Culture.
The culture of a program…
The culture of your program…
What is encompassed by this phrase?
- The expectations regarding success…
- The expectations regarding character…
- Confidence…
- Work Habits…
- Classroom conduct…
- Team and individual goals…
- How players are held accountable in these areas
These concepts and many more that I am sure you can think of.
Trying to change the culture of a program is an incredibly difficult task.
How is it done? How can you accomplish this? How can you…
- Move your team from the point of no success or expectations of success…
- To winning some games against weaker opponents… teams you are “expected” to win…
- To expecting success…wins … weekly and against all opponents.
I have written on this subject before and highlighted programs and individuals that changed the culture in their programs.
I have been involved in a few of these situations as a coach… both with success and without.
Here is what I have come to believe is one of the most important concepts when trying to change the culture of a program…
- It takes a village.
- It takes all hands on deck.
- It takes everyone speaking the same language with the same expectations.
- It takes everyone in the building and community being on the same page
If the expectations are understood by the athletes in your football program, but change when they participate in other sports, all the learning and progress made during the fall season is diminished.
If the athletes are expected to compete daily in your strength and conditioning class, but can take days off in another instructors class, the culture you are trying to change takes a hit.
If you are teaching your athletes the importance of great daily practice habits to be successful, but they are not hearing this in their other sports, or their other classes, or at home, then your task of changing the culture becomes more difficult.
You get the idea.
If you are trying to change the culture of your program (or sustain the great culture you already have) and things are not progressing as you would like…. I would take a look at what is happening when the athletes are not under your tutelage.
It is difficult to deliver an effective message… it is difficult for your athletes to “hear” your message if they are only expected to “listen” two or three hours a day.
Your message HAS to become the school/ community message.
It can be, and has been done… so you can do it!
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Remember – You Can Do More… your brain is lying to you…. Don’t Believe It!
Jeff Floyd – youcandomore1@yahoo.com