A Coach's Diary

“Behavior is a function of expectancy and reinforcement value.” - Julian Rotter Do you work harder if you know you have a chance to win versus when you don’t think you have a chance? Julian Rotter was a psychologist best known for developing Locus of Control theory . Locus of control theory explains whether a person believes outcomes are mainly the result of their own actions ( internal locus of control ) or due to outside forces like luck, fate, or other people ( external locus of control ). Rotter once said, “Behavior is a function of expectancy and reinforcement value.” We are more likely to work harder when we think we can get better at something we care about. An athlete will work harder in practice if they believe (expectancy) that their effort will lead to improvement or playing time, and if they really care (reinforcement value) about getting better or helping the team win. So set meaningful, reachable goals for yourself and others.. Question of the Day: What is one goal you c...

“As long as you are green, you will continue to grow. As soon as you are ripe, you will soon be rotten.” - Drew Brees Do you think you know it all already or that you have a lot to learn? Drew Brees is a Super Bowl winning quarterback known for his accuracy, leadership, and preparation. He said his college coach once told him, “As long as you are green, you will continue to grow. As soon as you are ripe, you will soon be rotten.” Green is knowing you are still learning, growing, and developing, and being ripe means you think you’ve arrived or know it all. When you are green, you are curious and constantly finding new things to learn, and when you are ripe, you can be stubborn and stuck in your ways — and that’s when people pass you up and leave you behind. Which one do you want to be? Which kind of person do you want to be around—someone ripe or someone green? Question of the Day: When are you ripe, when are you green, and how can you be more green?

“My life story reads like a script from Oprah’s ‘Where Are They Now?’ … Like many … I too have been lost in deep, dark places … and have only recently begun to claw my way back to ‘my life.’” - Briana Scurry If your life was a movie, what would the title be? Briana Scurry is one of the greatest soccer goalkeepers of all time. She played goalie for the University of Massachusetts before winning two gold medals and a World Cup with the US Women’s National Team. Scurry once said, “My life story reads like a script from Oprah’s ‘Where Are They Now?’ … Like many … I too have been lost in deep, dark places … and have only recently begun to claw my way back to ‘my life.’” Every person finds themselves in the pit. What you think and do in those moments define who you are. Have a vision for who you want to be, create a plan, and stick to it. It will get better with better thoughts, actions, and habits. Question of the Day: How do we rise when life knocks us down?

“When you are a leader, people are watching how you work. You have to set an example.” - Miguel Cabrera  Would people follow you if they never heard you and only watched what you did? Miguel Cabrera is a Venezuelan-born professional baseball player who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball, mostly with the Detroit Tigers. He once said, “When you are a leader, people are watching how you work. You have to set an example.”  Growing up, my coaches always taught me how important it is to lead by example. You have to be able to back up what you say by practicing what you preach, or you lose credibility. Now, I say more is caught than taught. When you are a leader, people will always watch what you do to see if it matches what you say. Question of the Day: What kind of an example are you setting with your actions?

“Failure I can live with. Not trying is what I can’t handle.” - Sanya Richards-Ross If you knew you were going to lose, would you still show up and give your best?  Sanya Richards-Ross is one of the greatest 400-meter sprinters in history. She was a star at the University of Texas before winning four Olympic gold medals.  She was known not just for her speed but for her toughness, mindset, and competitive spirit. Richards-Ross once said, “Failure I can live with. Not trying is what I can’t handle.”  The 400m is brutal. It hurts. It tests your will. What separates champions is showing up even when it’s hard, even when you doubt, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. Your character is revealed in your effort, not in your results. Trying your best is a sign of who you are. Not trying tells a different story. Question of the Day: How can we keep giving our best—even when the outcome feels uncertain or unlikely?

“You can’t worry about what people say you can’t do — just show them what you can do.” - Doug Williams Do you care more about what you can do or more about what people say you can do? Doug Williams was the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl and to be named Super Bowl MVP. He once said, “You can’t worry about what people say you can’t do — just show them what you can do.” That quote means you shouldn’t waste energy trying to convince people who doubt you — instead, focus on proving yourself through your actions. Talk doesn’t change opinions — performance does. People might underestimate you, criticize you, or tell you what’s not possible. But instead of arguing or letting it discourage you, you let your work — your preparation, discipline, and results — speak for you. Question of the Day: When someone doubts you or tells you what you can’t do, how do you respond — with words or with work?

“Winning is important, but the process of becoming stronger is even more valuable.” - Lang Ping Winning makes everything more fun and worth it, but you don’t always win. So, what do you get out of it if you don’t? Lang Ping is one of the most respected figures in international volleyball — both as a legendary player and a world-class coach. She led the Chinese women’s national team to its first World Cup (1981) and Olympic gold medal (1984), helping establish China as a global volleyball powerhouse. Ping once said, “Winning is important, but the process of becoming stronger is even more valuable.” At some point, we all become retired athletes, and all we are left with are the memories gained and lessons learned. Winning matters, but so does the person you become in the pursuit of winning. So focus on winning, but prioritize and celebrate your growth as well. Question of the Day: When things don’t go your way, how do you make sure you still come away stronger from the experience?

“Play every game like it’s your last, and there is always someone out there who wants what you want. ” - Allen Iverson Allen Iverson is not only one of the best basketball players ever, but also a cultural icon. At just 6 feet tall, he became the shortest MVP in NBA history — proof that heart can beat height. When asked to give advice to one of the top players in the country, he shared two lessons that stood out: Play every game like it’s your last, and remember there’s always someone out there who wants what you want. Iverson said no matter how well you play, always play as hard as you can. And when you’re at home watching TV or playing video games, remember — someone out there is working for the same dream. When you’re tired or tempted to ease up, remind yourself what you’re chasing and what it takes to get there. When it’s time to work, put in the work like your dreams depend on it — because they do. Question of the Day: How do you remind yourself to give full effort, especially wh...

“Be loud. Communicate. Play with great effort. Have a great attitude. You’re going to miss shots. You’re going to make shots. You’re going to make mistakes, but if you do those things, you’re going to fulfill your potential.” - Klay Thompson How do you make an impact outside of your talent or ability? Klay Thompson is one of the best shooters of all time. When he was asked what advice he has for rookies, Klay said, “Be loud. Communicate. Play with great effort. Have a great attitude. You’re going to miss shots. You’re going to make shots. You’re going to make mistakes, but if you do those things, you’re going to fulfill your potential.” Talent isn’t everything — communication, effort, and attitude are what separate good players from great ones. When you stay positive, work hard, and stay connected to your team even through mistakes, you give yourself the best chance to grow and reach your full potential. Question of the Day: When things aren’t going your way how can you still make a p...

“People who deserve success through hard work, merit, and personal responsibility are not quite sure they deserve it, and the people who don’t deserve it are often the people who are most sure that they do.” - Daniel Goleman  Do you ever suffer from imposter syndrome — the feeling your success isn’t earned and that you’ll be exposed as a fraud, even when you’re fully capable? Daniel Goleman is a psychologist best known for popularizing emotional intelligence. He once said, “People who deserve success through hard work, merit, and personal responsibility are not quite sure they deserve it, and the people who don’t deserve it are often most sure they do.” He said healthy people see both what they are good at and not good at, while the world mostly focuses on their strengths. You have full visibility; the rest of the world doesn’t. So, do the same. Recognize and improve weaknesses, but do more of what you do best — because that’s what the world wants from you. Question of the Day: Wh...

“I’m not the most talented, I’m not the fastest, but I work the hardest.” - Jerry Rice Are you getting everything you can out of your natural talent? Everyone is born with a unique set of strengths, weaknesses and gifts. What are yours, and are you getting the most out of it? Jerry Rice is widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver in NFL history and one of the best football players of all time. He was known for his legendary working, conditioning, and discipline. Rice once said, “I’m not the most talented, I’m not the fastest, but I work the hardest.” He also said, “Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.” He was naturally talented, but he got more out of that natural talent than most because of how hard he worked and how hard pushed himself. Near his hometown in Mississippi, there was a steep, punishing hill. Rice ran it every day in the offseason, often leaving younger or even professional athletes gasping for air. He believed that ...

“I just kept saying, ‘Be brave.’ And, ‘Go for it.’ … I went after it, every single point. And if I missed it and I just didn’t execute, I could live with that. I didn’t want to have any sort of regret that I was passive and I missed.”  - Madison Keys Can you live with and move on from mistakes, or does the fear of failure leave you passive or paralyzed? Every coach and parent wants a confident, brave, courageous athlete who knows it’s not about being perfect but trying to be the best you can be. This requires being willing to try new things and make mistakes, fail, learn from it, and bounce back and try again. Madison Keys is a professional tennis player, known for having a powerful serve and a strong forehand. She once said, “I just kept saying, ‘Be brave.’ And, ‘Go for it.’ … I went after it, every single point. And if I missed it and I just didn’t execute, I could live with that. I didn’t want to have any sort of regret that I was passive and I missed.” If you want to be gr...

“ All I kept saying to myself was: ‘Remove all doubt. Believe in yourself. You’ve got this.’ ” - Claressa Shields How do you push past the doubt? We all have doubts at times in our lives. The key is to remove and push past it. Professional boxer and former mixed martial artist Claressa Shields is a symbol of power and determination both inside and outside the ring. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist boxer, and she is the only boxer—male or female—to hold all four major belts (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) in three different weight divisions. When she was asked to reflect on her journey to becoming an Olympic champion, Claressa said, “All I kept saying to myself was: ‘Remove all doubt. Believe in yourself. You’ve got this.’” Her words are a reminder that doubt doesn’t disappear on its own—it has to be replaced with belief, action, and persistence. Shields didn’t wait to “feel” confident; she trained, prepared, and spoke confidence into existence until it became real.  The same is t...

"You are not your zip code. You are not your last name. You are not your setbacks. You are your vision. You are your work ethic. You are your will. You are the quiet whisper inside you that says, ‘I know there’s more for me in this life.’ Hold on to that voice—it will be tested.” - Carmelo Anthony Carmelo Anthony is one of the best basketball players of all time. He came from rough, humble beginnings to become one of the most iconic scorers and a hero for so many people who grew up like him. In his Hall of Fame speech, he said he didn’t grow up with any guarantees, only grit and dreams, and the lucky ones had someone telling them to not give up on them. He said there were a lot of people around him telling him what he couldn’t do and to not aim too high. He then said, “To every kid watching, I want you to hear me loud. You are not your zip code. You are not your last name. You are not your setbacks. You are your vision. You are your work ethic. You are your will. You are the qu...