This time of year when I am in the offseason, I use this time to reflect, I use this time to evaluate, to make myself better for my next team, the next season and the next competition. Over the weekend my wife and I saw the movie When the Game Stands Tall about the De La Salle Spartans. I wanted to see it for many reasons but I had no idea the underlying message. I wanted to see it as a sports fan, because of its connection t my alma mater, the University of Oregon and because I am a coach.
The basis of the story is the total dominance of the Spartan football program, 151 straight wins to be exact. The program under the leadership of Coach Ladouceur was built on values that make teenagers better prepared to go to college and contribute to society after they receive their diploma. I have never been to the school campus but based on the movie the coaches are trying to produce quality young men. The message of the movie is that if one sets up a program with the focus of producing better people then the winning will come and be sustainable. It is when we focus to heavily on winning that we may see bigger bumps along the way, tougher seasons, and more adversity for the program.
We have to remember that they are still kids, they may seem to have the world by the horns however again they are STILL teenagers. On top of this I think our role is magnified by the fact that like Mark Twain said "when I was 18 I thought my father was stupid" many teens do not always want to hear it from their parents. We are trying to show them life, teach them life skills and sports is the avenue to do this.
Being a teacher one of the standards we are evaluated on is how well we create an environment for the students to learn and be successful. This translates directly onto the practice field, into the locker room and on the field of competition. In my experience the quality of the environment is so crucial to the entire community. I say community meaning it is best for everyone, teacher, students and parents.
As coaches and teachers we are hear to teach and coach, however we are here to help show teenagers some perspective on this crazy adventure we call life. Winning is crucial to for any coach, on the surface that could thought of as priority number one, however the end does not justify the means and far too often we see coaches using this rational and the desired outcome is not reached. Remember that at the end of the day they are still teenagers, treat them well, respect them for who they are and lead them in a manner that is positive, everything else will fall into place.
The basis of the story is the total dominance of the Spartan football program, 151 straight wins to be exact. The program under the leadership of Coach Ladouceur was built on values that make teenagers better prepared to go to college and contribute to society after they receive their diploma. I have never been to the school campus but based on the movie the coaches are trying to produce quality young men. The message of the movie is that if one sets up a program with the focus of producing better people then the winning will come and be sustainable. It is when we focus to heavily on winning that we may see bigger bumps along the way, tougher seasons, and more adversity for the program.
We have to remember that they are still kids, they may seem to have the world by the horns however again they are STILL teenagers. On top of this I think our role is magnified by the fact that like Mark Twain said "when I was 18 I thought my father was stupid" many teens do not always want to hear it from their parents. We are trying to show them life, teach them life skills and sports is the avenue to do this.
Being a teacher one of the standards we are evaluated on is how well we create an environment for the students to learn and be successful. This translates directly onto the practice field, into the locker room and on the field of competition. In my experience the quality of the environment is so crucial to the entire community. I say community meaning it is best for everyone, teacher, students and parents.
As coaches and teachers we are hear to teach and coach, however we are here to help show teenagers some perspective on this crazy adventure we call life. Winning is crucial to for any coach, on the surface that could thought of as priority number one, however the end does not justify the means and far too often we see coaches using this rational and the desired outcome is not reached. Remember that at the end of the day they are still teenagers, treat them well, respect them for who they are and lead them in a manner that is positive, everything else will fall into place.