.
The First 16
A Bad Coach - Shows up late for practices
A Good Coach - Is there early to setup and greet the team as they arrive
A Bad Coach – Blames the players
A Good Coach - Accepts responsibility
A Bad Coach – Yells and Screams
A Good Coach - Listens and Instructs
A Bad Coach – Plays only the stars
A Good Coach - Works to make everyone a star
A Bad Coach – Makes players quit
A Good Coach - Inspires more to play
A Bad Coach – Cares about wins
A Good Coach - Cares about people
A Bad Coach – Knows it all
A Good Coach - Works to improve
A Bad Coach – Finds fault
A Good Coach - Admits fault
A Bad Coach – Tries to pour everyone into the same mold
A Good Coach - Maximizes the potential of individuals
A Bad Coach – Has Rules
A Good Coach - Sets standards (and lives by them as well)
A Bad Coach – Pigeonholes
A Good Coach - Diversifies
A Bad Coach – Lives for the game
A Good Coach – Believes the game teaches about life
A Bad Coach – Uses conditioning to punish
A Good Coach – Uses conditioning to improve
A Bad Coach – Focuses on trick plays
A Good Coach – Focuses on fundamentals
A Bad Coach – Complains
A Good Coach - Compliments
A Bad Coach – Looks the other way
A Good Coach – Never lets anything go
(c) 2009 Dave Johnston
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
When Your Kid Isn't Being Played
.
You’re miserable.
You feel helpless.
Helpless to help.
Maybe you’ve invested a lot of money. In lessons, equipment, fees.
You’ve certainly invested lots of time.
You want your son to be happy; you want your daughter to feel successful.
You took time off work. You traveled all the way here to watch your kid play.
You bought a ticket.
You’re here, sitting in the cold stadium, the stinky gym, standing by the pool . . . you back hurting from the lousy bench seats.
But there he sits, on the sideline. Dejected, she knows she’s her number won’t get called. Like a sailboat without wind, you feel helpless, too.
You don’t want to be one of “those parents”, the kind that buddy up to the coach (or worse, consistently badger, cajole and lecture) so your kids gets treated “more special” than the others.
You’re sure other parents must do that. Sitting there spectating with them you’ve learned what they’re like.
Your son is just as fast, your daughter just as gifted, as their kid. Why does their kid play all the time, and yours doesn’t?
OK. Maybe your kid isn’t the Most Talented on the team, but surely he deserves to play a little; would it kill anyone to put her in for a few moments?
Is it your fault?
Have you not given your child the same opportunities?
Is your kid not as talented, as special, as you thought?
You feel bad for your daughter; you feel like you’ve let your son down.
You want to do something.
Say something.
To fight for your child.
But whom will you talk to?
You can’t say anything to your athlete. You know he works hard; that anything you could possible say will only make her feel worse about not playing.
You’re afraid to talk to the coach. You think that if he liked your son he’d be getting more playing time; if she recognized what you see in your daughter, surely she’d be in the game.
You’re convinced that if you said anything to the coach, it surely wouldn't help your child, anyway.
Stupid coach would probably make you feel small, like you're out of touch or unrealistic or don't know the game . . .
Or take it out on your kid, perhaps just to make a point.
What would that accomplish?
So you sit.
No ideas.
Baffled and with no recourse.
You’re only prayer is that your child will somehow make it through; to live to play another day.
So you try to stay positive.
You smile.
You cheer for the team.
Win or lose, you thank the coach for his time. You appreciate the positive things she does.
You show your child that you love him, whether he plays or not.
Through example you teach her that there’s no use getting upset over things which you have no control.
Tomorrow you’ll go out and play catch with him. At dinner tonight you’ll have her teach you about her sport.
Even if you’re not good.
Even if you already know the answers to the questions.
And you’ll do it not because you want to make that coach regret not playing your son.
You’ll do it because you love her.
You’ll do it because it’s fun to play; it's fun to spend time together.
You’ll do it because one of the most important lessons to learn from sports is that when life refuses to give you the chance you deserve, you’re not down, you’re not out.
You can still smile and be thankful for the gifts you’ve been given.
Even if the coach, or the teacher, or the employer, doesn’t know you’re gifted, you do.
And so do the people that love you.
(c) 2009 Dave Johnston
You’re miserable.
You feel helpless.
Helpless to help.
Maybe you’ve invested a lot of money. In lessons, equipment, fees.
You’ve certainly invested lots of time.
You want your son to be happy; you want your daughter to feel successful.
You took time off work. You traveled all the way here to watch your kid play.
You bought a ticket.
You’re here, sitting in the cold stadium, the stinky gym, standing by the pool . . . you back hurting from the lousy bench seats.
But there he sits, on the sideline. Dejected, she knows she’s her number won’t get called. Like a sailboat without wind, you feel helpless, too.
You don’t want to be one of “those parents”, the kind that buddy up to the coach (or worse, consistently badger, cajole and lecture) so your kids gets treated “more special” than the others.
You’re sure other parents must do that. Sitting there spectating with them you’ve learned what they’re like.
Your son is just as fast, your daughter just as gifted, as their kid. Why does their kid play all the time, and yours doesn’t?
OK. Maybe your kid isn’t the Most Talented on the team, but surely he deserves to play a little; would it kill anyone to put her in for a few moments?
Is it your fault?
Have you not given your child the same opportunities?
Is your kid not as talented, as special, as you thought?
You feel bad for your daughter; you feel like you’ve let your son down.
You want to do something.
Say something.
To fight for your child.
But whom will you talk to?
You can’t say anything to your athlete. You know he works hard; that anything you could possible say will only make her feel worse about not playing.
You’re afraid to talk to the coach. You think that if he liked your son he’d be getting more playing time; if she recognized what you see in your daughter, surely she’d be in the game.
You’re convinced that if you said anything to the coach, it surely wouldn't help your child, anyway.
Stupid coach would probably make you feel small, like you're out of touch or unrealistic or don't know the game . . .
Or take it out on your kid, perhaps just to make a point.
What would that accomplish?
So you sit.
No ideas.
Baffled and with no recourse.
You’re only prayer is that your child will somehow make it through; to live to play another day.
So you try to stay positive.
You smile.
You cheer for the team.
Win or lose, you thank the coach for his time. You appreciate the positive things she does.
You show your child that you love him, whether he plays or not.
Through example you teach her that there’s no use getting upset over things which you have no control.
Tomorrow you’ll go out and play catch with him. At dinner tonight you’ll have her teach you about her sport.
Even if you’re not good.
Even if you already know the answers to the questions.
And you’ll do it not because you want to make that coach regret not playing your son.
You’ll do it because you love her.
You’ll do it because it’s fun to play; it's fun to spend time together.
You’ll do it because one of the most important lessons to learn from sports is that when life refuses to give you the chance you deserve, you’re not down, you’re not out.
You can still smile and be thankful for the gifts you’ve been given.
Even if the coach, or the teacher, or the employer, doesn’t know you’re gifted, you do.
And so do the people that love you.
(c) 2009 Dave Johnston
Friday, April 17, 2009
Heroes Among Us
It's this writer's belief that if we look at Athletic Competition with open hearts and eyes, win or lose, we'll learn something about ourselves. My book, "The Discovering Greatness Playbook: Lessons from Kids and Youth Athletics for Managers, Parents and Teachers", is about exactly that.
To that end I occasionally post links within this column to inspirational sports stories and videos.
But every now and then an equally, if not superior, inspirational story comes my way from outside the world of sports.
I've never watched a full episode of American Idol, let alone it's British Original, Britain's Got Talent. Oh, occasionally someone will send a YouTube link to a particularly good performance, sometimes I look, sometimes I don't.
You may be asking yourself at this point, what is a column about Sports and Business doing talking about Britain's Got Talent?
I'd like to introduce you to Susan Boyle (although many of you by now may have heard of her). Forty-seven years old, from a collection of country villages, and looking every bit the part of a scullery maid, her Audition performance on this year's Britain's Got Talent is, without exception, one of the most inspirational videos I've ever seen.
Like watching Rocky Balboa run the steps of the Museum of Art in Philadelphia, you'll conclude watching this video with the feeling like you too can go out and accomplish anything if you work hard enough.
And that's what heroes do: they inspire us to be better tomorrow than we were today. Whether it's on the Playing Field or the Theater Stage. If you haven't seen Susan Boyle sing, watch the video. If you don't, you'll be missing something.
(http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=71847929173&h=irKUf&u=34nev&ref=nf)
Each has a unique set of talents, yet we often overlook the value of the individual because of our own pre-conceived notions and biases. Whom in your corporation is ready to Sing that is not yet given the chance to be discovered?
To that end I occasionally post links within this column to inspirational sports stories and videos.
But every now and then an equally, if not superior, inspirational story comes my way from outside the world of sports.
I've never watched a full episode of American Idol, let alone it's British Original, Britain's Got Talent. Oh, occasionally someone will send a YouTube link to a particularly good performance, sometimes I look, sometimes I don't.
You may be asking yourself at this point, what is a column about Sports and Business doing talking about Britain's Got Talent?
I'd like to introduce you to Susan Boyle (although many of you by now may have heard of her). Forty-seven years old, from a collection of country villages, and looking every bit the part of a scullery maid, her Audition performance on this year's Britain's Got Talent is, without exception, one of the most inspirational videos I've ever seen.
Like watching Rocky Balboa run the steps of the Museum of Art in Philadelphia, you'll conclude watching this video with the feeling like you too can go out and accomplish anything if you work hard enough.
And that's what heroes do: they inspire us to be better tomorrow than we were today. Whether it's on the Playing Field or the Theater Stage. If you haven't seen Susan Boyle sing, watch the video. If you don't, you'll be missing something.
(http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=71847929173&h=irKUf&u=34nev&ref=nf)
Each has a unique set of talents, yet we often overlook the value of the individual because of our own pre-conceived notions and biases. Whom in your corporation is ready to Sing that is not yet given the chance to be discovered?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Finny's Fight
On March 20th, 2009, Coach Craig Finberg lost his battle with cancer. He was 51.
After realizing he wasn't built for running, he tried out for the basketball team. Despite his size he made the team and went on to be Montana State University's 7th highest all time scorer (1473 points). He chose to "extend" his basketball career by becoming the coach at Beaverhead County High School. He coached for 18 years.
Like any Good Coach, he improved the lives of those he spent time with; and his inspiration touched those he never met.
My fourth son, Finn, arrived at the Beaverhead County High School nervous but ready for his first wrestling tournament of the season. During one of the first practices of the season he rolled his foot and received what turns out to be a very common break in young athletes, called by our Pediatrist a "Jones Break".
Finn would spend the next four weeks watching practice from the sidelines, not allowed to do anything more than a little upper-body weight training until his foot was well enough to take off the protective "boot".
Not entirely heeled, his doctor showed Finn how to pad and wrap his foot so that he could practice and, if there was no serious discomfort, compete in the last two tournatments of the season (his first as a Middle School Wrestler).
Upon entering the gymnasium, my son was drawn to flags that hung everywhere honoring "Finny's Fight". Unaware of the coach with the similar name who was in a cancer battle he'd lose just a few days later, the signs encouraged my boy. He knew they weren't for him; no one in the small town of Dillon, Montana, would have ever heard of the boy from the only slightly bigger town of Bozeman. But still the signs took the edge off. He said his foot was "a bit tired", but he was inspired by someone he didn't know to not give up.
And he didn't.
In what was one of the most exciting matches of the day, Finn found himself wrestling for his weight's Championship in double overtime. With the clock rapidly winding down, a Jordan-esque look of determination washed over his face, extinguishing the fatigue.
Mustering all of his remaining strength, Finn threw the Head-and-Arm; not a complicated move, but one that only works at this level of wrestling if you have more strength available than your opponent. Take down; 2 points - Finn wins.
Fifteen minutes later his older brother handily one his Championship match, scoring all of the points awarded. When I asked Ty about it later he said: "after watching my little brother win, there was no way I was going to ride all the way home having to listen to that over and over again unless I won too".
Coach Finberg, through his commitment and dedication, has inspired people who've never been coached by him, who've never met him. Those people, in turn, have inspired others.
On Sunday, March 29th, friends, family, faculty and players past and present, gathered at the High School Gymnasium for a ceremony honoring Coach Finberg which concluded with the facility being renamed after Finny.
For those of you that have worked so hard to create a business, have you created an exit plan? Will your blood, sweat and tears live on to inspire and employ others, or will it die with your exit?
Whether your exit is in one year or thirty, you need to have a plan. Groom a successor; create a corporate identity that can stand separately from your own; get that stuff that's locked deep in your brain, the stuff that only you know, onto paper. A legacy that dies with you is dead; a dream that you release on its own can live forever.
After realizing he wasn't built for running, he tried out for the basketball team. Despite his size he made the team and went on to be Montana State University's 7th highest all time scorer (1473 points). He chose to "extend" his basketball career by becoming the coach at Beaverhead County High School. He coached for 18 years.
Like any Good Coach, he improved the lives of those he spent time with; and his inspiration touched those he never met.
My fourth son, Finn, arrived at the Beaverhead County High School nervous but ready for his first wrestling tournament of the season. During one of the first practices of the season he rolled his foot and received what turns out to be a very common break in young athletes, called by our Pediatrist a "Jones Break".
Finn would spend the next four weeks watching practice from the sidelines, not allowed to do anything more than a little upper-body weight training until his foot was well enough to take off the protective "boot".
Not entirely heeled, his doctor showed Finn how to pad and wrap his foot so that he could practice and, if there was no serious discomfort, compete in the last two tournatments of the season (his first as a Middle School Wrestler).
Upon entering the gymnasium, my son was drawn to flags that hung everywhere honoring "Finny's Fight". Unaware of the coach with the similar name who was in a cancer battle he'd lose just a few days later, the signs encouraged my boy. He knew they weren't for him; no one in the small town of Dillon, Montana, would have ever heard of the boy from the only slightly bigger town of Bozeman. But still the signs took the edge off. He said his foot was "a bit tired", but he was inspired by someone he didn't know to not give up.
And he didn't.
In what was one of the most exciting matches of the day, Finn found himself wrestling for his weight's Championship in double overtime. With the clock rapidly winding down, a Jordan-esque look of determination washed over his face, extinguishing the fatigue.
Mustering all of his remaining strength, Finn threw the Head-and-Arm; not a complicated move, but one that only works at this level of wrestling if you have more strength available than your opponent. Take down; 2 points - Finn wins.
Fifteen minutes later his older brother handily one his Championship match, scoring all of the points awarded. When I asked Ty about it later he said: "after watching my little brother win, there was no way I was going to ride all the way home having to listen to that over and over again unless I won too".
Coach Finberg, through his commitment and dedication, has inspired people who've never been coached by him, who've never met him. Those people, in turn, have inspired others.
On Sunday, March 29th, friends, family, faculty and players past and present, gathered at the High School Gymnasium for a ceremony honoring Coach Finberg which concluded with the facility being renamed after Finny.
For those of you that have worked so hard to create a business, have you created an exit plan? Will your blood, sweat and tears live on to inspire and employ others, or will it die with your exit?
Whether your exit is in one year or thirty, you need to have a plan. Groom a successor; create a corporate identity that can stand separately from your own; get that stuff that's locked deep in your brain, the stuff that only you know, onto paper. A legacy that dies with you is dead; a dream that you release on its own can live forever.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Double Coverage
In the First Round of Playoffs, CBS had assumed the dubious task of trying to show all 32 games on one station. The first half of the day went fine, but then as the night wore one two games simultaneously went into overtime. Siena vs. Ohio State and Wisconsin vs. Florida State. What was CBS to do?
Both games were phenomenal to watch, both upsets (at least as far as my bracket was concerned); scores back and forth; time outs; last second shots . . .
I'm not even a huge basketball fan, but there I was, riveted. The directors at CBS were jumping from one game to the next; but not jumping, gliding. It was almost seamless. The entire country got to see both games at the same time; worried I'd miss a crucial moment, instead I felt like I had two TVs in my home. Heck, if I did have two TVs I would have missed more of each game than CBS gave me.
After watching Olympic coverage get worse every year, this was a miracle on the hardwood. Fan or no, you've got to respect how CBS handled the situation. They covered two games, in overtime, at the same time, giving we the customer a great product.
The economy is tough right now, a lot of companies are laying people off, not as in years past to suddenly boost company profits and value, but to survive. But the key shouldn't be just survival; companies need to still play to win. While making those tough decisions about who to keep and whom to let go, businesses need to not forget the value of keeping "the right people on the bus". Sooner or later money will flow again. If you don't have the right people directing the show, instead of delivering an amazing product, you're going to look unfocused and like you can't handle the coverage.
Both games were phenomenal to watch, both upsets (at least as far as my bracket was concerned); scores back and forth; time outs; last second shots . . .
I'm not even a huge basketball fan, but there I was, riveted. The directors at CBS were jumping from one game to the next; but not jumping, gliding. It was almost seamless. The entire country got to see both games at the same time; worried I'd miss a crucial moment, instead I felt like I had two TVs in my home. Heck, if I did have two TVs I would have missed more of each game than CBS gave me.
After watching Olympic coverage get worse every year, this was a miracle on the hardwood. Fan or no, you've got to respect how CBS handled the situation. They covered two games, in overtime, at the same time, giving we the customer a great product.
The economy is tough right now, a lot of companies are laying people off, not as in years past to suddenly boost company profits and value, but to survive. But the key shouldn't be just survival; companies need to still play to win. While making those tough decisions about who to keep and whom to let go, businesses need to not forget the value of keeping "the right people on the bus". Sooner or later money will flow again. If you don't have the right people directing the show, instead of delivering an amazing product, you're going to look unfocused and like you can't handle the coverage.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
March Madness
Even if you're not a huge Basketball Fan, being out of the loop on the Largest Sports Playoff in America is a little like not having heard of Simon Cowell (and the similarities between March Madness and American Idol don't stop there).
I always go into the Division 1 Men's College Basketball Playoffs more ignorant than I'd like. I get into the spirit of the competition, catching about as many of the playoff games as I do Olympic events (trying to catch the Big Ones and the Ones that are being billed as Great Contests), but I get so busy with Wrestling ending and Little League Baseball starting that my friends usually treat my bracket picks as either a good laugh or frankly a little bit sad (how could "Coach" Dave be so ignorant?).
Well you can't be an expert on everything; maybe they'll realize that when their boys are old enough to be in sports year 'round . . .
But the NCAA is doing something this year that I think is a brilliant marketing move. They're trying to capture audience and market share by broadcasting ALL LIVE GAMES on their website FOR FREE.
And while you're at it, don't forget to tune in to see Coach Dave Johnston make his Webisode debut as "the coach" on Heckle U at CBS.com
I always go into the Division 1 Men's College Basketball Playoffs more ignorant than I'd like. I get into the spirit of the competition, catching about as many of the playoff games as I do Olympic events (trying to catch the Big Ones and the Ones that are being billed as Great Contests), but I get so busy with Wrestling ending and Little League Baseball starting that my friends usually treat my bracket picks as either a good laugh or frankly a little bit sad (how could "Coach" Dave be so ignorant?).
Well you can't be an expert on everything; maybe they'll realize that when their boys are old enough to be in sports year 'round . . .
But the NCAA is doing something this year that I think is a brilliant marketing move. They're trying to capture audience and market share by broadcasting ALL LIVE GAMES on their website FOR FREE.
Check it out at NCAA.com
What lessons can business owners learn from this aggressive give away?
When times get tough, even if you're the biggest game in town, you still have to get your name out there. Now is the time to increase your market share through Networking, Advertising, and Product Placement.
Too many companies react to tough economic times by RAISING their prices, trying to make up for the drop in volume by increasing what they charge. That is like pulling the plug too early on a patient destined to recover. When this recession is all over, only the Champions will be left standing; those will be the companies that leave it all on the court.
For more information on March Madness, check out:
http://www.ncaamarchmadness2009.com/and
http://mmod.ncaa.com/?source=mktg_09MMOD_SEg_MMOD4And while you're at it, don't forget to tune in to see Coach Dave Johnston make his Webisode debut as "the coach" on Heckle U at CBS.com
Monday, March 16, 2009
Eliminating the Distractions
It's the last Wrestling night of the season for Bozeman's Little Hawks (1st through 5th grade). My third grader is soon to be for his first match; all four of his older brothers are volunteering as table workers and referees on other mats to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Since these guys are all from the same group, mostly, there are no coaches mat-side. Just the occasional dad. I've coached this particular son in two of these previous year-end extravaganzas, and been his baseball and football coach since he was six. It's almost his turn and my wife nudges me: "you better get over there; he's almost up".
I casually walk to the far side of the gym. Not every dad is as competitive as I am, and some who are just in this for the "fun of participating" (which I've always thought was politically-correct BS) may resent my active participation in my own child's success.
I kneel on the floor at a distance that I hope looks more like I'm spectating and cheering than actually coaching. The current match is almost over; my boy's turn is coming up. I call him to me.
I begin going over our strategy for this first opponent. Three sentences in he hold up his hand to stop me.
"Papa, Finn (his next older brother) says not to have you coach me. He says you're a distraction. I can do this on my own. You should go sit back down by Mama."
What do I say?
"OK, buddy. Good luck!"
I'm hurt, but a little impressed. When I explain to my wife and friends what he said they all laugh; no one harder than my friend who's same-age son just gave him the identical speech. (Did they cover this in practice?)
My boy wins his first match by pinning his opponent in under 25 seconds. Take down, half-nelson, roll him over, scoop the head. He's never wrestled this well! His second match goes the same way, almost scripted.
And that's it. My days of mat-coach are over. He's got a gold medal and I'm totally unneeded. He's outgrown me (at least in this capacity). He's worked hard and deserves the credit.
Too often at work managers get over-involved. Some places it's called micro-managing. They worry that without their input the poo's going to hit the fan; or worse, that it won't. If an employee succeeds without them, then they worry that they'll be identified as unnecessary instead of receiving the credit for the training, supervision, and help they've given to this success story. And, in too many cases, they're right.
The key is to take your time that is freed by independent and successful employees and make yourself valuable in other ways. The best choice is to go learn how to do your boss's job. If you're at the top of the ladder, improve your skills, increase your client base, turn your attention to other ways to grow the company and improve the other, weaker links.
Don't throw a pity party and don't become the distraction that keeps others from succeeding. Instead look for new opportunities; new wrestlers to coach.
Since these guys are all from the same group, mostly, there are no coaches mat-side. Just the occasional dad. I've coached this particular son in two of these previous year-end extravaganzas, and been his baseball and football coach since he was six. It's almost his turn and my wife nudges me: "you better get over there; he's almost up".
I casually walk to the far side of the gym. Not every dad is as competitive as I am, and some who are just in this for the "fun of participating" (which I've always thought was politically-correct BS) may resent my active participation in my own child's success.
I kneel on the floor at a distance that I hope looks more like I'm spectating and cheering than actually coaching. The current match is almost over; my boy's turn is coming up. I call him to me.
I begin going over our strategy for this first opponent. Three sentences in he hold up his hand to stop me.
"Papa, Finn (his next older brother) says not to have you coach me. He says you're a distraction. I can do this on my own. You should go sit back down by Mama."
What do I say?
"OK, buddy. Good luck!"
I'm hurt, but a little impressed. When I explain to my wife and friends what he said they all laugh; no one harder than my friend who's same-age son just gave him the identical speech. (Did they cover this in practice?)
My boy wins his first match by pinning his opponent in under 25 seconds. Take down, half-nelson, roll him over, scoop the head. He's never wrestled this well! His second match goes the same way, almost scripted.
And that's it. My days of mat-coach are over. He's got a gold medal and I'm totally unneeded. He's outgrown me (at least in this capacity). He's worked hard and deserves the credit.
Too often at work managers get over-involved. Some places it's called micro-managing. They worry that without their input the poo's going to hit the fan; or worse, that it won't. If an employee succeeds without them, then they worry that they'll be identified as unnecessary instead of receiving the credit for the training, supervision, and help they've given to this success story. And, in too many cases, they're right.
The key is to take your time that is freed by independent and successful employees and make yourself valuable in other ways. The best choice is to go learn how to do your boss's job. If you're at the top of the ladder, improve your skills, increase your client base, turn your attention to other ways to grow the company and improve the other, weaker links.
Don't throw a pity party and don't become the distraction that keeps others from succeeding. Instead look for new opportunities; new wrestlers to coach.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
On Any Given Saturday . . .
As our family transitions from Wrestling into Baseball and Track (we never transition OUT of Ballet - it goes all year) and I find myself gathering the notes for the next book, there are certain principles that Wrestling makes clearer than any other sport.
In Football we talk about "On Any Given Sunday" which, for you new fans, means that because of the complexity of the game and the variety of things (from weather to injuries to what the team ate) that can impact the outcome, any team has the chance to beat any other team "On Any Given Sunday".
That principle holds true in Wrestling as well. Any given tournament or dual any wrestler can beat any other wrestler. Sure, there are tactical advantages of Strength vs. Weight, and Skill level should never be discredited, but each wrestler needs to remember that he can beat his opponent, even if he's lost to him many times before.
Perhaps the most physical sport ever, the slightest change in physicality can make the difference. Did he slack in practice this week? Eat too much? Eat too little? Tweak his ankle on the walk over to the mat? Is he catching the latest flu bug?
Wrestling is also a thinking man's game; you're mind has got to be alert, you must have your head in the game or the risk of making a simple but costly mistake goes up exponentially. Did his girlfriend dump him? Are mom and dad angry? Is this guy better than I am?
Those and other issues floating around in an unfocused wrestler's head can force even the most experienced athlete to stick an arm or a leg in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In a sport where the score can turn in a second and a loss measured by increments of an inch, the best wrestlers are those that are both physically and mentally prepared, but even the best guys can get beat On Any Given Saturday.
In business, if we get caught thinking that there is no competition, if we fail to stay mentally alert and in the best shape possible, we're asking to get beat. We need to continuously train to be the best we are at what we do. Classes, Continuing Education Credits, Seminars, and personal study of our chosen vocation should never be brushed aside simply because we're "too busy".
We also need to keep ourselves and our staffs in good physical condition. Literally. Don't overwork your people! No client should be expected to understand poor customer service on the basis that your front line employees and sales people are overfed or under rested. True, you don't have the control over their time away from the workplace, but you can find ways to award those that are timely, well prepared, and have sharp minds and positive attitudes.
If we learn one more lesson from the On Any Given Saturday principle let it be this: just because we lost this match, that doesn't mean that we can't train harder, renew our focus, and win next time.
In Football we talk about "On Any Given Sunday" which, for you new fans, means that because of the complexity of the game and the variety of things (from weather to injuries to what the team ate) that can impact the outcome, any team has the chance to beat any other team "On Any Given Sunday".
That principle holds true in Wrestling as well. Any given tournament or dual any wrestler can beat any other wrestler. Sure, there are tactical advantages of Strength vs. Weight, and Skill level should never be discredited, but each wrestler needs to remember that he can beat his opponent, even if he's lost to him many times before.
Perhaps the most physical sport ever, the slightest change in physicality can make the difference. Did he slack in practice this week? Eat too much? Eat too little? Tweak his ankle on the walk over to the mat? Is he catching the latest flu bug?
Wrestling is also a thinking man's game; you're mind has got to be alert, you must have your head in the game or the risk of making a simple but costly mistake goes up exponentially. Did his girlfriend dump him? Are mom and dad angry? Is this guy better than I am?
Those and other issues floating around in an unfocused wrestler's head can force even the most experienced athlete to stick an arm or a leg in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In a sport where the score can turn in a second and a loss measured by increments of an inch, the best wrestlers are those that are both physically and mentally prepared, but even the best guys can get beat On Any Given Saturday.
In business, if we get caught thinking that there is no competition, if we fail to stay mentally alert and in the best shape possible, we're asking to get beat. We need to continuously train to be the best we are at what we do. Classes, Continuing Education Credits, Seminars, and personal study of our chosen vocation should never be brushed aside simply because we're "too busy".
We also need to keep ourselves and our staffs in good physical condition. Literally. Don't overwork your people! No client should be expected to understand poor customer service on the basis that your front line employees and sales people are overfed or under rested. True, you don't have the control over their time away from the workplace, but you can find ways to award those that are timely, well prepared, and have sharp minds and positive attitudes.
If we learn one more lesson from the On Any Given Saturday principle let it be this: just because we lost this match, that doesn't mean that we can't train harder, renew our focus, and win next time.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Too Much at One Time
Little League Baseball Sign ups were this last weekend in my hometown. I missed them because my wife and I were running brackets at a local wrestling tournament. When I went by the sporting goods store to drop the boy's applications off I ran into another "wrestling parent".
"Signing up for baseball?" she asked.
"Yeah, you?"
"No, we've got club wrestling until July, and it's just to much to do both. We tried one year, and it was too hard".
Smart woman.
We want our kids to be happy, healthy, and successful. We try to afford them every opportunity, and all too often convince ourselves that means that we need to schedule their lives as much as we schedule ours.
We're not doing them any favors. Twelve year-olds should not be "burning out"!
I absolutely advocate keeping kids busy. My oldest daughter has dance year-round so she does pretty well, but those few days between sports see my boys climbing the walls, too much sugar and energy to burn just at school and scouts. So every season we require that they sign up for something, anything. However, parents who have their kids in music and karate and swing dancing and soccer and baseball and track and science club all at the same time need to turn off the "living vicariously" button for a while; give your child some opportunities to be a kid. The memories we have of our prowess in one sport or another, our "hoop dreams" of ultimate success, while great for us, may not be the best choice for our children. Pick something that works for them, for their talents and skills. That may mean more than one thing a year, but try to not let it mean "many things at the same time". We need to not let our sentimentality overdrive the decisions for our children.
In these slow economic times, are we over-scheduling ourselves? Particularly with things that aren't that important?
We need to work hard and stay focused on our priorities (I know one father who misses an awful lot of work because his children's activities come before his job). It's tempting to diversify to try and capture a larger market share, something I wholeheartedly endorse, but make sure that the new markets you try and the new business ideas you have fit in with the overall play UNLESS you're ready to dump the old business plan and move on. Closing a bad business is a good idea, but if you're going to do it, do it now. Don't let sentimentality drag on the inevitable until it becomes too late.
"Signing up for baseball?" she asked.
"Yeah, you?"
"No, we've got club wrestling until July, and it's just to much to do both. We tried one year, and it was too hard".
Smart woman.
We want our kids to be happy, healthy, and successful. We try to afford them every opportunity, and all too often convince ourselves that means that we need to schedule their lives as much as we schedule ours.
We're not doing them any favors. Twelve year-olds should not be "burning out"!
I absolutely advocate keeping kids busy. My oldest daughter has dance year-round so she does pretty well, but those few days between sports see my boys climbing the walls, too much sugar and energy to burn just at school and scouts. So every season we require that they sign up for something, anything. However, parents who have their kids in music and karate and swing dancing and soccer and baseball and track and science club all at the same time need to turn off the "living vicariously" button for a while; give your child some opportunities to be a kid. The memories we have of our prowess in one sport or another, our "hoop dreams" of ultimate success, while great for us, may not be the best choice for our children. Pick something that works for them, for their talents and skills. That may mean more than one thing a year, but try to not let it mean "many things at the same time". We need to not let our sentimentality overdrive the decisions for our children.
In these slow economic times, are we over-scheduling ourselves? Particularly with things that aren't that important?
We need to work hard and stay focused on our priorities (I know one father who misses an awful lot of work because his children's activities come before his job). It's tempting to diversify to try and capture a larger market share, something I wholeheartedly endorse, but make sure that the new markets you try and the new business ideas you have fit in with the overall play UNLESS you're ready to dump the old business plan and move on. Closing a bad business is a good idea, but if you're going to do it, do it now. Don't let sentimentality drag on the inevitable until it becomes too late.
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Courage to Adjust
There are a few basic responsibilities that every coach has (I've listed them in the back of The Discovering Greatness Playbook). One of the biggest is The Courage to Adjust.
It's difficult. You go in with a game plan. You've practiced a set of plays. You've committed to a roster. But if your system isn't working, you need to have the courage to throw it out.
It's a common mistake that coaches make at all levels; they get so committed to the virtues of what they planned that their egos won't let them make the changes their team needs for victory. The stick with the starters who don't have their heads in the game; they run the same bad plays . . .
You know that's the definition of insanity, right? To keep doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result.
Youth Baseball Season is upon us (local sign-ups are next Saturday). If there's one thing that baseball, as a sport, does correctly, it's having the courage to make a change.
The rosters are designed for it: a variety of pitchers and hitters are available at the disposal of a well-prepared baseball coach. If a guy is having an off-day from the mound, pull him. Hey, in baseball we recognize that any pitcher can be out of rhythm. With no disparity or disgust, we simply shrug it off and give the next guy a chance. The success of the team comes first.
Sure, you may give a guy a chance to get into step, and you should, but if it's just not coming together you pull him. You'll give him a shot another day. No harm, no foul (like the pun?), you're still a good guy and a quality pitcher, today's just not your day.
In business, especially in tough times, we often wait too long to make a personnel change. We've got the wrong guy on the mound; we're running the wrong playbook. But we stick with it, our egos to big for us to acknowledge we've made a mistake. If we want to win, if we want to survive, we need to have the Courage to Adjust.
It's difficult. You go in with a game plan. You've practiced a set of plays. You've committed to a roster. But if your system isn't working, you need to have the courage to throw it out.
It's a common mistake that coaches make at all levels; they get so committed to the virtues of what they planned that their egos won't let them make the changes their team needs for victory. The stick with the starters who don't have their heads in the game; they run the same bad plays . . .
You know that's the definition of insanity, right? To keep doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result.
Youth Baseball Season is upon us (local sign-ups are next Saturday). If there's one thing that baseball, as a sport, does correctly, it's having the courage to make a change.
The rosters are designed for it: a variety of pitchers and hitters are available at the disposal of a well-prepared baseball coach. If a guy is having an off-day from the mound, pull him. Hey, in baseball we recognize that any pitcher can be out of rhythm. With no disparity or disgust, we simply shrug it off and give the next guy a chance. The success of the team comes first.
Sure, you may give a guy a chance to get into step, and you should, but if it's just not coming together you pull him. You'll give him a shot another day. No harm, no foul (like the pun?), you're still a good guy and a quality pitcher, today's just not your day.
In business, especially in tough times, we often wait too long to make a personnel change. We've got the wrong guy on the mound; we're running the wrong playbook. But we stick with it, our egos to big for us to acknowledge we've made a mistake. If we want to win, if we want to survive, we need to have the Courage to Adjust.
Monday, February 16, 2009
J Mac
I write about and coach sports because I see the potential to uplift the human spirit.
One of the beauties of the Internet is that even if an event is "old" by news standards, through video posting and archiving it can reach a new audience any time.
One such video is that of young Jason McElwain's amazing basketball performance the one time he saw actual playing time. You've got to watch the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngzyhnkT_jY
Any honest viewer has to be impressed. And moved. It's these moments that sports are all about: to revel in the achievement of a hero; to see the underdog get his due. If you want to learn more about J Mac, check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_McElwain
I'm grateful for the friend that told me about Jason so that I had time to share his story with my kids before the Superbowl. It gave the commercial he was in an added sense of triumph for all of us.
“Diem perséquere!"
Hunt the Day Down. Attack today. Go out and make it yours.
One of the beauties of the Internet is that even if an event is "old" by news standards, through video posting and archiving it can reach a new audience any time.
One such video is that of young Jason McElwain's amazing basketball performance the one time he saw actual playing time. You've got to watch the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngzyhnkT_jY
Any honest viewer has to be impressed. And moved. It's these moments that sports are all about: to revel in the achievement of a hero; to see the underdog get his due. If you want to learn more about J Mac, check out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_McElwain
I'm grateful for the friend that told me about Jason so that I had time to share his story with my kids before the Superbowl. It gave the commercial he was in an added sense of triumph for all of us.
“Diem perséquere!"
Hunt the Day Down. Attack today. Go out and make it yours.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Roids
Roids. As in Steroids, not Hemorrhoids, although the news of late has me thinking that the two words aren't that far apart . . .
What should be the response of league officials when an athlete tests positive for a banned substance? And should that response be any different if a confession is made?
The whole situation reminds me of Pete Rose.
Now wait a minute; hear me out. I'm a "rules are rules' kind of a guy. If the league has rules against the use of certain substances, or gambling, then the punishment must be carried out. And yet the Pete Rose situation has always bothered me. OK, the guy gambled on baseball, which is dumb. And yes, I get that the MLB is very sensitive to that particularly surrounding the Black Sox Scandal of 1919, but being Banned for Life from playing (especially after one has retired) and be kept from the Hall of Fame are two different things.
In the same regard, while I admire Alex Rodriguez for coming clean about his past steroid use, and think that his honesty merits a little leniency, something needs to be done. It's A-Rod's own words that trouble me the most, citing his reason for doping that he caved in to "pressure to perform".
What message does that send? What are kids supposed to take away from that?
Does anyone think that future Hall-of-Fame hopefuls aren't going to figure out that his "banned substance use" coincides with his move to the Texas Rangers, his record breaking seasons, and his $10-million-a-year deal?
Steroids will wreck your life (am I the only one that remembers Lyle Alzado?) and yet their use in professional sports is out of hand.
So what should be done?
In the case of Alex Rodriguez, I advocate fines. Fine him, fine the Rangers, and maybe even the Yankees. There's no question that A-Rod's income, and the income of both teams, is tied to his "enhanced" performance. What to do with the fines? A PR campaign? Maybe, but the bottom line is that kids need to hear "use the juice, and it's gonna cost ya".
Should A-Rod and other users be allowed to continue to play? I say "yes", so long as they submit to regular testing and stay clean. Hall of Fame? Maybe, but I strongly advocate erasing any statistics from any player's record that are the result of banned substances. Not just in baseball, but every sport. If we remove the batting averages and home runs from those Texas Rangers years will Alex still qualify for the Hall?
Not likely. But that's an appropriate response for irresponsible behavior. If Pete Rose can be kept out of the Hall for things he did outside of Baseball, Alex Rodriguez should have his induction influenced by the things he's done while playing.
And Hank Aaron should be re-crowned the rightful Home Run King.
Outside of Professional Sports, how much control should a company have over the off-time habits of it's employees?
None.
Unless those off-time exploits effect the workplace, as they are almost certainly bound to do.
Mangers and Owners need to first have rock-solid policies in place. Even in a small company you need a manual that clearly lays out a zero-tolerance while on-the-clock rule. While clocked in, you're liable for a lot of what they do, you've got to protect your business.
Habitual users of any drug are guaranteed to have their work performance and production effected. Suspecting someone of being under the influence and proving it are two wildly different things. They best tool you have may be regular performance reviews (which I recommend NOT tying to salary or wage increases), and by regular I mean "formal" and "at least quarterly". By focusing on an employee's performance, not your suspicions of drug use, you'll stay above any legal entanglements.
What should be the response of league officials when an athlete tests positive for a banned substance? And should that response be any different if a confession is made?
The whole situation reminds me of Pete Rose.
Now wait a minute; hear me out. I'm a "rules are rules' kind of a guy. If the league has rules against the use of certain substances, or gambling, then the punishment must be carried out. And yet the Pete Rose situation has always bothered me. OK, the guy gambled on baseball, which is dumb. And yes, I get that the MLB is very sensitive to that particularly surrounding the Black Sox Scandal of 1919, but being Banned for Life from playing (especially after one has retired) and be kept from the Hall of Fame are two different things.
In the same regard, while I admire Alex Rodriguez for coming clean about his past steroid use, and think that his honesty merits a little leniency, something needs to be done. It's A-Rod's own words that trouble me the most, citing his reason for doping that he caved in to "pressure to perform".
What message does that send? What are kids supposed to take away from that?
Does anyone think that future Hall-of-Fame hopefuls aren't going to figure out that his "banned substance use" coincides with his move to the Texas Rangers, his record breaking seasons, and his $10-million-a-year deal?
Steroids will wreck your life (am I the only one that remembers Lyle Alzado?) and yet their use in professional sports is out of hand.
So what should be done?
In the case of Alex Rodriguez, I advocate fines. Fine him, fine the Rangers, and maybe even the Yankees. There's no question that A-Rod's income, and the income of both teams, is tied to his "enhanced" performance. What to do with the fines? A PR campaign? Maybe, but the bottom line is that kids need to hear "use the juice, and it's gonna cost ya".
Should A-Rod and other users be allowed to continue to play? I say "yes", so long as they submit to regular testing and stay clean. Hall of Fame? Maybe, but I strongly advocate erasing any statistics from any player's record that are the result of banned substances. Not just in baseball, but every sport. If we remove the batting averages and home runs from those Texas Rangers years will Alex still qualify for the Hall?
Not likely. But that's an appropriate response for irresponsible behavior. If Pete Rose can be kept out of the Hall for things he did outside of Baseball, Alex Rodriguez should have his induction influenced by the things he's done while playing.
And Hank Aaron should be re-crowned the rightful Home Run King.
Outside of Professional Sports, how much control should a company have over the off-time habits of it's employees?
None.
Unless those off-time exploits effect the workplace, as they are almost certainly bound to do.
Mangers and Owners need to first have rock-solid policies in place. Even in a small company you need a manual that clearly lays out a zero-tolerance while on-the-clock rule. While clocked in, you're liable for a lot of what they do, you've got to protect your business.
Habitual users of any drug are guaranteed to have their work performance and production effected. Suspecting someone of being under the influence and proving it are two wildly different things. They best tool you have may be regular performance reviews (which I recommend NOT tying to salary or wage increases), and by regular I mean "formal" and "at least quarterly". By focusing on an employee's performance, not your suspicions of drug use, you'll stay above any legal entanglements.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Man Enough
People will gather at the water cooler today and boast about the greatness of their team. They'll use words like "miraculous" and "dominate". They'll string together superlatives as if they think there's an opening for Madden's job.
Some will talk about fairness and calls and challenges and penalties called and not called.
And that's OK.
It's all part of the social decompression that we need to do. It helps us feel more a part of the contest on the field. Monday Morning Quarterbacking? Call it what you want, but the camaraderie that is built upon the common ground of having witnessed the same event; around analysing its moments, momentum, and miracles, is a positive byproduct of the spectacle of sport.
What I worry will get lost amid the discussions, something that would have been mentioned in every article, commentary and column today had the game but slightly swung the other direction, is a little thing that happened just before kick off: Kurt Warner was awarded the "Walter Payton Man of the Year Award".
Awarded every year since 1970, the NFL's Man of the Year (Walter Payton's name added after his death in 1999, Payton himself winning the award in 1977) honors excellence on and off the field.
In a world where our media is dominated by the foibles of the rich and famous, this award recognizes the charitable community contributions of the recipients (as well as the 31 other nominees) every year.
Wouldn't it be great if every profession had a Humanitarian award?
If after the awards for best picture, actor, actress and director the highest honor was given to the celebrity who had done the most to help those in need?
The "Man of the Year" may not hold for Kurt Warner, or even for the rest of us, the joy of the Lombardi trophy, but I submit to you that, whatever team you follow, we should all be proud of the Cardinal's QB. For having served his community, he's Man Enough.
There are unsung heroes in our individual workplaces as well. On their time off the clock they volunteer as coaches, in homeless shelters, and food banks. They lead scout troops, teach skills and mentor young people. They help us move and move us to tears.
Maybe I'm caught up in the economy of the times, but I'd love to see public recognition of the everyday heroes by the big companies that employ them. They're easy to find. Today they'll be huddled around the water cooler.
Some will talk about fairness and calls and challenges and penalties called and not called.
And that's OK.
It's all part of the social decompression that we need to do. It helps us feel more a part of the contest on the field. Monday Morning Quarterbacking? Call it what you want, but the camaraderie that is built upon the common ground of having witnessed the same event; around analysing its moments, momentum, and miracles, is a positive byproduct of the spectacle of sport.
What I worry will get lost amid the discussions, something that would have been mentioned in every article, commentary and column today had the game but slightly swung the other direction, is a little thing that happened just before kick off: Kurt Warner was awarded the "Walter Payton Man of the Year Award".
Awarded every year since 1970, the NFL's Man of the Year (Walter Payton's name added after his death in 1999, Payton himself winning the award in 1977) honors excellence on and off the field.
In a world where our media is dominated by the foibles of the rich and famous, this award recognizes the charitable community contributions of the recipients (as well as the 31 other nominees) every year.
Wouldn't it be great if every profession had a Humanitarian award?
If after the awards for best picture, actor, actress and director the highest honor was given to the celebrity who had done the most to help those in need?
The "Man of the Year" may not hold for Kurt Warner, or even for the rest of us, the joy of the Lombardi trophy, but I submit to you that, whatever team you follow, we should all be proud of the Cardinal's QB. For having served his community, he's Man Enough.
There are unsung heroes in our individual workplaces as well. On their time off the clock they volunteer as coaches, in homeless shelters, and food banks. They lead scout troops, teach skills and mentor young people. They help us move and move us to tears.
Maybe I'm caught up in the economy of the times, but I'd love to see public recognition of the everyday heroes by the big companies that employ them. They're easy to find. Today they'll be huddled around the water cooler.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Fair Game
100-0
Is it fair? Is it right?
Covenant High School beat Dallas Academy one hundred to nothing. The Christian Covenant issued an apology, asked for the league to accept their forfeiture of the game, and then fired their Girls Basketball coach when he stood up for his team and stood his ground.
He had every right, he said, to run up the score to record breaking territory. They "played with heart", he said of his starters. They never gave up, never let down. Can he be blamed for the poor performance of the D.A.'s team and coach?
No. But while I was initially convinced that the reaction of Covenant High School was political correctness gone bad in the worst way, I've since gathered a little more information, and realized that, while I'm not ready to agree that he should have been fired, Covenant's Coach was wrong.
I'm a competitive guy. I believe in scoring early and scoring big. As a coach, parent and player, a healthy lead helps me relax. How healthy? Enough that, whatever the game may be, the momentum of the competition won't steal the game away from me. In football that's a minimum two-touchdown lead; in Little League Baseball with the 6 runs per inning mercy rule, I like to be up by seven or eight runs before I ease off on the heat.
There's something fundamentally unsettling about holding back. For many it smacks of point shaving and game throwing (dare I make the analogy between the Black Sox and current political headlines here?). Isn't it disrespectful to your opponent to adopt an attitude of "you're so bad, you need us to help you score"?
Well, yeah, it is. When you come to play, bring your A-game. A half-effort attitude is just as much poor sportsmanship as trash-talking and running up the score. I think it's interesting that no one is talking about firing the Dallas Academy coach who couldn't lead his girls to score one single bucket even after Covenant's starters retired to the bench. How is that possible? Has he totally failed in teaching the fundamentals of the game? Can there be any other explanation?
And yet what must it have been like to be the parent of one of the non-starters? I've been there. You hope your team gets ahead early so your child will finally see some quality game time. Up 55-0 at the half, and yet the bench was still full of cold players; when were they going to get to play?
From a coaching perspective, Covenant missed a great opportunity. How much stronger would there team be if they had a coach that would grasp opportunities to give his less experienced players more game time? Is not the improvement of the team more important than the record?
There's more to sports than humiliating your opponent; the elements of mutual respect and good sportsmanship are waining in too many arenas. Perhaps that's one of the reasons participation in Organized Youth Athletics is on the decline. Yes, there are winners and there are losers, but as this game has brought to our attention, that distinction is not based on score alone.
Should a business hold back when it starts to decimate the competition?
Well that's a complex question.
When a "big box" retailer moves into a growing community, the mom and pop stores may take a hit. If they're unable to offer something the national changes can't (superior customer service being the best choice), they're going to suffer, and maybe they should. But it's not good for either establishment to obliterate the other, one by taking advantage of price breaks and the other wielding the power of taxes and the local government. The coexistence, the competition, makes both of them better at what they do.
Or rather, it should make them both better if they can but grasp the spirit of competition. Monopolies aren't good for anyone, not even the one left standing. If my business has no competitors, what incentive will I have to be the best?
I'm not suggesting that you pull your best people when you start to win and win big, I am suggesting that you play fair. Become the best you can be by improving yourself, not by destroying everyone else.
You'll sleep better.
To quote a favorite sports movie: "Score, don't spite."
Is it fair? Is it right?
Covenant High School beat Dallas Academy one hundred to nothing. The Christian Covenant issued an apology, asked for the league to accept their forfeiture of the game, and then fired their Girls Basketball coach when he stood up for his team and stood his ground.
He had every right, he said, to run up the score to record breaking territory. They "played with heart", he said of his starters. They never gave up, never let down. Can he be blamed for the poor performance of the D.A.'s team and coach?
No. But while I was initially convinced that the reaction of Covenant High School was political correctness gone bad in the worst way, I've since gathered a little more information, and realized that, while I'm not ready to agree that he should have been fired, Covenant's Coach was wrong.
I'm a competitive guy. I believe in scoring early and scoring big. As a coach, parent and player, a healthy lead helps me relax. How healthy? Enough that, whatever the game may be, the momentum of the competition won't steal the game away from me. In football that's a minimum two-touchdown lead; in Little League Baseball with the 6 runs per inning mercy rule, I like to be up by seven or eight runs before I ease off on the heat.
There's something fundamentally unsettling about holding back. For many it smacks of point shaving and game throwing (dare I make the analogy between the Black Sox and current political headlines here?). Isn't it disrespectful to your opponent to adopt an attitude of "you're so bad, you need us to help you score"?
Well, yeah, it is. When you come to play, bring your A-game. A half-effort attitude is just as much poor sportsmanship as trash-talking and running up the score. I think it's interesting that no one is talking about firing the Dallas Academy coach who couldn't lead his girls to score one single bucket even after Covenant's starters retired to the bench. How is that possible? Has he totally failed in teaching the fundamentals of the game? Can there be any other explanation?
And yet what must it have been like to be the parent of one of the non-starters? I've been there. You hope your team gets ahead early so your child will finally see some quality game time. Up 55-0 at the half, and yet the bench was still full of cold players; when were they going to get to play?
From a coaching perspective, Covenant missed a great opportunity. How much stronger would there team be if they had a coach that would grasp opportunities to give his less experienced players more game time? Is not the improvement of the team more important than the record?
There's more to sports than humiliating your opponent; the elements of mutual respect and good sportsmanship are waining in too many arenas. Perhaps that's one of the reasons participation in Organized Youth Athletics is on the decline. Yes, there are winners and there are losers, but as this game has brought to our attention, that distinction is not based on score alone.
Should a business hold back when it starts to decimate the competition?
Well that's a complex question.
When a "big box" retailer moves into a growing community, the mom and pop stores may take a hit. If they're unable to offer something the national changes can't (superior customer service being the best choice), they're going to suffer, and maybe they should. But it's not good for either establishment to obliterate the other, one by taking advantage of price breaks and the other wielding the power of taxes and the local government. The coexistence, the competition, makes both of them better at what they do.
Or rather, it should make them both better if they can but grasp the spirit of competition. Monopolies aren't good for anyone, not even the one left standing. If my business has no competitors, what incentive will I have to be the best?
I'm not suggesting that you pull your best people when you start to win and win big, I am suggesting that you play fair. Become the best you can be by improving yourself, not by destroying everyone else.
You'll sleep better.
To quote a favorite sports movie: "Score, don't spite."
Monday, January 19, 2009
Pocket Protectors
No, not those plastic pen holders that keep the ink from ruining your new 50-50 Stafford Button Collar JC Penny dress shirt; I'm talking about those unsung heroes that make the difference between hoisting a trophy and crying in the locker room.
Yeah, we know names like:
Roethlisberger, Ward, Polamalu
and
Warner, Fitzgerald, James
Names worth noting for their excellence on Sunday, no doubt. We heard them because they touched the ball. But watch the highlight reels:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e36f66
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e3622b
All four teams had big plays in games that were a lot closer than the die-hard fans want to admit. How do big plays happen? How do long passes get made? How does McNabb hit Curtis in the third quarter? Why doesn't he connect with Jackson with only two minutes left? Who's creating and then protecting that pocket?
With respect to the Eagles and the Ravens, both of whom played excellent football, it all comes down to the Offensive Line. When you watch the clips you can see that when plays work its because the O-Line does a great job; when plays fall apart, its because the O-Line looks like Swiss cheese.
How many times do I have to say it? You can have the best Quarterback, the Best Running Backs and Receivers, but they won't make the highlight reel without a great Offensive Line.
So today let's acknowledge and give credit to names like:
Who are the unsung heroes where you work? The down-in-the-mud, grind-it-out-every-day front line workers without whom you'd never be able to make the big plays?
You better acknowledge them, and acknowledge how much you need them, or next year they may be playing for someone else, racking up championship rings while you cry in the locker room.
Yeah, we know names like:
Roethlisberger, Ward, Polamalu
and
Warner, Fitzgerald, James
Names worth noting for their excellence on Sunday, no doubt. We heard them because they touched the ball. But watch the highlight reels:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e36f66
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80e3622b
All four teams had big plays in games that were a lot closer than the die-hard fans want to admit. How do big plays happen? How do long passes get made? How does McNabb hit Curtis in the third quarter? Why doesn't he connect with Jackson with only two minutes left? Who's creating and then protecting that pocket?
With respect to the Eagles and the Ravens, both of whom played excellent football, it all comes down to the Offensive Line. When you watch the clips you can see that when plays work its because the O-Line does a great job; when plays fall apart, its because the O-Line looks like Swiss cheese.
How many times do I have to say it? You can have the best Quarterback, the Best Running Backs and Receivers, but they won't make the highlight reel without a great Offensive Line.
So today let's acknowledge and give credit to names like:
Hartwig, Kemoeatu, Stapleton, Simmons, Colon, Capizzi, Essex, Hills, Parquet, Starks
Sendlein, Lutui, Wells, Brown, Gandy, Ketih, Vallejo, Pope
You wont find their names on the NFL.com Game Center site, no-one is reporting their stats, and that's a mistake. Without great performances by these guys, we'd be looking at a different match up in two weeks.Who are the unsung heroes where you work? The down-in-the-mud, grind-it-out-every-day front line workers without whom you'd never be able to make the big plays?
You better acknowledge them, and acknowledge how much you need them, or next year they may be playing for someone else, racking up championship rings while you cry in the locker room.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Defense
What's the value of Defense?
Is it true that "Defense Wins Championships"?
Is it true that "Defense Wins Championships"?
Statistically it's not defense that wins championships. Teams that go into the big game with offensive momentum, that can score at will, typically come away the victor
At least that's how the arm-chair annalysts see it. As I've said many times, without a solid Offensive Line, the best Quarterback is worthless. Likewise, without a hard working defense limiting the opponent's offensive time, games won't be won.
Did you see the San Diego - Pittsburgh game?
At 10:25 in the 1st Quarter San Diego's Jammer showed perfect tacking - low, at the waist, hit-wrap-drive, forcing Rothlesburger's pass to Ward to be incomplete. Kids, if you play Defense, go back and watch that hit over and over again: that's how hitting is supposed to look.
In the third quarter Sproles amazing 63 yard return was negated on the next play, not because Rivers threw a bad pass, the pressure wasn't high, but the Steeler's defense had the presence of mind to tip the ball and snag the interception out of the air.
Shouldn't any professional football team be able to score on fourth and goal, only one yard out? Theoretically, but the Chargers defense prevented that score at the beginning of the fourth quarter, keeping their team's hopes alive.
We talk a lot during these economic times about having a good offense, going out, finding new clients, and making sales happen, that's good advice. But how about building a strong defense?
Do an internal audit; are your costs in line? Where can you save money? Are you carrying debt that you shouldn't?
When sales are slow, good defense can win championships.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
The Will to Win
Michael Jordan had it.
As a Utah Jazz fan in the 1990's I had to endure that sinking pit of the stomach feeling when a playoff win would be stolen from me by MJ. The score would be tight, and my hopes high - could the Jazz win this one?
Then a timeout.
The camera would focus in on the Chicago Bulls' huddle, and then pan to the his face, and he'd have that look . . .
It was like something would click on in his head: Super Michael had decided he was going to win this game for the Bulls by himself.
At that point there was nothing the Jazz could do. Jordon would score at will. It was like he'd been playing with his shoes tied up to that point, but they were untied now and he was going to start playing like he meant it.
A few short minutes later, my playoff hopes dashed, and I'd be watching the game's greatest player smiling for the post-game interview, my gut filled with equal amounts of admiration, hate and envy.
Where does that gift come from, that will to win? That ability to re-focus, put the whole team on your shoulders, and carry them to victory?
Good-guy players will never confess that they do it all by themselves; they give credit to the team. - they should; we want our heroes to to be humble as well as awesome - but we know better. We know that not everyone has that magic, that gift.
Tim Tebow has it.
After the Gators' only loss this season he promised in the post-game press conference that he would be the hardest working player in college football this season, he was, and in tonight's win over the Sooners, it paid off.
But more than hard work, Tebow has determination; the Will to Win. Its a rare gift, one that will undoubtedly take him to the pro ranks should he choose that path.
How do we gain the Will to Win in our every day lives?
Like Tebow, it starts with an unfailing work ethic. No matter how bad the situation is, we don't quit. When things are going well, we keep working hard. When things are going bad, we work even harder.
The economy is not going well, your budget is tight, things aren't good with the kids or your spouse . . . now is not the time to quit; now is the time to work harder. Don't slide or run out of bounds; tuck the ball, put your head down and drive for every extra yard you can get.
Will yourself to victory.
As a Utah Jazz fan in the 1990's I had to endure that sinking pit of the stomach feeling when a playoff win would be stolen from me by MJ. The score would be tight, and my hopes high - could the Jazz win this one?
Then a timeout.
The camera would focus in on the Chicago Bulls' huddle, and then pan to the his face, and he'd have that look . . .
It was like something would click on in his head: Super Michael had decided he was going to win this game for the Bulls by himself.
At that point there was nothing the Jazz could do. Jordon would score at will. It was like he'd been playing with his shoes tied up to that point, but they were untied now and he was going to start playing like he meant it.
A few short minutes later, my playoff hopes dashed, and I'd be watching the game's greatest player smiling for the post-game interview, my gut filled with equal amounts of admiration, hate and envy.
Where does that gift come from, that will to win? That ability to re-focus, put the whole team on your shoulders, and carry them to victory?
Good-guy players will never confess that they do it all by themselves; they give credit to the team. - they should; we want our heroes to to be humble as well as awesome - but we know better. We know that not everyone has that magic, that gift.
Tim Tebow has it.
After the Gators' only loss this season he promised in the post-game press conference that he would be the hardest working player in college football this season, he was, and in tonight's win over the Sooners, it paid off.
But more than hard work, Tebow has determination; the Will to Win. Its a rare gift, one that will undoubtedly take him to the pro ranks should he choose that path.
How do we gain the Will to Win in our every day lives?
Like Tebow, it starts with an unfailing work ethic. No matter how bad the situation is, we don't quit. When things are going well, we keep working hard. When things are going bad, we work even harder.
The economy is not going well, your budget is tight, things aren't good with the kids or your spouse . . . now is not the time to quit; now is the time to work harder. Don't slide or run out of bounds; tuck the ball, put your head down and drive for every extra yard you can get.
Will yourself to victory.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The Next Level
You'll hear that buzz-phrase throughout the college bowl games: "the Next Level".
For a standout collegate athlete the question of lengthening their athletic career inevitably comes up. While the NCAA will be running commercials this bowl season pointing to the academic achievements of student athletes (as well they should), the commentators and fans will be talking about which stars are ready to go pro.
How and when a young athlete decides to make the jump is a lesson in "Supply and Demand Economics"; if no one is shopping for candidates in your position, better to stay in school; but for the guy who's in demand, it is a much better financial decission to enter the draft and finish school later.
I do admire those that are dedicated to finishing their scholastic careers, but with the possibility of injuries (particularly in football) and today's economic uncertainty, I say strike while the gridiron's hot!
San Francisco 49'er Steve Young finished his Law Degree in-between NFL seasons. While I'm sure that wasn't easy, the point is that it can be done. Don't enter college expecting to go pro, but don't pass up professional football money expecting to do well as a high school coach. Some opportunities don't knock twice, a pro career is one of those, a college education is not.
Those of us who will be safely left out of the draft this year can still think about going to "the next level". Whatever our chosen profession, regardless of our age or current qualifications, we can always improve our stature and standing by continuing our education long after we've graduated.
Get a new certification, learn that new system, read books written by experts in your field. The best way to keep your job secure is to become the Most Valuable Player on the team.
For a standout collegate athlete the question of lengthening their athletic career inevitably comes up. While the NCAA will be running commercials this bowl season pointing to the academic achievements of student athletes (as well they should), the commentators and fans will be talking about which stars are ready to go pro.
How and when a young athlete decides to make the jump is a lesson in "Supply and Demand Economics"; if no one is shopping for candidates in your position, better to stay in school; but for the guy who's in demand, it is a much better financial decission to enter the draft and finish school later.
I do admire those that are dedicated to finishing their scholastic careers, but with the possibility of injuries (particularly in football) and today's economic uncertainty, I say strike while the gridiron's hot!
San Francisco 49'er Steve Young finished his Law Degree in-between NFL seasons. While I'm sure that wasn't easy, the point is that it can be done. Don't enter college expecting to go pro, but don't pass up professional football money expecting to do well as a high school coach. Some opportunities don't knock twice, a pro career is one of those, a college education is not.
Those of us who will be safely left out of the draft this year can still think about going to "the next level". Whatever our chosen profession, regardless of our age or current qualifications, we can always improve our stature and standing by continuing our education long after we've graduated.
Get a new certification, learn that new system, read books written by experts in your field. The best way to keep your job secure is to become the Most Valuable Player on the team.
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