived his life and led his people. He was loved and admired by his people. His humility only enhanced his achievements – his actions spoke loud enough.
From the booklet entitled Compete – Traits of the Elite Competitor Body Language Every person will tell you their mental condition with their body language. The wise competitor will understand how to read and understand this language. They will use their opponent’s weakness against them. The first sign of mental weakness is usually frustration. Frustration will then go in one of several directions. If the player is a competitor their body language will quickly revert to one of determination. If they are not a competitor, it either becomes anger or discouragement. If they show anger it will probably lead to lack of control. In that case, do not fall to their immature level of fighting or retaliation but rather stay calm and just focus on beating them. When you read discouragement in their body language, be ready to pounce. When a leader expresses with their body language that they are done, the rest of the team will normally follow. Questions for the athlete: Do you allow your body language to ever tell your opponents that you are frustrated, angry or discouraged? Do you allow your emotions to dictate your actions? How quickly can you compose yourself? Can you read your opponents body language so you know when to attack? Do you provide the face your team needs to see when things are going poorly?
Feedback on the Compete booklet: Coach Heather Tarr – University of Washington Softball “I really needed that. After reading through the booklet I could sooooo much better identify why some people struggle with competition. This is the most meaningful thing I have ever read in my life so far as a coach.”
The new booklet, Turning Around Athletic Programs is now available on our website.
RECENT FEEDBACK
Nequa Valley High School - Illinois– letter from Baseball Coach Robin Renner “I had the pleasure to hear you and the National Baseball Coaches Association and the minute you finished, I bought your booklet, Life Lessons for Athletes. For the last four years I read from that book to my players and discuss every life lesson. During every practice and game there are situations that come up that we can refer back to one of the ten life lessons and “recover” and get back on track. Last spring our varsity baseball team, against all odds were the Illinois state champions defeating two nationally ranked teams along the way. There is NO doubt that the reason we were successful is because the players bought into what we were selling. We referred to the life lessons on a daily basis and the players as well as the coaches believed in it whole heartedly. Because of you, we all were able to be part of something far bigger and better than ourselves. Thank you for taking the time to help others enjoy not only success but build healthy relationships as well. This booklet will stay with me forever.”
Wilson High School – Tacoma Washington – letter from Bowling Coach Ken Richardson ‘We have just celebrated winning our third State Championship in a row. The reason I am writing is to thank you for the impact you have had on me and the student-athletes I coach. I have adopted many of your teaching into my own philosophy of coaching. I reread the Teaching Character Through Sport book every September just to remind me of what I am really doing as a coach. This is my 17th year coaching football and bowling and I am still learning and trying to improve. Thank you for touching my life.”
Westview High School Football – Portland Oregon – email from the Team Captains “We, the captains of the Westview football team would like to thank you for providing us the inspiration and opportunity to create our UCATS ideals. Throughout the season our team has landed in several challenging situations, both physically and mentally, and we would not have stayed together as a unit if it weren’t for your words over the summer. UCATS has driven us to the first Metro League title in school history.”
Same Team Captains later in the season – Playoffs – “Thank you for your great words last week. We defeated a rival at their place. Your words really inspired our team to go out and get the job done. We handed out “red shashes” (wristbands) to each player to wear for game day and throughout the entire game. It worked out well as our team bonded like never before. Thank you for all you’re doing.”
UCATS – Core Values Developed by the team after attending a Captains and Coaches Workshop U = UNITY – Accept and embrace team, while working together as one for a common goal. Everyone is of value and has a role on the team. Agree on what needs to be done and together, go get it. C = COMMITMENT – Pledge to be consistently devoted, responsible and loyal to team values. Being early, prepared, know assignments, take no plays off, knowing and doing your part for the betterment of the team on and off the field. A = ATTITUDE – Consistent, positive action and expression of team standards and expectations. Respond positively to adversity. Accept correction as a compliment. Be the face your teammates need to see. T = TRUST – Confident belief in teammates ability to make correct choices for themselves and the team. Know teammates will get it done. Buy into the system. Good decisions on and off the field. Does your yes mean yes and your no mean no? Don’t let your teammates down. S = SELFLESSNESS – Acting with less concern for yourself, to ensure the success of the team. It’s about “TEAM” not individuals. Attribute personal success to team members. No selective participants. Positively mention teammates at every opportunity you get.
The booklet, First Steps to Successful Teams describes the process to develop Core Values for your team and then has over twenty examples from teams around the country.
NEW BOOKLET – TURNING AROUND ATHELTIC PROGRAMS – available March 20, 2008
I have had the opportunity to travel North America to speak to hundreds of high school and college athletic programs and meet with great coaches who have turned programs around. It is amazing how different athletic programs can be. I have come to believe that almost every athletic program (or team) falls into one of three levels of competence. Almost every school has the same ingredients but very different levels of ability or interest. This booklet is written to help the key people see why some programs are successful and what can be done to turn the others around. Like any great team, these key leaders (Administration, Athletic Director, Coaches, and Community) must each fulfill their roles for the program to reach its potential.
The booklet contains:
RECENT FEEDBACK
XPEDX General Manager Jedd Parker “Your material was ‘spot on’ with our sales and management folks. The parallels between athletics and selling are perfect. In 25 years of attending and planning meetings like this, I have never received as many positive comments about a speaker as I did for you that evening.”
Greenville College Men’s Basketball Coach, George Barker “I had made a decision after studying your booklet on Positive Conditioning last summer that we would try it for this season. I sounded like it would be best for the athletes and allow me to keep relationships in tact even through conditioning. But you know how coaches are fickle and sometime will abandon things if they don’t feel they are getting good results. Well, I have gotten GREAT results! My assistants asked me after the first several weeks, ‘Why haven’t we done this before? It just makes sense’. The drills you gave us in the booklet are fantastic and of course we have tweaked a few things to make it work for us. Here are some of the results – my team has remained in great shape throughout the season – it has helped on free throw percentages because they want to hear their name called in association with doing something positive – my staff enjoys practice more and my blood pressure is probably lower. We have had our best season in four years in our win-loss record and have made it to post season play for the first time in three years. I am sold.”
Herman Miller Executive Jerry Koster “I believe that the experiences you talk about in athletics…the strategic thought process of a game plan, the discipline of preparation and training, the competitive spirit of never giving up… the lessons learned from losses… the blessing of having a teachable spirit… learning to be responsible for outcomes and not blaming teammates, coaches, officials or conditions… have enabled us to be successful in business and life. This is why your message is so powerful and compelling. You clearly have a gift of teaching and for getting people to believe in themselves and become more successful than they ever thought possible.”
Willamette High School Athletic Director, Barry Bokn “Wanted to thank you again for your efforts for kids! Last week we had 150 parents come to the parent meeting – after a brief introduction, showed the DVD The Role of Parents in Athletics. The feedback was TREMENDOUS. At the same time I took the athletes and showed the Redefining the Term Athlete DVD and this was also a grand slam. I appreciate your influence on young people’s lives and for the tools that you provide to coaches and athletic administrators across the country.”
SPOTLIGHT ON:
The United States Military Academy at West Point
The steps to building a successful team experience are consistent and predicable. Great teams do not happen by accident – they happen by design.
Under the direction of Dr. Ralph Pim, the twenty three Competitive Club Athletic teams at the USMA have developed core values for each of their teams. After a Proactive Coaching seminar at West Point the leaders of each of the teams used the concepts from that presentation and the booklet First Steps to Successful Teams to establish their foundation, identity, or “Core Values”. The teams then commit to standards of performance and behavior defined by their values.
Some examples: Men’s Team Handball – Blue Collar Attitude, Punch in – Punch Out, Military Bearing, Team 1st Women’s Lacrosse – Work and Play Hard, Teamwork, Competitive Spirit, Respect Men’s Rugby – Servant Leadership, Responsibility, Confidence, Toughness, Brotherhood Judo – Commitment, Respect, Warrior Ethos Boxing – Commitment, Discipline, Loyalty, Courage, Attitude
The Montana High School Athletic Association
After Proactive Coaching presentations last month at the Montana Athletic Directors Conference in Great Falls, the board of directors met, found a sponsor and purchased a copy of the DVD, The Role 0f Parent’s in Athletics for every high school in the state. Hopefully this will provide a better experience for their student athletes.
INTRODUCTION TO NEW BOOKLET ENTITLED “COMPETE”
Being a competitor is not dependant on your gender, your sport or your genetics. Being a competitor is a choice; it is a decision, and it becomes a life style.
Competition tests and measures people but it also helps them grow and expand their vision of what is possible. A true competitor elevates the performance of everyone around them and the entire culture of a team. When a team has an example of competitiveness, it allows everyone to work harder and set standards and therefore, reach more challenging goals.
If a person becomes more competitive, they will improve faster than those who don’t compete. Competitors look forward to every challenge and individual duel in games or practice. They don’t accept mediocrity, they push themselves, and they lift others to heights they didn’t believe possible. Competition demands the best that they’ve got. They learn to prepare for the challenges and attack them with a vengeance. Competitors anticipate the great feelings that come with succeeding by having that be their focus, they enjoy the journey as much as the result. Enjoying the journey allows them to be successful more often.
Being competitive comes naturally to some people and they crave every opportunity to put it on the line. Some people are forced into competition when they realize that the other people around them are competing and they are losing ground unless they get into the game.
Sometimes the fear of losing, being denied causes people to become competitive because they see losing as failure. These athletes usually find themselves competing to not lose. They sacrifice the natural joy of competing because their focus is on the final score not being in their favor.
The fearless competitor sees competition as an enjoyable component of life by keeping their focus on the positive aspects. For those who can learn this early in life, it is often just fun. Later in life it helps them do well in things that are more important than athletic competition. Competitors put the same principles to work when dealing with test taking, job interviews, and every life challenge handed to them. They take the lessons they have learned from competing in sport and apply it everywhere it is helpful in their lives. As a student, one of the best places it can be applied is in the classroom. They have a disciplined focus, prepare daily, don’t back away from challenges and ask for help when it is needed, even when it is not their favorite subject. Just telling yourself that you want to be competitive won’t make it happen. You need to understand the process, mentality and actions of how to compete successfully. When understood and approached correctly, competition can and should be healthy and beneficial in every aspect of your life. Unless you completely remove yourself from society, everyone competes whether you like it or not. Because it is a natural part of life, learn to do it well.
A COMPETITOR: · Is Passionate · Has a Strong Will · Lives in and Loves the Moment · Is Mentally Tough · Controls the Controllables · Is Disciplined, Self Controlled and Poised · Has Courage · Is Fearless · Has Confidence Based on Preparation · Is Unselfish · Competes Ethically · Is Committed · Never Gives Up – They are Relentless
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