A Coach's Philosophy

The following is taken from the site of a team that is unfortunatley not together any longer (the site no longer exists). But this team had heart and determination and its leaders did all they could to build it and keep it together for 3 short seasons. I do not think they ever won a game. I will never forget the effort of this team though and the players who were a part of it and perhaps they will return someday. One of the motivating things that stayed with me most about this team though is what I am posting below. I think that everyone should enjoy this regardless of your religion. ~RB My Philosophy by Jason Rice Let me preface this first. After reading this through I realize that "my philosophy" comes off as a little harsh or hard-nosed. So let me explain a little. I am not a hard person. I am usually a really fun guy and I expect our team to haves lots and lots of laughs. There are certain things, however, that I feel very strongly about. I believe that we have certain responsibilities and that those responsibilities need to be taken care of before we consider other things. So trust me when I say this: I am not a jerk, a megalomaniac, or anything else you might get out of this little philosophy. My point is just that I feel very strongly about these things and I want them to be clear. This is going be a lot of fun, I just want us to take care of our responsibilities. Each and every coach that leads any team in any sport has a philosophy that they develop and learn from their game experience, coaching experience, and life experience. However they get their coaching philosophy, it becomes their own and it reflects in everything that they do, especially in their team. So pay attention. Expect this from me during the next couple months. First and foremost, we are a Christian university and when we travel and play we reflect how other people see Christ. I don?t care if you're not a Christian and you don't want to act like one. While you are playing for me, under the name of Liberty University and Jesus Christ, you will act accordingly. We will not fight. We will not cuss. We will not disrespect coaches, other players, referees, fans, or anyone from opposing teams. This goes on and off the court. Expect discipline if you don't follow through. Secondly: team unity. As soon as I choose my team, you boys become brothers. I don?t care if you hate each other. You are stuck with each other and you?re going to learn to stand by one another. I?ve got 3 years of coaching experience at the national level and I?ve seen team after talented team fall to lesser opponents because they have zero team unity. So in a nutshell I?m saying this: What happens off the court, stays off the court. What happens on the court, stays on the court. And if two of you have a serious disagreement, you have three options: 1. Bring it to me; 2. Bring it to the captains that I select; and 3. Take a hike. Thirdly, I am a stickler for the mental side of the game. Everybody, even the best of the best, make physical mistakes sometimes. Sometimes you just can?t get the shot off, or you can?t quite turn fast enough to catch the guy that just stole the puck, but if you don?t try, then I?ll be mad. So if you make a physical mistake, I?ll forgive you and we?ll keep playing. I can?t expect perfection. Mental mistakes, however, are a whole different ball game. If you try and skate out of the back and go end to end, your butt is gonna be next to me on the bench. If you aren?t listening to instructions on the floor and you?re not running the system like you?re supposed to be, the pine pony will become your resting place. Players that win, teams that win, are those that make up for the occasional physical mistakes by being flawless mentally. Lastly, the chain of authority is important. This is how it works fellas. If you?re on the team, the captains have the immediate authority over you. I?ll use them to help run drills and pass on instructions. Obey them like you would me. Captains, I am directly over you. Follow my instructions and listen carefully (my captains may not be the best players on the floor. They?ll be the one that listen and learn like leaders). Then even I am responsible to the Club Officers and Liberty University. They can take disciplinary action over me for my actions and the ultimately, the officers are responsible to the club members themselves. That?s you. So while we have a system of checks and balances and a kind of democratic system over the club, on the floor, this is a dictatorship. Don?t confuse the club meetings with practices and games. So I?m excited about what this year is going to hold for us. We have some exciting plans and I hope that all of you are prepared to work hard, to win, and to glorify Christ all at once. Good things are coming very soon.