Take Action

We do a lot of talking don’t we? Often times more than we take action. We do a lot of talking as leaders on living positive, making a difference, and serving others.

The challenge today to myself, and to those reading this, is to take action. Let’s not just be readers, but doers.

Let’s be difference makers, not just talk about making a difference.

Let’s be light in the dark and speak life into those we work and play with through our actions and not just our words.

Less talking about it.

More action.

#leadership #motivation #coaching #bebetter #beblessed

On The Road

If you are reading this today, Friday, December 9, 2022, I’ll be on the road driving to Nashville, Tennessee for the National AD Convention. 

I look forward to seeing some old and new friends from across the country and from other countries as well.  My role as an Athletic Administrator has provided me with many moments and long lasting friendships. 

Driving provides many opportunities to think, observe, and reflect.  I look forward to the moments to Nashville, in Nashville, and returning.  Many moments and many lessons.

May your today and your tomorrow be filled with moments, memories, and lessons as well, whether you’re driving or not.  Be on the lookout for them.

Even on the road, I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#bebetter #beblessed

Two Types of Players

There are only two types of players. Players that will and players that won’t.

Will the player accept their role?
–Or won’t they?

Will the player put the team first?
–Or won’t they?

Will the player be coachable?
–Or won’t they?

Put whatever question you have as a coach and the player either will or won’t.

As a player, you have a choice to everything that is asked of you. You either will or you won’t, and at the end of each practice, game, season, and ultimately your career, you will either say “I’m glad I did” or “I wish I had.”

It is the same in your personal life. Either you do or you don’t. There is no trying. You will either say “I’m glad I did” or “I wish I had.”

At the end of the night you will give yourself just one test. The pillow test. When your head hits the pillow you will answer the question.

Will you be glad you did or wish that you had?

The more days you can say I’m glad I did the better off you will be.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#basketball #bebetter #beblessed

Honesty

One of the lessons that can be learned, and taught, in education based athletics is honesty.

Des Moines Roosevelt volleyball coach Mark Steinbach teaches it by having a “touch policy”. If one of the Roughrider players touches the ball and it goes out of bounds, but it is missed by the official, the player will tell the official even if the ball would have been awarded to Roosevelt.

Last week in a freshman game we were playing, and I was coaching, the official awarded us a ball that we touched last. I told the official that and asked our player if he touched the ball, and he conformed it.
The official reversed the call.

Some of my players on our bench said, why did you do that? I said because it was the right thing to do. They smiled and nodded in agreement.

Later in the week, we were playing another game and a ball clearly went off of our opponent but the official missed it and awarded the ball to our opponent instead of to us. The opposing player actually smiled knowing he had touched it and it happened in front of the opposing coach.

Two different responses to the same situation. The point of this is not to judge, and I am not doing that.

You can agree or disagree, and make a case for whatever you believe the right thing to do is, but if honesty, and teaching honesty, is what we’re after, then the response is an easy one.

I side with Coach Steinbach.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#basketball #bebetter #beblessed