A Coach's Diary

“The best leaders are the best servants.”- Tony Dungy Would you consider yourself a selfish leader or a servant leader? Have you ever heard the saying, “A rising tide lifts all boats?” This means that when one person does well, we all do well. When overall conditions get better, everyone benefits, not just a few. And when things get better for the group, they usually get better for you, too. That is why servant leadership can be so impactful. Tony Dungy is a former professional football player and coach who made history in 2007 when he led the Indianapolis Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI, becoming the first black head coach to win a Super Bowl. He is also known to be a servant leader. Coach Dungy once said, “The best leaders are the best servants.” Leaders set the direction, vision, tone, and values. Servant leaders do that and then say and ask, “I’m here to help. What can I do to help?” Instead of putting themselves first, servant leaders focus on helping their teammates succeed, g...

“I've always believed that the desire must come from within, not as a result of being driven by coaches or parents.” - Dawn Fraser On a scale of 1-5, how motivated are you? Are you kind of motivated when you feel like it, or are you always motivated to do what you know you need to do, how you are supposed to do it? Motivation is the internal drive or desire that pushes someone to take action toward a goal. It's what gives you the reason to start something, the energy to keep going, and the focus to finish. Dawn Fraser is an Australian swimming legend—regarded as one of the greatest female sprint swimmers in Olympic history. She once said, “I've always believed that the desire must come from within, not as a result of being driven by coaches or parents.” She is saying motivation—the kind that lasts and leads to greatness—has to be intrinsic and come from inside you, not from outside pressure. You have to want it for yourself—not because a coach is yelling, or a parent is...

"There is no plant in the world that grows the day you plant the seed. It takes months, sometimes even years, for a tree to have a beautiful fruit or a beautiful flower." - Jay Shetty How patient are you? The Marshmallow Experiment was a famous psychological study on delayed gratification where researchers put kids in a room with a marshmallow and a choice: Eat the marshmallow now, or wait 15 minutes and get a second one. Years later, the research showed that kids who delayed gratification tended to have better academic performance, healthier lifestyles, and stronger relationships. The study suggests that the ability to resist immediate temptations and delay gratification is linked to long-term success in many areas of life. This is true on so many levels. We want what we want right now, but greatness takes time. Improvement, growth, and mastery never happen overnight. The best athletes, students, and leaders all share one thing: They stay committed long enough to see their w...

"The formula for success is simple: practice and concentration, then more practice and more concentration." - Babe Didrikson Zaharias How locked in are you? One of the biggest differences between good and great athletes is the ability to concentrate. Concentration means staying mentally focused while being able to block out distractions, and being fully present while putting your mind into every rep. Great athletes know how to lock in and focus on one thing. NBA Hall-of-Famer Carmelo Anthony says a lot of guys hated training with him because he can spend hours working and perfecting the same shot. Kobe Bryant once said something similar. Our attention spans are shorter than ever, so the ability to concentrate on and master one thing is a game-changer. Babe Didrikson Zaharias was one of the greatest all-around athletes in American history—male or female. She dominated in multiple sports, especially track and field, basketball, and golf, and is widely regarded as a pioneer for ...

"It's important to push yourself further than you think you can go each and every day—as that is what separates the good from the great." - Shannon Miller Do you go as hard as you can go? Do you push yourself past your limits, or do you stay in your comfort zone? There are three types of athletes: those who show up and go through the motions, those who go hard when they feel like it, and those who push themselves past their limits every workout. Talent can only take you so far. Every coach’s goal is to help athletes maximize their potential, and that only happens through consistent habits and pushing themselves past their comfort zone when it’s time to work. Shannon Miller, one of the most decorated U.S. gymnasts in history, once said, "It's important to push yourself further than you think you can go each and every day—as that is what separates the good from the great." She joined the national team at 13, scored perfect 10s, became a world champion and Olym...

"I don’t care how fast you are. If you ain’t consistent, you won’t win much." - Richard Petty How consistent are you? EYBL basketball is the most competitive level of high school basketball in the country. When you go to an EYBL stop or tournament, you have to play 5 or 6 games in one weekend against all-star teams from across the country, and in front of college coaches. It is hard. The hardest part is being able to put together 5 or 6 really good games in one weekend. It’s not hard to have a good game or 2, but putting together a weekend of good games against great competition is what separates the good from the great. Richard Petty is one of the most successful NASCAR drivers of all time. He once said, "I don’t care how fast you are. If you ain’t consistent, you won’t win much." You can be good, talented, and have all the potential in the world, but if you aren’t consistent, you won’t go far. Good athletes have a couple of good games, better athletes can put toge...