Applying Team Attitude

TEAM ATTITUDE--this week we are talking with our team about two of the most influential parts of our Culture.  The first comes from Coach Meyer and the acrostic from ATTITUDE.  The second is the Definite Dozen from Coach Summitt.  I'll be sharing from both this week.

ATTITUDE
Successful teams have an overriding purpose that is brought to the forefront of their program and is kept as a focal point for everyone.  We have decided that in order to play championship basketball and develop players in all areas of life, we must emphasize a Team Attitude.  Coach Meyer took each of the letters of attitude to develop an acrostic to help teach our players what we think are the essential qualities a solid team possesses.

A--wareness & Communication
T--eachable
T--enacity
I--ntensity
T--echnique
U--nselfish
D--iscipline
E--xecution

We'll start today with AWARENESS & COMMUNICATION:
"In order to be a successful player in a championship program, you must be aware of what is happening on the floor and off the floor as it relates to your team's success.

Awareness involves a perception of how you are really doing in classes, you relationships with other people, and your ability to  perform on the basketball floor.  Once you are aware of aspects that will influence the success or failure of the basketball team and your teammates, it is essential that you communicate with teammates and coaches at every opportunity.  The team that communicates on and off the floor is the team that most often shows the maturity and discipline necessary to do the right thing in games and more importantly in life.

Team Attitude--Unity Among The Parts

Thoughts On The Team From Championship Coaches & Players

THE TEAM

All championship teams always posess the most important factor of success and that is great team unity. Listed below are a few comments from championship coaches and players on why their team won championships.

Red Auerbach – former coach of the Boston Celtics – won 8 straight national titles.
“Some say you have to use your five best players, but I found out you win with the five that fit together best as a team.”

Bill Sharman – coached ABA and NBA teams to championships.
“The only way to win is to sacrifice for the good of the team.”

Vince Lombardi – legendary professional football coach.
“The Packers won the Super Bowl primarily because the team had a lot of love for each other and this unity helped us to hold up under pressure.”John Wooden – greatest coach in the history of our game.

“Our titles would not have been possible without the unselfishness displayed by all our teams, the team wins, not the individuals.”Wilt Chamberlain – greatest offensive player in the history of basketball and member of two NBA championship teams. Holds NBA record for most points in a game, 100, and most rebounds, 55. “This is a team game and one man doesn’t win and one man doesn’t lose. In the end the best team usually wins.”

Jon Havlicek – former MVP of NBA and member of the World Champions, the Boston Celtics.
 “We win because we play together as a team"

Bill Walton – considered to be the greatest college player of all time.
“It hurts when people talk as if I’m the only player on the team. This is a team game, and I’m just one of the guys on the team. One-on-one is the most overrated part of this game. Five people playing together as a team decides the game.”

It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit, and when an individual loses himself in something he thinks is better than he, the team, you become a winner.

TEAMS--Toughness & Trust/ Effort/ Attitude/ Motives/Servant Leadership

I was so excited for our team to be able to listen to Coach Meyer talk about leadership and being a TEAM. Those are the two things that I will always associate with my time at Lipscomb and Coach Meyer. Coach once again used the acronym TEAMS yesterday as follows:

T oughness & Trust--

• some players don't do well when things go bad, they end up with the "loser's limp"
• you can't follow someone if you don't have trust in them.
• use the "Foxhole" test as a measure of trust

E ffort
A ttitude 

• these are the only things you contribute yourself
• these are our responsibility
• people look to you as a leader to see how they will react
• what would this team be like if everyone had my attitude?

M otives

• why do I do what I do?
• be careful how I do what I do?
• can't fool people

S ervant Leaders

• if you can turn out servant leaders you're really doing something as a leader

Swen Nater On TeamWork

TEAM-SPIRIT
I have awed at a solo performance,
And spectacular flashy display,
But I crave for the best
And my eyes are more blessed,
When an unselfish team makes a play.
A play that’s so perfect and simple,
With the weaving of role with a role-
Every piece partly seen,
Like a fine-tuned machine,
And you notice not one, but the whole.
Like an orchestra tuned to perfection,
Where harmonious beauty is found,
Every note has a quest-
To be part of the rest,
So the whole is a masterpiece sound.
Every wild one, once blinded by glory,
Is now cured and is one of the tame.
He receives his esteem,
As a part of the team,
And is eager to sacrifice fame.
It’s amazing what teams have accomplished.
It’s astounding how much they have done,
When the ultimate call,
Is when one is for all,
And the credit is reached for by none.

What It Takes To Be The Best Teammate Any Has Ever Had

Pat Williams was the keynote speaker at the UCF "Countdown To Kickoff" luncheon yesterday in the UCF Arena. I always enjoy hearing him speak. Had the opportunity to speak with him for just a few minutes before the event.

When he speaks he reminds me of Coach Wooden. You can feel the sincerity of his message. I remember when we had dinner with Coach Wooden in 2002. When he spoke, it was just like reading his books. His message, his interaction with us was so consistent with what he taught in his books and lectures. In his message yesterday you could hear his study of Coach Wooden coming through as he described what it takes to be the greatest teammate.

Jameer Nelson said his only goal was to be the best teammate anyone has ever had.
What does it take to be the best teammate any has ever had?

EMPOWER--uplift, Encourage..Spoken and Unspoken words. Rich DeVoss said his role at Amway is to be the head cheerleader

OUTWORK--maximum effort every day. Higher up the chain of significance, the harder you must work. Jordan, Walter Payton and Jerry Rice were never outworked.

CONSISTENT WITH ATTITUDE --Especially in practice. Team should never have to worry about are you in a good mood, etc. Don't be a "chirper" or a "duck quacking".

BE A CHARACTER PERSON--demonstrate class. On display 24/7. Coaches shouldn't have to worry about character of the team. Be a character person daily.

RESPONSIBLE--No Whining, No Complaining, No Excuses.

BE A LEADER ON/OFF COURT, IN THE LOCKER ROOM & IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE--Don't wait to be appointed. You don't have to be invited to be a leader. Be prepared for the opportunity to lead when it comes.

BE TEACHABLE--Be a sponge. Soak up all the experiences. Then, become a teacher to other players. Have a teachable spirit.

HIT THE BOOKS--Sports end quickly. Your sport is a tool, it's a platform. Others can't learn for you.

BE FULLY PREPARED--Rest, Nutrition, Game Plan

TOTAL COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER--Pride in excellence.

DON'T QUIT--Persevere through the tough times. Determination and Dedication.

ENTHUSIASM & PASSION--Flows to everyone

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TEAM--Privilege of being on a team

TEAM ATTITUDE

The most critical element of success to any Team, is its TEAM ATTITUDE. Coach Meyer used ATTITUDE as an acrostic and spoke daily on Team Attitude. We have continued that tradition with our camps. Here's the Emphasis of Each Day:

A-wareness & Communication
T-eachable
T-enacity
I-ntensity
T-echnique
U-Unselfish
D-iscipline
E-ffort + Execution= Excellence

Brad Stevens On TEAM

There's talent all over the nation. If a Team really comes together and really executes, you can beat a team on any given night. --Brad Stevens

The Team, The Team, The Team

"THE TEAM, THE TEAM, THE TEAM"--Bo Schembechler

"How different would the culture of the team/ program be...If everytime of a situation you didn't think of how dies it affect me? But rather how does it help/affect us (the team)?

How Great Teams Are Built

How Great Teams Are Built

• First, it’s about all members trusting one another to do their fair share of the lifting, but in their own unique ways.
• They asked for input and assistance from co-workers.
• They have help as requested, even when a job was outside their duties.
• They compromised when necessary.
• They took ownership of their mistakes.
• They took thoughtful risks.
• They refrained from talking about absent team members.
• They responded promptly to team member requests for more information.
• They proactively shared information that might be valuable to tam members.
From “The Orange Revolution” by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton

Winning Is Not For The Selfish

Winning is not for the Selfish

Teams matter more than individuals
Every job is important
Treat everyone with respect
Share victories and defeats
Accept criticism
Keep the boss well informed
Focus on your work ethic, not others’
Allow for differences in lifestyle
Be more creative than predictable
Let go of bad ideas
Employ structure and order
Reward those who produce
Find different ways to motivate your employees
Keep your employees fresh
Protect your system

5 Things Team Members Need To Know

5 THINGS TEAM MEMBERS NEED TO KNOW

1. What is expected from each
2. That each will have the opportunity to perform
3. How each one is getting along
4. Guidance will be given to each when needed
5. Each will be rewarded for their contribution

The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork
By John C. Maxwell

THE PRICE OF TEAMWORK

SACRIFICE
There can be no success without sacrifice. James Allen observed. “He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much.”

TIME COMMITMENT
Teamwork does not come cheaply. It costs you time—that means you pay for it with your life. Teamwork can’t be developed in microwave time. Teams grow in a Crock-Pot environment

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Your team will reach its potential only if you reach your potential. That means today’s ability is not enough. Or to put it the way leadership expert Max DePree did: “We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” That is why UCLA’s John Wooden, the greatest college basketball coach of all time, said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.”

UNSELFISHNESS
If a team is to reach its potential, its players must put the team’s agenda ahead of their own. And if you give your best to the team, it will return more to you than you give, and together you will achieve more than you can on our own.

THOUGHTS ON BEING A TEAMMATE

Everybody judges players differently. I judge a player by what he does for his team and not what he does for himself. The name of the game is self-sacrifice.”

—Billy Martin, New York Yankees























Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”

—Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers











I don’t get a big charge out of being the leading scorer. The object of competing is winning. I just try to do what has to be done for us to win. That might be anything at any time—defense, rebounding, passing. I get satisfaction out of being a team player.”

—Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers

Team Attitude

TEAM ATTITUDE

This makes for unity among the parts; that the parts have the same care for each other that they do for themselves. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are honored.

Thoughts On The TEAM

Thoughts & Observations:
THE TEAM

1. Don’t take people who look for “what’s in it for me?”
2. Don’t let your teammates down.
3. Your actions affect others.
4. You’re having a bad game but the team is playing well. Going into the locker room after a win and seeing a long face. Be big enough and strong enough and committed to the team to get outside yourself. We win and lose as a team.
5. No person is more important than the team.
6. Positive body language and team first.
7. Must believe in each other.
8. Do you want equal minutes or do you want us to play who’s playing the best?
9. We have 5 people to get us off to a great start, but we have 12 people who can make us a championship program.
10. As a senior, it’s time to give.
11. You get your feelings hurt when you focus on yourself.
12. Trust the staff and respect the program.
13. Teamwork isn’t natural.
14. Compete for the team and the university.
15. Together we are a powerful group.
16. In a team game it only takes one person to mess up the flow.
17. Get outside yourself.
18. Teamwork has to be tended to daily.
19. Why would you choose to be part of a team and not give a great effort? If you are going to play a team sport you can never not give effort because you cheat yourself and your team.
20. If enough people on the team care, you’ll find a way to be successful. Not because of talent but attitude. People with the right attitude won’t be discouraged when adversity comes.
21. The team becomes better when someone steps forward instead of saying not me.
22. You want the team to be INCLUSIVE, not exclusive.
23. Both feet—head—heart committed to the team and program.
24. Loyalty to those who depend on you.
25. Players must understand roles and accept them to take on concept of team attitude.
26. Can’t take substitution pattern personally.
27. We need each other badly.
28. Your reach the highest levels with the closest teams.
29. Often need incentives to keep them together.
30. If it is you or the program, that decision was made a long time ago.
31. You can build strength—quality and unity through teamwork.
32. You represent more than yourself.
33. We want completely unselfish players: What would the team be like if everyone had my attitude?
34. We want to spend time with unselfish people.
35. If you are totally committed to a team’s interests you will be so good and it will be so much fun.
36. Be there for each other.

Who We Are--Knights Basketball

“WHO WE ARE’

WE ARE A BLUE COLLAR TEAM
WE ARE A REAL TEAM
WE ARE A FAMILY
WE ARE LOVING

WE ARE STUDENTS OF THE GAME
WE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND
WE ARE STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE
WE ARE PERSISTENT IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY

WE ARE PASSIONATE
WE ARE UNIQUE
WE ARE FEARLESS
WE ARE UNCOOL

WE ARE STEADFAST (EVEN KEEL)
WE ARE DETERMINED AND DISCIPLINE
WE ARE UNSELFISH
WE ARE INSPIRING

Thoughts On The Team

Just wanted to share a few thoughts about the TEAM. I know many of you are heading into your high school, middle school seasons.. Just a few things to think about.

Team Thoughts
1. Get better together
2. What can we do to play to our strengths?
3. No coach keeps a player from:
a. Running the floor
b. Diving for loose balls
c. Rebounding
4. It’s not about talent, it’s about commitment
5. Selecting a team:
a. Speed over size
b. Spirit over temperament
c. Team contribution over individual
6. Team Morale
a. Awareness and communication
b. Know the types of kids we have

Essential Wooden--10 Team Tips

10 TEAM TIPS

1. Be thinking at all times.
2. If you do your best, never lose your temper and never be out-fought or out-hustled, you'll have nothing to worry about.
3. Without faith and courage, you are lost.
4. Have respect for, without fear of, every opponent, and confidence without cockiness in regard to yourself.
5. Never be a spectator. Be in the fight at all times.
6. Unselfish team play and team spirit are two of the foremost essentials for our success.
7. We have tough battles ahead. Enjoy the thrill of being a hard fight.
8. Never stoop to playing dirty--play hard and don't complain.
9. Be sure to acknowledge and give credit to a teammate who hits you with a scoring pass or for any fine play he can make.
10. Be a competitor. When the going gets tough, really get going.
    
    

Coach Meyer--Working To Be A Family

Our program had a great opportunity on Wednesday for Coach Meyer to speak to our team. He spoke to them about several things, but the theme of his message was, "working hard to be a family." I wanted to share a few of the items he passed on to our team:

• Work hard at being a family here, a family looking out for each other.
• Some people will watch you and want you to do something wrong.
• Do the next right thing right.
• Everyone will get cheated in life at some point. How will you respond? Don't say, "Why me? Instead, ask 'What now?'
• N.B.A.--Next Best Action
• Don't be a whiner. Find a way to move on.
• You have a great opportunity here, but it's only going to last 4 years. Get your education, think in terms of being professional, think in terms of being a cut above.
• Work at a higher standard than the people you "run" with may expect.