We will keep the schools, coaches and players confidential. It is not the intent to embarrass or glorify, it is to see the different components of a culture and how they were perceived by these contributors.
A big thanks to those Coaches and Athletes that took some time out of their busy days to give us their insights.
A big thanks to those Coaches and Athletes that took some time out of their busy days to give us their insights.
A Coach
"I think the major difference from having an exceptionally successful year and a just a good year comes down to the players. The major components are player buy in, trust, accountability, and selflessness. When players buy in and trust the process and the program they will peak at the right time, work hard everyday, and truly love to be there."
"Accountability with themselves and their teammates is another big component. If it always comes from a coach there will never be any progress or desire to raise the level. The last and most important component is selflessness. When you have players that really want their teammates to be successful, even if it means they sit, then it is something special. Humans are selfish by nature so it takes special athletes to celebrate their teammates and truly want good things for them. A true team first mentality and that idea that they are contributing to something bigger than themselves."
"Talent is important but it is by no means everything. The intangibles often take a team to the next level and we are seeing more programs that are player centered and driven and that allows for success beyond what a coach can do."
A Player:
"Last season, teammates were saying that other teammates weren't good or messed up too much and things like that, and coach made a lot of people get in their heads about their play because of when he yelled at them and made people mad because he would keep saying 'that's what happens when you lose'."
"This season had less people thinking they should have other peoples spots, so it made it more fun to play with each other because we were all supporting each other and getting better together. Also Coach asked us about what we thought more so it made it seem like we were more involved in what was happening, not just do what you're told to do and don't ask questions like some other teams."
A Coach
"So this is going to go on a tangent a little bit from gym culture to leadership which I think is intertwined in a lot of ways. So I always knew that leadership on a team was important and there can be a lot of different kinds of leaders within a team. I've always pushed that every player on the team has the potential to be a leader in their own way and as much as I think that is true I think there are definite needs for a leader within your program in order for you to improve and get better."
"For five years I had the ultimate leader. I had the kid who was going to come in every day and work hard and be a leader by how she played on the court. I had the vocal leader the one who was on the court talking through every play encouraging her teammates to do better to get off of the next ball and I had the leader who's going to hold her teammates accountable when things got tough. I didn't realize how good I had it until you don't have that leadership..."
"Last year I had no leadership and therefore we were stagnant and probably actually went backwards a little bit. There was a definite divide throughout the team over a few different people who were trying to be leaders but really didn't know how and really hadn't earned the respect from their teammates. This year through the graduation of three teammates who did not allow their younger teammates to step up and lead, we had kids who were able to fill few of those rolls. I actually have two kids who step up and lead by how they play on the court with 100% effort day in and day out. I have two kids who stepped up and we're both the leaders, though very different vocal leaders. One was vocal in that she provided the energy and enthusiasm and constant positive support to her teammates and the other was vocal in the fact that she talked nonstop through every play every game. I believe that this team has not been able to reach their ultimate potential because we still are lacking that last leadership part... the leader that holds the team accountable when things get tough."
"I feel like last year the culture in our gym suffered because we had too many kids on our roster and each one did not have a definite role. We had kids fighting for positions every day, all year. So instead of supporting each other they were fighting against each other. This year the top 7 kids in my program emerged and we defined definite rules for those kids within the varsity team. We had to revisit those rolls with a few of the kids throughout the year as they tried to overstep or became unhappy with their role on the team, but ultimately each kid knew that role and they knew what they had to do for this team to be successful. I think this was important for a team this year as it allowed the girls to learn to compete together rather than against one another and push each other to be a little bit better every day."
"Next year I have 3 out of my four l back. I have my best two players who go out to compete a hundred percent every day and I have my vocal leader who provides energy and excitement and positivity to our team. But I am continuing to lack the person that will hold the team accountable when things get tough. They are friends and they don't want to hurt each other's feelings or make each other feel bad, so how do you overcome that and teach them that it's not personal when someone hold you accountable, it's pushing you to be your best. Also my current leaders feel that they're holding people accountable by being passive aggressive and making comments about their ability which really is just making that individual feel bad about themselves rather than pushing them to be better. We talked about leadership we talked about holding people accountable and appropriate ways to do it but how do you put that into action. Leadership starts at the top and maybe I need to find a way to hold the girls more accountable every single day."
"Accountability with themselves and their teammates is another big component. If it always comes from a coach there will never be any progress or desire to raise the level. The last and most important component is selflessness. When you have players that really want their teammates to be successful, even if it means they sit, then it is something special. Humans are selfish by nature so it takes special athletes to celebrate their teammates and truly want good things for them. A true team first mentality and that idea that they are contributing to something bigger than themselves."
"Talent is important but it is by no means everything. The intangibles often take a team to the next level and we are seeing more programs that are player centered and driven and that allows for success beyond what a coach can do."
"Last season, teammates were saying that other teammates weren't good or messed up too much and things like that, and coach made a lot of people get in their heads about their play because of when he yelled at them and made people mad because he would keep saying 'that's what happens when you lose'."
"This season had less people thinking they should have other peoples spots, so it made it more fun to play with each other because we were all supporting each other and getting better together. Also Coach asked us about what we thought more so it made it seem like we were more involved in what was happening, not just do what you're told to do and don't ask questions like some other teams."
A Coach
"So this is going to go on a tangent a little bit from gym culture to leadership which I think is intertwined in a lot of ways. So I always knew that leadership on a team was important and there can be a lot of different kinds of leaders within a team. I've always pushed that every player on the team has the potential to be a leader in their own way and as much as I think that is true I think there are definite needs for a leader within your program in order for you to improve and get better."
"For five years I had the ultimate leader. I had the kid who was going to come in every day and work hard and be a leader by how she played on the court. I had the vocal leader the one who was on the court talking through every play encouraging her teammates to do better to get off of the next ball and I had the leader who's going to hold her teammates accountable when things got tough. I didn't realize how good I had it until you don't have that leadership..."
"Last year I had no leadership and therefore we were stagnant and probably actually went backwards a little bit. There was a definite divide throughout the team over a few different people who were trying to be leaders but really didn't know how and really hadn't earned the respect from their teammates. This year through the graduation of three teammates who did not allow their younger teammates to step up and lead, we had kids who were able to fill few of those rolls. I actually have two kids who step up and lead by how they play on the court with 100% effort day in and day out. I have two kids who stepped up and we're both the leaders, though very different vocal leaders. One was vocal in that she provided the energy and enthusiasm and constant positive support to her teammates and the other was vocal in the fact that she talked nonstop through every play every game. I believe that this team has not been able to reach their ultimate potential because we still are lacking that last leadership part... the leader that holds the team accountable when things get tough."
"I feel like last year the culture in our gym suffered because we had too many kids on our roster and each one did not have a definite role. We had kids fighting for positions every day, all year. So instead of supporting each other they were fighting against each other. This year the top 7 kids in my program emerged and we defined definite rules for those kids within the varsity team. We had to revisit those rolls with a few of the kids throughout the year as they tried to overstep or became unhappy with their role on the team, but ultimately each kid knew that role and they knew what they had to do for this team to be successful. I think this was important for a team this year as it allowed the girls to learn to compete together rather than against one another and push each other to be a little bit better every day."
"Next year I have 3 out of my four l back. I have my best two players who go out to compete a hundred percent every day and I have my vocal leader who provides energy and excitement and positivity to our team. But I am continuing to lack the person that will hold the team accountable when things get tough. They are friends and they don't want to hurt each other's feelings or make each other feel bad, so how do you overcome that and teach them that it's not personal when someone hold you accountable, it's pushing you to be your best. Also my current leaders feel that they're holding people accountable by being passive aggressive and making comments about their ability which really is just making that individual feel bad about themselves rather than pushing them to be better. We talked about leadership we talked about holding people accountable and appropriate ways to do it but how do you put that into action. Leadership starts at the top and maybe I need to find a way to hold the girls more accountable every single day."
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