Tuesday, April 28, 2009

THE GOLD STANDARD

My frined Joey Burton is the Director of Basketball Operations at Mississippi State and loves the game of basketball. We both just finished ready "The Gold Standard" by Mike Krzyzewski and Jamie Spatola. It is in inside look at the formula utilized by Coach K in building the Gold Medal USA Basketball Team. It also talks about some of the lessons he learned to take back to his Duke team. Today I'm going to share some notes from the book from Coach Burton:

I have been reading the new book by Coach K “The Gold Standard”. It has some great ideas regarding constructing a team from scratch. One idea he had was to have the players on the “Redeem Team” set the standards for the team. Coach K writes, “This was a list of what we, as a team, would always do. This was the way we would live for the next 35 days.” What we do all the time and what we hold each other accountable for:

GOLD STANDARDS

1. No Excuses
-We have what it takes to win.

2. Great Defense
- This is the key to winning the gold.
- We do the dirty work.

3. Communication
- We look each other in the eye.
- We tell each other the truth.

4. Trust
- We believe in each other

5. Collective Responsibility
- We are committed to each other.
- We win together.

6. Care
- We have each other’s back.
- We give aid to a teammate.

7. Respect
- We respect each other and our opponents.
- We’re always on time.
- We’re always prepared.

8. Intelligence
- We take good shots.
- We’re aware of team fouls.
- We know the scouting report.

9. Poise
- We show no weaknesses.

10. Flexibility
- We can handle any situation.
- We don’t complain.

11. Unselfishness
- We’re connected.
- We make the extra pass.
- Our value is not measured by playing time.

12. Aggressiveness
- We play hard every possession.

13. Enthusiasm
- This is fun.

14. Performance
- We’re hungry.
- We have no bad practices.

15. Pride
- We are the best team in the world and we represent the best country.

Coach K took this idea back with him to Duke and had the players come up with the Duke Standards. Here is what they came up with:

1. Great Defense and Rebounding
- It starts here.
- We do the dirty work.

2. Confidence
- We believe in our own abilities.
- We believe in each other.

3. Confront immediately
- We let nothing linger.

4. Communication
- We look each other in the eye.
- We tell the truth immediately.

5. Trust
- We have each others back.

6. No Excuses
- We have what we need to win.

7. Poise
- We have winning faces.
- We show no weakness.

8. Dependability
- We can be counted on.

9. Collective Responsibility
- We win and lose together.

10. Enthusiasm
- We bring energy everyday.
- No bad practices.

11. Respect
- We are always on time.
- We prepare for every opponent.

12. Flexibility
- We don’t complain.
- We can handle any situation.

13. Intelligence
- We take good shots.
- We are aware of team fouls.
- We know the scouting report.

14. Care
- We give aid to a teammate immediately, on and off the court.

15. Aggressiveness
- We play hard everyday.

16. Represent our program off the court

17. Unselfishness

- We make the extra pass.
- Our value is not measured in playing time.

18. WE ARE THIS DUKE TEAM
- The time is now-not the past.

19. Family
- No one is closer.

20. Pride
- We represent the best program and the best school in the country.

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