The following comes from Steven Covey's book, "Principle-Centered Leadership." It actually comes from Chapter 13 titled "Making Champions of Your Children" which I have changed the "children" to your "players." I will add some additional comments of my own in green at the end of each of Covey's points.First, work to build our player's self-esteem. From the day they are born we affirm them a great deal, believing in them and giving them lots of positive feedback. We express confidence in them and in their potential. We try not to compare the with other players. This is not to say that we aren't demanding in our approach to teaching...it's not to say that we won't constructively criticize when needed. But it is important for your players to know that you believe in them and that you see that potential.
Second, encourage primary greatness. Teach them that there are two kinds of greatness: primary greatness -- which is the principle-centered character -- and secondary greatness, which is the greatness that the world acknowledges. Try to inspire them to go for primary greatness first and not to compensate for character weakness by substituting or borrowing strength from secondary sources (popularity, reputation, possessions, natural talents, and so on). Student-athletes can be tugged in a thousand directions. It is important for them to understand that their greatness and potential lies in doing things the right way everyday.
Third, encourage them to develop their own interests. When we detect real talents in our players, we should encourage them to develop it. As a coach, it is important to show interest in all areas of your players. If you truly care about them as people, you will want them to be more than basketball players and to experience things beyond the court.
Fourth, try to create an enjoyable family culture. We want our players to get more fun and satisfaction form the team than from the school or from their peers or from any other outside influence. Basically, we don't want them to have anything to rebel against; we want the team culture to be fun and affirming and to have many opportunities associated with it. There should be no feeling of limitation, no feeling that you can't do something. It is our most important and often most difficult job -- taking a group of individuals and giving them a common vision. At LSU, we have had great success in allowing our players to set the goals for the team. We give them stewardship of policing themselves and ownership of out program.
Fifth, plan ahead. I think many coaches fail to make champions of their players by not planning fun family events -- events that become traditional. Part of the fun of any activity is in planning it; in fact, there's often as much satisfaction in the anticipation as there is in the realization of the event. This is an important part of Lady Tiger Basketball. Our players know that each year we are going to tailgate at a football game...we are going to have a team Christmas party...we are going dress up and go eat at a nice restaurant. We also allow our players to assist in the details of these events and others. When we advance to the Final Four or win an SEC Championship. Our seniors design the ring -- not the coaches or administration.
Sixth, try to set an example of excellence. We all try to excel in what we do so that excellence becomes an unspoken, unwritten norm. We have never had to tell our players to study and do their homework, perhaps because they constantly sense the value of reading and learning. It's part of the family culture as well as the expectation of school. At LSU, there is not a more important word in our program than "legacy." It speaks to the standards that have been set on the court, in the classroom and in the conduct of our personal lives. Our players pass it on to each other every year starting in the summer when our new freshman first arrive on campus.
Seventh, teach them to visualize to help them realize their own potential. Visualization is based on the principle that all things are created twice: first mentally and then physically. Most training in athletics is physical. Coaches may talk about mental toughness and concentration, but very few have any sort of consistent system for mental rehearsal or visualization. World-class athletes are almost all visualizers; they literally experience their victories in their minds long before they experience them in fact. We do this in a variety of ways. One way is to give players an assignment to write a story about something that is going to happen. The night before a big game we might have them write a paragraph about how they believe the game might unfold. This is just one of a sample of things we do to get our players visualizing about the future.
Eighth, adopt their friends. Individual champions are often part of a championship teams. Any time something gets out of alignment -- when there's a problem with a peer, for example -- we just adopt the peer. It's better than trying to get them to drop the peer. At LSU we are fortunate in that the athletes from other teams support each other. They become friends, peers, and supporters of each other as do all the coaches. It has provided a culture of success which is why every sport at LSU is so successful.
Ninth, teach them to have faith, to believe and trust others, and to affirm, build, bless, and serve others. If you're going to build champions, you've got to take an interest in people, especially the downcast and outcast. The key to the ninety-nine is the one. People become great if you treat them in terms of their potential. The key to success with people is to believe in them, to affirm them. It is important that we understand that while we may see the potential of a player, they may not see it themselves. It is important for us to plant that seed and to constantly water it so they can grow.
Tenth, provide support, resources, and feedback. We rely on each other for honest feedback, as good feedback is essential to growth. There is nothing more important in growth than communication. We must constantly talk to our players individually and as a team so that they can understand what we see and what we all must do to continue to grow.
"Building champions requires constant
effort. We strive endlessly and find
the need to return to basics often."
-Steven Covey-
