Saturday, February 24, 2024

Don't Let Our Values Get Lost in Translation

All opinions in the blog are solely my own. 

Strong culture forms the foundation for MVB. Culture flows from coaching. Culture is the environment, the milieu, the "mother sauce" of the dish. 

Steve Kerr discusses "values based coaching." Every coach and player in every sport can benefit from understanding these three minutes. 

However much Kerr's resonate (competitiveness, mindset, compassion, joy), ours will differ. Everyone needs authenticity. 

My mantra was TIA - teamwork, improvement, accountability. Other values for your program surround and flow from core values. Be specific. 

Teamwork. Teamwork means working together for the good of the team, putting team before self. Remember Jay Bilas's bytes from Toughness, "It's not your shot, it's our shot." It means everyone plays defense, everyone blocks out. Teamwork implies shared vision, shared sacrifice, shared results. As Bella Federico said, "we win together and we lose together." Teamwork abhors finger-pointing. Teamwork implies verbal and nonverbal communication. 

"Help your teammate" means on and off the court. Are they in a funk because of school or family or a relationship problem? Be there for them. 

Improvement. Improvement served as a category for home improvement, scholastic achievement, volleyball growth. Take care of business at home, at school, and work on skill, strategy, physicality, and psychology (resilience). Create better habits. Invest our time don't spend it. "Win the morning" with your success routine. 

Accountability. Hold yourself to high standards at all times. "How you do anything is how you do everything." Be punctual, focused, positive, and committed to making everyone around you better. 

In the new documentary Dynasty about the Patriots, the defense, led by stars like Willie McGinest, Richard Seymour, Ty Law, Teddy Bruschi, and Lawyer Milloy knew they had to stand tall while young quarterback Tom Brady was finding his way. 

Standing for your values is your choice. 

Lagniappe. Excellent coaches share an obligation to the long-term success of their graduates. 

Lagniappe 2. Are you calling the ball, focused, moving the feet when necessary? Experienced players get reminders from young ones. 

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