One of the better books I've read over the past year is The Winners Manual by Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel. The Winners Manual has took on a life of it's own over the years with people talking about the Ohio State football program and the way this Winners Manual has help guide the team to success. Coach Tressel doesn't divulge everything in this book but he does outline a number of things that keep his football program on the right track and among the nation's elite. Over the next few months you will probably see several posts here from this book but I strongly recommend that any coach go out and buy it -- I promise there will be something in it to make you a better coach and your program a better program.A sample of something from the Winners Manual:
Promise yourself...
...To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind
...To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true
...To think only of the best
...To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own
...To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future
...To share the greater achievements of the future
...To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others
...To be too large for worry, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble
...To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true
...To think only of the best
...To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own
...To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future
...To share the greater achievements of the future
...To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others
...To be too large for worry, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble
Having the Proper Attitude:
1. More athletes fail through faulty mental attitudes than in any other way.
2. Attitudes are habits of thinking. You have it within your power to develop the habit of thinking thoughts that will result in a winning attitude.
3. The foundation for the proper attitude consists of developing the habit of thinking positive thoughts.
4. Tell yourself constantly that you can do something, and you will. Tell yourself you can’t, and your subconscious mind will find a way for you not to do it.
5. A desire to win and a desire to prepare to win are important ingredients of a winning attitude.
6. Before you can scale the heights of athletic greatness, you must first learn to control yourself from within. Be your own master. Control your emotions.
7. An athlete with a good attitude is coachable. He welcomes criticism, constantly seeks to learn, and avoids criticizing his coach or teammates.
8. True success depends on teamwork, and the winning attitude puts the good of the team ahead of anything else.
9. Whether or not you create a winning attitude is entirely up to you—but nothing is more important to you on your road to the winner’s circle.
2. Attitudes are habits of thinking. You have it within your power to develop the habit of thinking thoughts that will result in a winning attitude.
3. The foundation for the proper attitude consists of developing the habit of thinking positive thoughts.
4. Tell yourself constantly that you can do something, and you will. Tell yourself you can’t, and your subconscious mind will find a way for you not to do it.
5. A desire to win and a desire to prepare to win are important ingredients of a winning attitude.
6. Before you can scale the heights of athletic greatness, you must first learn to control yourself from within. Be your own master. Control your emotions.
7. An athlete with a good attitude is coachable. He welcomes criticism, constantly seeks to learn, and avoids criticizing his coach or teammates.
8. True success depends on teamwork, and the winning attitude puts the good of the team ahead of anything else.
9. Whether or not you create a winning attitude is entirely up to you—but nothing is more important to you on your road to the winner’s circle.
