Character (kărˈək-tər):
moral or ethical quality of a person
Culture (kŭlˈchər):
attitudes, feelings, values, & behaviors of a team
The Coaches’ Art – Develop character, improve culture. Develop culture, improve character.
This two-part introductory workshop offers coaches and players skills and concepts aimed at empowering teams to be more responsible for performance both individually and collectively.
The Coaches’ Art Part I
Reveal the Team: Creating a winning culture on & off the scoresheet
Sport is busy. Practice, games, skills, systems, working out, and more. With so much to do it’s easy to forget that under the uniforms are human beings with feelings and opinions about one another, the coach and the team. How everyone relates is just as important as what needs to get done. Teams need maintenance from time to time in order to keep things running right.
Empowering players to have a say in the way their team operates is a hallmark of effective coaching. It creates a culture of individual and collective responsibility. Players are more invested when they feel free to share their opinions, wisdom and leadership styles. As a result, they are far more likely to have their head in the game, improving decision making and execution. This is team chemistry.
Traditional team building activities work to a degree, but fall short of addressing the deeper, hidden feelings under the surface. This two-hour interactive workshop encourages players and coaches to connect at a deeper level and discover more of the team’s strengths and diversity. It emphasizes the importance of character and how everyone’s voice and experience is needed and valued.
“We’re not complex in what we do X-and-O-wise. But we do spend a lot of time on how we react mentally to every situation.”
– Jay Wright, Villanova Wildcats
“Talent sets the floor, character sets the ceiling”
– Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
The Coaches’ Art Part II
Power Play (Coaches only)
If we think about those who had the greatest impact on our character development, it’s usually someone who offered us wise words of advice and genuine care. Someone in a position of authority, moral or otherwise, who used their powers to teach, inspire and lift us up. We remember what they said but more importantly, how they made us feel during difficult times.
Struggle and failure are a central part of sport and a necessary part of growing up. No different in life. Players will struggle. Teams will struggle. How coaches use the authority of their role, their power, during these important moments affects a team’s psychological safety. A safe culture empowers players with a free mind and the confidence to make plays.
This workshop is a space to discuss power in its different forms, its subtle nuances and impact on team performance.
“One of the hardest tasks of leadership is understanding that you are not what you are, but what you’re perceived to be by others.”
– Edward L. Flom
“Rank is a drug. The more you have, the less aware you are of how it affects others negatively.
– Arnold Mindell