Will You Check On Me

Originally published on Steele Thoughts

When a former colleague of mine, Joe Turner, was named "Teacher of the Year," a reporter asked him for his advice to new teachers.  He responded:

       "Teach every child like you're their lifeline... like you're their last chance to succeed."

When I read this, it shook me to my core.  I shared it with our leadership team and it inspired an initiative at our school that we simply call "Lifelines."  This is not a formal program; it is not structured; and there is no paperwork. We simply ask our staff members to be a lifeline to 1 or 2 students who would benefit from an adult in their corner.  As a faculty, we commit to going above and beyond to care about these students.

Not too long ago, our counselor gave me my three "lifelines."  One of the challenges for me with this project, is that I don't teach these students.  I may not even see them every day.  The hallways are crowded, so class changes aren't always great opportunities to have conversations with students.  And it can sometimes be awkward calling kids into the office just to check on them.

But a couple weeks ago, I had an idea -- a new strategy for making regular connections with my 3 students.  I called "Caleb" down to the office, and I said, "Caleb... will you do me a favor?" He smiled and nodded, "yes."  I continued, "I usually have good days, but not always.  Everyone can benefit from others checking on them.  Will you do me a favor and check on me every day, just to make sure I'm doing alright."  He smiled again and said "ok."  I documented this process on Twitter.

I had this conversation with two other students, and the results have absolutely fired me up.  These three students are making regular eye contact with me in the halls, they are smiling at me, and they are asking me about my day.  This gives me a regular opportunity to connect with them, and it is teaching them to think about the well being of someone besides themselves.  As the year progresses, I hope to have longer and more substantive conversations with these students, but for right now, I'm  stoked that these guys are connecting with me everyday.  I love that we have three students who are now checking on their principal!

I had this conversation with two other students, and the results have absolutely fired me up.  These three students are making regular eye contact with me in the halls, they are smiling at me, and they are asking me about my day.  This gives me a regular opportunity to connect with them, and it is teaching them to think about the well being of someone besides themselves.  As the year progresses, I hope to have longer and more substantive conversations with these students, but for right now, I'm  stoked that these guys are connecting with me everyday.  I love that we have three students who are now checking on their principal!

Coaches Network: Finding Ways To Motivate the Team

• • Find original article from USA Basketball here.
• • 
    

  Date:
   
  Jan 3, 2018

Talent and teamwork are the keys to success, but sometimes your players need an extra push. With that in mind, here is this week’s question for the USA Basketball Coaches Network:

Whether it's a drill, a speech, or some other type of incentive, what is your favorite motivational tactic?

Dori Oldaker, head coach, Mt. Lebanon High School (Pa.)

I believe in the saying, “Team will always beat Talent, when Talent doesn’t work hard!” I truly believe in team chemistry and team bonding opportunities.

Almost yearly, our team is given a chosen book (selected by the head coach, me) and we will have book studies as a team. We will discuss and learn as much as we can from these motivational books. These discussions lead to great conversations and teachable moments.

Our staff treats our team like a family. We call it our “Basketball Family!” Families sacrifice for each other and respond to each other when needed. We try to impress upon our team that the team is bigger than themselves, but every person has an important role.

Don Showalter, head coach, Iowa City High School (Iowa)

As the season starts out, the motivation is the excitement of a new season for the players. I find the players are very motivated to show the coaching staff what they can do. As the roles for each player are established and some players understand playing time may not be what they imagined, the excitement and motivation tend to dwindle.

Several motivational techniques we have implemented:
• Every player will get four positive comments (at least) from the coaching staff during practice. I often assign assistant coaches specific players for positive comments.

• A team meeting is held before every practice where we talk about the mind candy – a thought for the day and how it relates to our team.

• One non-starter is a captain, based on effort in practice.

• We assign two players to give a scouting report on an opponent -- one of those being a non-starter.

• Our team has a council made up of several players in each class, which meets for breakfast once a week to discuss team items.

• Plan events that will provide great culture and bonding -- go watch a college game together, have a bowling party or pizza party, volunteer at a community service project.

• Give out a super sub award for each game.

• Give out game awards for non-scoring stats -- charges, rebounds, assists, deflections.

Sue Phillips, head coach, Archbishop Mitty High School (Calif.)

Determining the pulse of your team is a critical component to effective coaching.  Keep in mind that the pulse of your team will vary throughout the year. Your team might be riding high after a big win or struggling with their confidence after a tough loss. As such, your motivational tactics should vary as well. A good rule of thumb is to challenge your team with difficult tasks during the peaks, but to present readily attainable goals during the valleys.

Our goals have associated “carrots” or “consequences.”  Each drill has a time limit and a standard of efficiency. Achieving the gold standard results in a “carrot” (e.g. early water break) or a “consequence” (e.g. one-minute plank). Always keep your feedback real, such as: “Your actions are not in line with your goals. State champs don’t just go through the motions. You either need to change your goals or change your actions.”

And then there are the lulls of the season whereby your team is flat for no explainable reason. That’s the toughest gauge of all. You may need to light a fire under them (i.e. take a charge drill) or build in a random fun activity (i.e. half-court shot for a Gatorade) to enhance mood/energy levels. At the end of the day, your players want to compete, have fun, and maximize their potential. Provide the kind of environment and type of feedback that best meets those needs. 

Brian Robinson, head coach, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (N.C.)

Motivation is something we all need in some, shape, form or fashion. Depending on what the situation is, motivation can be competing in a drill for playing time, trying to inspire an individual to fight through some adversarial moments on or off the court, or helping the team reach that final group goal in practice. My motivational speeches typically come when we are up against an opponent that is as good or better than we are or when we are playing an elimination/playoff game late in the season. Motivating is in a way supporting and believing in your team, and your team really needs you most in those types of games. Motivation is reminding the team of what got them to this point in the season, and that if they will just believe in themselves (assuming they put in the time and work beforehand), then they can achieve their goals of trying to win.

Drew Hanlen, NBA Skills Coach & Consultant, Pure Sweat Basketball

The best way to get players motivated is by showing them you care and making them feel good about what they bring to the table. That can be done by applauding something they do well in practice, putting together film work that shows them how well they can play when they are at their best or pulling them to the side and having a heart-to-heart with them. Let them know how valuable they are – players perform best when they are confident!

Everybody Won't Play - And That is OKAY

Great advice!!  Sometimes you aren't playing simply because there is somebody better than you in front of you; and that is OKAY!!

The highest difference between club ball and school ball is

1 - You pay the club coach, you don't pay the school coach
2 - If you don't play on a club team, you can change teams/coaches.  You can't do so (as easily) with school ball.

So as former NBA champion Shane Battier once said, play so good that your coach CAN'T take you out of the game.  

It's not equal opportunity - its who is going to give us the best chance to win and we have to teach our kids how to be a part of team and that sometimes that means we are the best player and sometimes that means that our role is to cheer them on from the bench.  

We have to teach them to work hard in and out of practice to get better, and that while we might be working hard, there just might be somebody better - and that is OKAY!

John Wooden: A Parent Talks to a Child Before the First Game

Below is passage from legendary coach John Wooden titled “A Parent Talks to a Child Before the First Game.”

This is your first game, my child. I hope you win.  I hope you win for your sake, not mine.  Because winning’s nice.  It’s a good feeling. Like the whole world is yours.  But, it passes, this feeling.  And what lasts is what you’ve learned. And what you learn about is life. That’s what sports is all about. Life. The whole thing is played but in an afternoon. The happiness of life.  The miseries.  The joys.  The heartbreaks.

There’s no telling what’ll turn up. There’s no telling whether they’ll toss you out in the first five minutes or whether you’ll stay for the long haul. There’s no telling how you’ll do. You might be a hero or you might be absolutely nothing.  There’s just no telling. Too much depends on chance. On how the ball bounces.

I’m not talking about the game, my child. I’m talking about life. But it’s life that the game is all about. Just as I said.  Because every game is life.  And life is a game.  A serious game.  Dead serious.  But that’s what you do with serious things.  You do your best.  You take what comes.  And you run with it.

Winning is fun. Sure. But winning is not the point. Wanting to win is the point.  Not giving up is the point. Never being satisfied with what you’ve done is the point. Never letting up is the point. Never letting anyone down is the point. Play to win. Sure. But lose like a champion.

It’s not winning that counts. What counts is trying.

Nick Saban Nuggets - Illusion of Choice & It Takes What It Takes

If you want to be good, there isn't a choice. If you want to be good, there is one option - TO WORK.

You have to be ready, willing, able, and wanting to WORK.

Whoever works the hardest, and smartest, will be the best.

There are no shortcuts. There is just the work.

How much and how hard are you willing to work? How willing are you to rep the same thing over and over? Your answer determines your ceiling.

Fall in love with the game. Love to play. Love to practice. Love to get better. Love to get pushed by your coaches. Love to compete against the best.

Hate to lose. Learn to learn from your losses and grow from them.

Don't shy away from a challenge. Embrace a challenge. Seek challenges and work daily to make sure that you are ready to meet the challenge.