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Pregame Speech (April 2003)Thoughts, stories, examples and ideas on challenging your team to perform at their highest level possible.
The
Wise Woman A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime. But, a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone." Sometimes
it's not the wealth you have but what's inside you that others need.
Basketball Team shines in no-frills town Winning with nothing...Click here to read this incredible story
An
Inspirational Person, Jaymac In our lifetime, we meet many types of people. The ones that stand out for me are the ones who overcome challenges and have a positive outlook on life. Most recently, I have had the pleasure of communicating with John McLeod, or as he goes by, Jaymac. He writes poetry, and has sent me poems for the site. Through emails, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Jaymac, and his story is an inspiring one. You see, Jaymac became ill at the age of 10. He had a rheumatoid condition that left him disabled. He was only able to walk with the use of crutches. Jaymac is now 60 years old. He retired in 1991, and to quote Jaymac, “I retired in 1991 when my health crashed very badly and my arms, on which I had, literally, ‘walked’ with crutches for the best part of 40 years finally decided they’d had enough! Most unsporting of them!!!” Jaymac
talks about life and, as you will read in the paragraph quoted below he has a
great outlook on life: “Life, though, is full of compensations and I have been well blessed throughout my ‘Life Journey’ with good friends met and made along the way. Life is a kind of swings and roundabouts situation; if you can’t kick a football you turn to other pursuits. So I read and learned and learned and read, endlessly curious about the World and its mysteries. I loved and love music and movies, good drama, good quality TV, anything scientific, anything, which makes me think about those things, which lie just beyond understanding. I am also a radio-ham holding a full Class A transmitting license since 1979. So while disability imposes its physical restrictions I am able to go out and meet the world via the air-waves. I speak to other ‘Hams’ all over the world.” We all face challenges in our lives. But how we handle these challenges, how we look at life is truly what matters. We can all look at life one of two ways: 1.
we can focus on the good and move forward, or, Our hope in sharing Jaymac’s story with you is that you will focus on all the good in your life and move forward no matter what your situation! How To Pursue Victory With Honor In Amateur Basketball They answer to the name "coach", but a better description of the men and women who train athletes is "guardians of the game." They protect youth and all that is good in organized sport. They are on the front lines of building character through advocacy, leadership, service and education - the core values of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. But too many high school and college basketball programs are not fulfilling their potential to promote education and develop character. To investigate the problem, the NABC and CHARACTER COUNTS! Sports convened four dozen top coaches, university presidents, youth sports administrators, collegiate conference commissioners and game officials and developed the Game Plan for Amateur Basketball. The Game Plan - part of the national PURSUING VICTORY WITH HONOR sportsmanship campaign - serves as a detailed implementation strategy for the Arizona Sports Summit Accord, which the NABC and the country's other leading amateur sports organizations have adopted. Pursing victory with honor is the true objective of all organized athletics. Let this "Quick Guide" show you how to recommit yourself to this noble goal. TEACH - Teach that character counts - that success and happiness depend on who people are inside, not on what they have or how they look. People of character know the difference between right and wrong because they guide their thoughts and actions by basic ethical values (the "Six Pillars of Character"): trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and good citizenship. When explaining "character", use these words as well as examples from your life, history and the news. ENFORCE - Reward good behavior (usually, praise is enough) and impose (or, in some cases, allow others to impose) fair, consistent consequences that prove you are serious about character. Demonstrate courage and firmness of will be enforcing core values when it is difficult to do so. Discourage all instances of bad behavior. ADVOCATE - Continually encourage others to live up to the "Six Pillars of Character". Be an advocate for character. Don't be neutral about the importance of character or casual about improper conduct. Be clear and uncompromising that you expect young athletes to demonstrate trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. MODEL - Set a good example in everything you say and do. Hold yourself to the highest standards by honoring the "Six Pillars of Character" at all times. You may be a good model now, but remember, you don't have to be sick to get better. Everything you do, and don't do, sends a message about your values. Be sure your messages reinforce your lessons about doing the right thing even when it is hard to do so. When you slip, act the way you would prefer young people to when they behave improperly. Be accountable, apologize sincerely - and do better! |
