WHAT'S THE TAKE AWAY?

My friend Clarence Gaines passed this along to me -- it's a great read with a great message.  It was written by Patrick McHugh, the school's athletic director.  It was posted on the North Shore Country Day High School Athletics Blog:

A colleague at school loves to ask me the question, "what's the takeaway?" I think it is a fair question because we have limited time and a lot to accomplish. So there had better be a takeaway when we are asking students, faculty, and coaches to invest their time in a program, class or activity. But sometimes the outcomes we are looking for cannot be measured on a test or during one season. They blossom over many years in the future.

And so that brings me to our Junior Varsity Field Hockey Game last Friday, August 24th. North Shore Country Day played Highland Park High School and the game started just before 6 pm. It was a beautiful evening, and I was watching from the Forest St. side of the field. This game was my first introduction to a lot of these athletes as a good portion of the team was new to North Shore. Like all JV teams at North Shore there was frequent subbing, and it was noticeable who had played some Field Hockey before and who was playing their first Field Hockey game ever.

Remember this was the day after Lance Armstrong had issued his press release calling the US Anti-Doping Agency's (USADA) efforts to strip him of his seven Tour De France Titles "a pitiful charade."

I was enjoying watching the sincerity of this Junior Varsity Girls Field Hockey team completely invest themselves in the task of learning to be a team, of giving one's best effort, of being accountable to each other, of learning that winning is an important outcome but it is the result of doing a lot of other things right, and of learning to enjoy the success that comes from authentic and complete commitment to the play at hand.

And the thought went through my head, this is great because the takeaways here are huge.

We are a college prep school and at times it seems we obsess about preparing our high school students for the next step. But I think we do even better work when we are preparing not just for what's going to happen when are students are 18, 19, 20, and 21 but when they are 30, 40, and 50.

Despite whether you believe Lance Armstrong is a doper or the victim of a vindictive "charade", it struck me that on our field on Friday there was no charade going on.

North Shore requires all our students to participate in athletics in the fall of their freshmen year. And in the forty plus years since Title IX passed there has been a lot of research done on the effects of sports participation on girls lives. Here are some of those takeaways that researchers know will happen after a girl participates in sports: higher self esteem, lower teen pregnancy rates, longer life expectancy, better grades, lower risk of obesity, higher rate of educational achievement, and improved employment opportunities.

So despite the fact that the crowd was sparse, the outcome of the game was really only important to the teams involved, and it's unclear whether anyone from either team will ever be much of a star, the takeaways for each girl involved were life changing.

I saw considerable irony that at the same time this ostensibly meaningless game was going on, Lance Armstrong and his team were in damage control to maintain his public image. Friday afternoon I had seen messages from his team that giving was up for the Live Strong Foundation and that Nike was continuing to support him. But these messages rang a little hollow compared to the game in front of me.

Highland Park Junior Varsity got up to a 1-0 early advantage, but North Shore kept the pressure on and soon tied and eventually went ahead to win 2-1. The ultimate takeaways from this game and this season will not be seen for most of these athletes until a decade or more in the future -- likely after we have all forgotten about what happened -- when these then women are long out of school and possibly balancing more complicated challenges of family and career.

This is the type of impressive work that schools should all do, when they have a perspective on takeaways that stretches far into the future. Sadly, the takeaways from the Lance Armstrong debacle are not nearly as positive nor as worthy of emulation.

KINGWOOD PARK COACHES CLINIC

For anyone in the Houston area, I hope you will come spend the day with us at the Kingwood Park Coaches Clinic. The clinic is ran by my friend Justin Burleson does a great job of running the clinic and told me that they will accepting walk-ups the day of the clinic.  Hope to see you there!

KINGWOOD PARK COACHES CLINIC
September 15, 2012

Speakers: Brendan Suhr, Kevin McHale, Dominic Amorosa and Bob Starkey

Besides being able to speak in the Houston area on this weekend, I look forward to spending some time with my friend Brendan Suhr. Brendan was a long-time assistant coach under Chuck Daly during the dynasty years with the Detroit Pistons. If you are looking to add or improve upon the pick and roll in your offense -- no one is better than Brendan. Of course, Brendan also teams up with Kevin Eastman to put on Coaching U Live each summer -- so he certainly knows what goes into a great clinic. As a life-long Celtic fan, I will also look forward to hearing Kevin McHale. My friend Justin Burleson puts the clinic on each year and does an incredible job.

Here is a link for more information:
http://www.humbleisd.net/Page/24600

WHAT THE BEAR WANTED TO TEACH HIS PLAYERS

"We are going to learn to play football, and we are going to get up and go to class like our mamas and papas expect us to.  And we are going to win.  Ten years from now, you are going to be married with a family, your wife might be sick, your kids might be sick, you might be sick, but you will get your butt up and go to work.  That's what I'm going to do for you.  I'm going to teach you how to do things you don't feel like doing."

Bear Bryant on January 10, 1958 at his first team meeting after being named head coach at the University of Alabama -- from "The Last Coach" by Allen Barra

LET US NEVER FORGET

This story is actually one-year old today.  It was written last year by Christopher Ruddy of Newsmax.  I stumbled across it today and thought it was so well written that I would share it.  It is not doubt an article that can be shared each year at this time -- it is that well written.  Let us never forget.

On this anniversary, we cannot help but relive the pain we experienced as a nation when nearly 3,000 innocent Americans were murdered in cold blood.   It isn’t pleasant remembering that day, but we would be remiss if we did not honor them.   We owe it to the dead to never forget because they died for us. As Abraham Lincoln said of those who fought and died at Gettysburg, it is “altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.” We owe it to the living because there is (strange as it may sound) a silver lining in the dark cloud that cast its dreadful shadow that day.   I’m talking about the shining light of incredible courage that was demonstrated by hundreds of ordinary Americans. On that day we discovered unknown heroes hidden in our midst.
Who could forget Todd Beamer, a businessman on United Airlines Flight 93, who shouted “Let’s roll!” as he and his fellow passengers rushed the cockpit to subdue a group of hijackers. Their jet crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pa., saving an indeterminable number of Americans.

Hundreds of miles away at the site of the burning World Trade Center, more heroes emerged. There was Father Mychal Judge, a Catholic priest who, upon hearing the news of the attack, hurried to the burning towers to administer the last rites of his faith to the dying. Tragically, he soon found himself among them.

When I remember the heroic Americans of 9/11, I see them not as civilians but as citizen soldiers who were thrust unexpectedly into a war they never saw coming. They remind me of the brave soldiers who stormed the Normandy beaches on D-Day in World War II.

The opening of the film "Saving Private Ryan" depicts these intrepid men — their average age was just 19 — being cut to pieces by enemy gunfire as Eisenhower’s “Great Crusade” began the liberation of Europe.

Standing next to these remarkably brave D-Day soldiers are the equally sturdy, unwavering New York City firefighters of 9/11, who likewise stared into the face of death and deliberately put themselves in harm’s way.

Ernest Hemingway famously defined courage as “grace under pressure,” and those words certainly apply to the 343 firefighters and paramedics who made the ultimate sacrifice for you and me that day. From my perspective, we have never sufficiently honored these fallen firefighters — and rescue workers, police officers and the many other first responders of 9/11 — who voluntarily gave their lives to save others.

I believe such deserving heroes should be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor so that we might officially recognize their unsurpassed courage.

While we are paying tribute, we must not forget those who followed them — the over 6,100 soldiers who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect us, not to mention the thousands more who have been seriously wounded.

We can never forget the immense cost that others have paid so that we might go about our lives in peace and prosperity.

Like the Americans who fought and died at Valley Forge, Antietam, and Iwo Jima and hundreds of other bloody battlefields since the first shot of the Revolutionary War was fired at Lexington in 1775, the heroes of 9/11 should never be forgotten.

They represent what is best about our country — the willingness among our people to make immense sacrifices to defend our national ideals of liberty and justice.

Beyond this, the heroes of 9/11 are exemplars of an even greater ideal, one which even if we fail to reach, all of us should at least strive to attain.

It is an ideal succinctly stated by Jesus in the Gospel of St. John: “Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends” — a fitting epitaph for Todd Beamer, Father Judge, the New York City firefighters, and all the rest who fell that day to save their distant neighbors, many people they did not know but loved nonetheless.

ANNOUNCING A NEW BLOG -- QUOTATION RESOURCE

We are very excited to announce a new blog that we believe will be a tremendous resource to coaches as well as many others.  Over the past few years, I have often been asked where I get my motivational quotes from and the simple answer is by reading and listening.  What I did do nearly 20 years ago is starting a "quote bank" -- an idea I got from my friend and mentor Dale Brown -- so these have compiled over time. Any time I read or heard a good quote, I simply jotted it down (at first) and then later started adding them into my computer jump drive.

"Leading Words" is a blog that is dedicated to providing you with quotations that will fit any circumstance in case you are...

...looking for a quote to motivate a player
...looking for a quote to motivate a team
...looking for a few quotes for a speech you need to make
...looking for a few words to inspire yourself

There are over 125 categories with over 1,800 quotes.

Let me state that this is still a work in project.  I have nearly 500 more quotes to add as time permits.  Also, we will of course add new ones as we discover them.

As I mentioned, they are placed in various categories.  You can scroll to the bottom of the front page and see all the categories listed in alphabetical order.  Click on one and it will take you to a page with quotes on that topic only.

Here you go! http://leadingwords.blogspot.com/

LESSON FROM THE OLYMPICS

The following was written by Harvey Mackay on his wonderful website: http://www.harveymackay.com/

There are few things left to be said about the spectacular Olympics we just witnessed in London.

The 10,000 athletes all had Olympic dreams. Some were realized, while others had their hopes dashed as they fell short of their goals.

As Americans, we had overwhelming reasons to be proud of our top-flight athletes, even when they didn’t bring home medals. Anyone who viewed the events, either at home or in person, couldn’t help but be impressed.

As a delighted spectator, I can say that I also had Olympic dreams. And mine came true. Again.
  I have been attending every summer Olympics for 40 years. And I think the 17 days my wife and I spent in London were probably the most electrifying of all. I have watched athletes young and old exhibit a level of concentration and dedication that astonishes me. And I always learn a thing or two, frequently not related to sports.
For me, the Olympics are a metaphor for how to succeed in life and business. Of the 40 events we attended, these were my favorites:

1.Persistence will win the day. When 15-year-old Katie Ledecky dove in for the 800-meter freestyle race, she was hardly the favorite. Commentators feared she had too fast a start and wouldn’t be able to sustain her lead. All she knew was that she was swimming the race of her young life. The youngest member of the American Olympic delegation had to swim for a half-mile and maintain an exhausting pace to beat the crowd favorite, Great Britain’s Rebecca Adlington. And she looked fabulous with a gold medal draped around her neck.

2.Teamwork is essential for success. The USA men’s basketball team of elite all-stars are accustomed to being the center of attention on their NBA teams. They spend their regular seasons trying to beat each other on their opposing teams. In order to defeat Spain for the gold, they had to contain their egos and deliver their best efforts – together. As they mounted the awards platform with arms linked, they demonstrated their commitment to teamwork and to their country.

3.Follow your passion. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings had already won gold at the last two Olympics in beach volleyball, and contemplated whether the London games were in their future. But despite the other plans each pursued, the Olympics were never far away from their thoughts.

4.Work as hard as you can, then work harder. The games are full of stories of athletes who defied all odds to be able to compete. What could be more inspiring than watching South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius, whose lower legs were amputated before his first birthday? To me, this was without question the most amazing event to watch.

5.You are the only one who can limit your potential. Michael Phelps got off to a disappointing start, finishing fourth in an event that he should have dominated. Was that a wakeup call for the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time? He came shining through, medaling in the rest of his events. He is the proud owner of a record 22 Olympic medals, 18 of them gold.

6.Set goals. Usain Bolt was defeated in Jamaica’s Olympic finals in June, so he rededicated himself and became the greatest sprinter in Olympic history. He won the 100 meter and 200 meter races and anchored the men’s 4 x 100 meter relay, which set a world record.

7.Visualize your dreams. The Fab Five of women’s gymnastics had a huge challenge against the Russian team. They knew that a single misstep could end their dreams. These athletes are too young to remember when the USA last won women’s gymnastics gold in 1996. But they all spoke of being inspired by the 2004 games – when they were about 8 years old – and their dreams of Olympic gymnastic success.

8.You’ve gotta have a little fun. The pageantry of the opening and closing ceremonies was magnificent, but is it really necessary? Absolutely! These celebrations are gigantic, larger-than-life events that are meticulously choreographed and executed to make sure everyone is having a great time. As much as I love the athletic competitions, I wouldn’t miss these two extravaganzas.

Mackay’s Moral: Maybe you can’t win a gold medal for your job, but you can still be a champion.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT WORDS

"I believe that my work is as much about words as basketball.  Choosing the right words to say to players is no less important than picking the starting line-up or court strategies.”

-Mike Krzyzewski

"BRILLIANT ON THE BASICS"

When Vince Lombardi took over the Green Bay Packers, he was asked if he was going to change the players, the plays, the training, or other key aspects of the team.  He replied, "I'm not going to change anything; we are simply going to become brilliant on the basics."

From "How The Best Leaders Lead" by Brian Tracy

CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL

The following comes from "Designing Effective Practices for Team Sports" written by Kevin Sivils:

Competitive sports can sometimes be described as controlled chaos, and the team that is able to bring the most order out of the chaos has the best chance of winning the game.  That might be overstating things a bit, but at times, it certainly seems like an accurate statement.  What is certain is that there are many elements that neither coaches nor players have control over.

No coach is able to control how tall the opponent's center is, how quick the opponent's point guard is, or how far the range of the opponent's shooter is.  Nor can any player control an official's calls, the physical condition of the court and building the game is being played in, or the speed of the clock.

In fact, there are really only three things coaches and players really have control over.  God gave each of us total control over the choices we make, our attitude, and our effort.  It is a waste of time and emotional energy to try and control anything else.  In fact, it can reduce a great deal of negative behavior, thinking, action, and mistakes made on the court.

STEPHEN COVEY ON "TOTAL QUALITY"

The following comes from Stephen Covey's "Principle-Centered Leadership:"

Total quality is an expression of the need for continuous improvement in four areas:

1. Personal and professional development

2. Interpersonal relations

3. Managerial effectiveness

4. Organizational productivity

• Personal and professional development. I’ve always liked the expression “If it’s going to be, it’s up to me.” In reality you and me are the keys to total quality. W. Edwards Deming, the economic Isaiah of our time, has said that about 90 percent of the problems in organizations are general problems (bad systems)—only about 10 percent are specific problems with people. W. Edwards Deming’s principle, constancy of purpose, implies that we first have a purpose or mission—a statement of what we are about, a vision of what we can become.

• Interpersonal relations. Total quality on an interpersonal level means making constant deposits into the emotional bank accounts of others. It is continually building goodwill and negotiating in good faith, not in fear. If you create an expectation of continuous product or service improvement but fail to deliver on that expectation, you will see a buildup of fear and negative forecasting.

• Managerial effectiveness. Managerial quality is basically nurturing win-win performance and partnership agreements—making sure they are “in sync” with what is happening inside that person and what is happening inside the business. These win-win agreements are subject to renegotiation at any time—ideally on a synergistic basis, not a positional bargaining basis, and open to all the dynamics and vicissitudes of the market. So there is a sense of two-way openness.

• Organizational productivity. Proactive leadership springs from an awareness that we are not a product of our systems, that we are not a product of our environments, that those things powerfully influence us, but we can choose our responses to them. Proactivity is the essence of real leadership. Every great leader has a high level of proactive energy and vision—a sense that “I am not a product of my culture, my conditioning, and the conditions of my life; rather, I am a product of my value system, attitudes, and behavior—and those things I control.”

Total quality is a total philosophy, a total paradigm of continuous improvement in all four dimensions. And it is sequential; if you don’t have it personally, you won’t get it organizationally. You can’t expect organizations to improve when the people don’t improve. You might improve systems, but how do you get a commitment inside the culture to improve systems? People have to grow and mature to where they can communicate to solve the problems to improve those systems.

Total quality is a principle-centered approach that has come out of the best the world has produced. In our training we emphasize the human side more than the technical side because we believe that the origin and the essence of total quality is empathy with customers, empathy with their motives and buying habits.

• First, we are not yet hurting enough.

• Second, we don’t want to change our life-styles.

• Third, even the best U.S. companies tend to regard quality as a program, a department. It’s not integrated in their structure, systems, style, and so forth.

Total quality is rooted in timeless principles:

• Faith, hope, humility

• Works, industry, research, testing

• Constancy, consistency, predictability

• Continuous improvement and progression

• Feedback based on both measurement and discernment

• Virtue and truth in human relations