I recently read an article about Dean Smith, basketball coach at North Carolina, describing how he maintains discipline and respect for his authority. He makes sure his players know that being on the court is a privilege, not a right, and he demands that they respect his authority by training hard, playing hard, attending all team activities, standing from the bench to applaud and encourage teammates on the floor, attend classes, and follow directions. “I think as a coach, I can manage discipline and command respect because I have in my hands the one thing players must have,” he said, “and that’s playing time.” You cut a player’s playing time and other privileges, and he may not like you—but he’ll soon learn to respect you and to follow your directions as leader of the team.
From "The Magic of Team Work" by Pat Williams
