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Post by coach239 on Apr 3, 2007 7:18:40 GMT -6
I just finished reading Lou Holtz's book "Winning Every Day." Great book! He talked about coaching at William & Mary, and he mentioned that about half way through a season his team still loss games, but he could see that they were learning HOW to win.
Coaches, how do you know a team is learning how to win? Are there subtle things to look for? Is it actions, or is it the approach that a team has before/during a game?
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Post by CoachMikeJudy on Apr 3, 2007 7:38:23 GMT -6
Both. The approach is as important as the win itself. Mental preparation is one of the major attributes of a winning team.
I think tell-tale signs of "learning to win" are:
Positive reaction to adversity Willingness to do whatever it takes (no complaining at practice) Understanding the plan/scheme Making good decisions off the field Maintaining focus (lack of penalties)
At my first high school job, we went 2-8 my first season with a bunch of kids who didn't care. The next season, we had a better attitude, only 2 kids failed off the team, and we were becoming better ball players- but we still went 2-8. Finally, in our third season, we had 0 failures, minimal mental mistakes, and we lost 1 game that we shouldn't have, finishing 7-3 regular season and making the playoffs. Looking back at that 2nd season, we were definitely learning to win.
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Post by coachcalande on Apr 3, 2007 7:51:28 GMT -6
Learning how to win can show up in some ways that are measurable , decrease in penalties, decrease in self destructive errors...but also in the intangibles...
one thing I notice is that the kids begin policing themselves and using self discipline much more frequently and using peer pressure to discipline each other...thats part of learning to win.
I have seen adn heard things like "put your helmet on, practice isnt over" and stuff like that.
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Post by brophy on Apr 3, 2007 14:58:55 GMT -6
This doesn't happen over night or with some peppy half-time speech.
The step to "learning how to win" is developing a COMPETITIVE attitude. Demonstrate that YOU (as the HC) are committed to excellence (by proving you are organized, passionate, and care about each player's welfare). This isn't necessarily a 'dictatorship' because you're not doing anything TO the kids....it's what you're doing FOR them that is making the difference.
Every day in off-season stuff or in practice - someone has to WIN at something (and someone has to lose). Whether it's tiddly winks, a pickup game of BBall, or squatting.......foster the ALPHA DOG mentality.
When you develop a positive-peer culture fueled by COMPETITION ---- you won't have to run any 'bad apple / turds' off the team. The team will run them off for you.
Every day SOMETHING is at stake. Gonna get better or worse, you can never stay the 'same'.
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