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Nick Saban's Process Principles:
1. Commitment
"How bad do you want it?"
2. Discipline
"It's not about what you feel like doing."
3. Effort
"You get out what you put in."
4. Toughness
"You have to be able to overcome hard."
5. Pride
"Take pride in everything you do."
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Steve Kerr's Core Values:
1. Joy
"It's meant to be fun."
2. Mindfulness
"Stay in the moment. Focus on the process. Be grateful for the opportunity."
3. Compassion
"Show how much you care."
4. Competition
"We compete. We keep score. We make sure there are winners and losers."
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Coach them hard, hug them later.
My door is always open. You may not like the answer you're going to get, but it's going to be an honest one.
When I'm coaching you, I'm trying to help you be the best you can be. It's not criticism. It's not personal.
Bruce Arians on coaching:
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1,893
5,299
Real Athletes:
1. Don't fail classes
2. Don't skip workouts
3. Don't coast in practice
4. Don't cheat the process
5. Don't dodge competition
6. Don't disrespect the game
7. Don't gossip about teammates
8. Don't complain about coaches
9. Don't hurt the team
10. Don't make excuses
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Put your heart and soul into everything you do.
The greatest fear you face is yourself. Being fearless means putting yourself out there and going for it. No matter what, go for it.
Mamba Mentality x Forever:
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1,810
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5 Life Lessons to Teach Kids:
1. Integrity
Right is right. Wrong is wrong.
2. Respect
Treat people the way they want to be treated.
3. Attitude
Stay positive and positive things will happen.
4. Effort
Do your best and forget the rest.
5. Grit
Keep going. Keep growing.
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My parents never tried to fight a battle for me with a coach. That's what I see today, parents yelling and "coaching" and just putting more pressure on their kids and it's really a shame. They should just be letting them play and develop and have fun.
— Steve Kerr
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10 Things That Take No Talent:
1. Being on time
2. Being prepared
3. Bringing energy
4. Working hard
5. Being coachable
6. Putting the team first
7. Cheering on teammates
8. Challenging yourself
9. Staying positive
10. Doing extra
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Pete Carroll's 3 Rules:
1. Be Early
"It's all about being organized and showing respect."
2. Protect the Team
"Are you helping or hurting the team? Every decision has an impact."
3. No Whining, Complaining, Excuses
"Positive attracts positive. Negative attracts negative."
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You're either committed or you're not. It's not when it's convenient and when it's easy, it's when it's hard and when things aren't going well.
You have to show up and bring it every day. Everything that we do matters. On and off the field.
Brent Venables on being all in:
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1,041
3,487
Coachable: "I want to get better."
Uncoachable: "This is boring."
Coachable: "What can I work on?"
Uncoachable: "I know what to do."
Coachable: "I needed to hear that."
Uncoachable: "It's not my fault."
Coachable: "Thanks for pushing me."
Uncoachable: "Coach doesn't like me."
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Dear Players,
I coach you because I care about you. I challenge you because I believe in you. I cheer you on because I know you can. I hold you accountable because I know life will. I tell you the truth because I know most will not.
Sincerely,
My Why
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I have zero tolerance for entitlement. If anyone thinks they can just show up, not put the work in, not prepare, they're not getting on the bus.
It's all about the process. It's hard work, attention to detail, discipline, technique, fundamentals.
Mel Tucker on what it takes:
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If you don't have toughness, it's not like you can get it just by reading a book. You usually have to persevere through something. Not many people want to pay the price anymore.
Tom Izzo on toughness:
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1,402
3,255
5 Things That Take Down Teams:
1. Excuses
No one wants to hear it.
2. Entitlement
No one owes you anything.
3. Ego
Everyone's role is important.
4. Energy Vampires
Everyone's responsible for the energy they bring.
5. Enemies
Not everyone in your circle is in your corner.
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5 Things That You Control:
1. Attitude
Attitude determines altitude.
2. Effort
It takes no talent to work hard.
3. Priorities
If it's important to you, you'll find a way.
4. Preparation
It's the will to prepare to win that matters.
5. Response
It's all about how you respond.
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Dear Players,
Every time you skip a workout.
Every time you take a shortcut.
Every time you make an excuse.
Every time you blame a teammate.
Every time you bring a bad attitude.
Every time you waste an opportunity.
You make it easier to beat you.
Sincerely,
Your Competition
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Me: "I deserve to play."
We: "I have to earn my role."
Me: "They don't like me."
We: "I have to earn their trust."
Me: "I want to quit."
We: "We're in this together."
Me: "They won't even know."
We: "That's not how we do things here."
Me gets you beat. We gets you far.
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Sean McVay's Character Code:
Discipline
"Do what you're supposed to do, how you're supposed to do it, all the time."
Accountability
"Take full responsibility. No excuses."
Dependability
"Compete to the best of your ability."
Coachability
"Nobody is above being coached."
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The Principles of Popovich:
1. Humility
"Get over yourself."
2. Discipline
"Don't skip any steps."
3. Determination
"Grow and get better every day."
4. Toughness
"Respond the right way."
5. Togetherness
"Sacrifice for each other."
6. Perspective
"See the big picture."
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Doc Rivers' 5 Life Lessons:
1. Don't be a victim
"Life isn't fair."
2. Get over yourself
"To go far, go together."
3. Run toward pressure
"Pressure is a privilege."
4. Keep moving forward
"Get knocked down, get back up."
5. Finish the race
"Many will start, few will finish."
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Terry Francona's Team Rules:
1. Be Reliable
"Show up on time."
2. Be Respectful
"Respect each other and the game."
3. Be a Grinder
"Bring energy and effort every single day."
4. Be a Great Teammate
"Play for each other and put the team first."
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Dear Parents,
You're right. Coaches do play favorites. They play the players that are committed and coachable. The players that are disciplined and dependable. The players that are talented and accountable. The players that are resilient and respectful.
Regards,
Playing Time
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I don't care what star you are. One of the best kids I've ever coached had 0 stars, but he had unbelievable character, work ethic, and a burning desire to compete.
It's about playing for each other and attacking the process every day.
Chris Klieman on accountability:
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You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Your body language and your eye contact are critical.
Stand tall. Give a firm handshake. Introduce yourself.
Buzz Williams on life skills:
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Dear Athletes,
The time will come when fall will ask what you did all summer … and it will never lie. It will be obvious who committed and who coasted. Who challenged themselves and who cheated themselves. Who raised their level and who risked their role.
Sincerely,
The Truth
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When it gets a little tough, when things don't go your way, do you quit, or do you keep fighting?
Dabo Swinney on mentality:
19
1,086
2,322
Dabo's 10 Tools for Life:
1. Show up on time
2. Show how much you care
3. Be a great teammate
4. Be where your feet are
5. Know that team > self
6. Know how to win and lose
7. Find strength in the struggle
8. Find joy in the journey
9. Keep moving forward
10. Keep getting better
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Our culture says "it's all about me."
Our culture says "screw process.”
Toughness, discipline, and detail still matter. That’s your platform. It's team above self.
If you fall in love with the process, eventually the process will love you back.
Matt Campbell on the process:
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Kobe's Mamba Mentality:
1. Passion
"Do what you love."
2. Obsession
"Get better every single day."
3. Relentlessness
"Outwork your potential."
4. Fearlessness
"Put yourself out there and go for it, no excuses."
5. Resilience
"Enjoy the road, especially when it's a hard one."
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Dan Hurley's Non-Negotiables:
1. Effort
"Effort and intensity every day."
2. Improvement
"Push yourself to get better."
3. Competition
"Fight for it and earn it. Nothing given."
4. Toughness
"Do the hard things well."
5. Togetherness
"The strength of the wolf is the pack."
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The first thing we tell our players is to be on time.
Respect your coaches, respect your teammates, and never back down from a challenge.
Some have more talent than others, but if you're considered a great teammate, that's the ultimate compliment.
Terry Francona on standards:
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Coachable: "I want to get better."
Uncoachable: "I'm better than…"
Coachable: "What can I work on?"
Uncoachable: "I know what to do."
Coachable: "It's my responsibility."
Uncoachable: "It's not my fault."
Coachable: "Thanks for pushing me."
Uncoachable: "Stop picking on me."
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A lot of players hear accountability and they think somebody is trying to blame them. That's not what it's about.
Accountability means holding each other to a standard that is crucial to becoming the best you can be, individually and collectively.
Jay Bilas on accountability:
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The Weight Room:
1. Builds character
2. Reveals character
3. Requires commitment
4. Rewards discipline
5. Punishes procrastination
6. Instills toughness
7. Elevates togetherness
8. Eliminates excuses
9. Establishes leaders
10. Crowns champions
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Go to class. Sit in the front.
Listen to the teacher. Take notes.
Eat well. Take care of your body.
Watch film. Take hard coaching.
Embrace practice. Work hard.
Hit the weights. Get good sleep.
Chris Beard on winning the day:
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When somebody gives you a job to do, they don't want you coming back and telling them why you couldn't do it. They want you to find a way. They want you to figure it out.
Geno Auriemma on excuses:
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801
1,689
Clemson's Team Commandments:
1. Go to class
2. Give great effort
3. Outwork everyone
4. Appreciate each other
5. Be coachable
6. Be mentally and physically tough
7. Maintain a positive attitude
8. Never lose faith
9. Finish strong
10. Have fun
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It's not what you're capable of, it's what you're willing to do.
I know plenty of people that are capable, I know few that are willing.
When you decide to do something, you do it. It's a disciplined lifestyle.
Mike Tomlin on mentality:
6
566
1,629
5 Hard Truths for Athletes:
1. No one owes you anything.
2. Nothing worth having comes easy.
3. Hard work is the price of admission.
4. Hard times create strong people.
5. Improvement has no offseason.
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Everybody wants to be a beast, until it's time to do what real beasts do.
Real ones like to hunt. They love the process as much as they love the prize. They're putting in work when nobody's watching.
Eric Thomas on mindset:
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620
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Everybody wants to win, few want to prepare to win at the level you need to prepare to be special.
When the players hold each other accountable, when they coach and police each other, you've got a powerful team.
The Patriot Way:
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There's no ceiling to someone's hunger, to someone's drive to be the best they can be.
How hard a team works, how hard they play, how together they are, there's no ceiling to that. But there's a ceiling to your talent.
Talent alone is never enough.
Buzz Williams on potential:
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640
1,500
It's refusing to lose over wanting to win. Everyone wants to win, but it's having that never give up mentality. It's attacking every day.
It's how you live your life. There's a standard, and that standard can't be compromised in any area.
P.J. Fleck's 'Refuse to Lose':
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Average: "Good enough."
Good: "I want to be coached."
Great: "I want to be the best."
Average: "Do we have to?"
Good: "We have to put in the work."
Great: "Whatever it takes."
Average: "I got mine."
Good: "We have to get better."
Great: "How can I best help the team?"
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Bob Hurley is one of the greatest high school basketball coaches in history.
At St. Anthony, he won 1,185 games, 28 state titles, and 4 national championships.
But his true legacy is much greater than the lights on the scoreboard.
He taught how to win in life:
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It costs $0 to say please and thank you.
It costs $0 to treat people with respect.
It costs $0 to choose to do what's right.
It costs $0 to check in with a friend.
It costs $0 to listen to understand.
It costs $0 to lend a helping hand.
It costs $0 to be a positive light.
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Every player should know that you love them and you care about them. And if you love them, you're going to discipline them. Discipline is not something you do "to" them, it's something you do "for" them.
John Harbaugh on love:
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515
1,435
If you don't like competition, this is the wrong place for you. We're going to compete every day.
Be where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there. No excuses, no explanations.
Herm Edwards keeping it real:
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576
1,419
Building a culture has nothing to do with 50 extra swings or 100 extra ground balls.
It's about building relationships. It's about earning trust. It's about focusing on the process. It's about bringing energy and enthusiasm every day.
Joe Maddon on mentality:
6
504
1,435
5 Commitments of Connected Teams:
1. Commit to Each Other
"Love, Serve, Care"
2. Commit to Character
"Trust, Integrity, Respect"
3. Commit to Communication
"Clear, Open, Honest"
4. Commit to the Mission
"Values, Goals, Roles"
5. Commit to the Standard
"Hard, Smart, Together"
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Everybody works hard, but the results aren’t the same. It’s about the attitude you do it with.
Everybody makes that choice every day. It doesn't take ability. It's the intensity, the urgency in which we do things.
Mindset is what makes the difference.
Luke Fickell on culture:
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385
1,363
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Our job is to teach, develop, and inspire them to be the best that they can be.
Their job is to know what to do, play fast and aggressive, and have some fun.
We're all going to make mistakes. Learn from it and find a way to make it right.
Mike Vrabel on mindset:
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347
1,347
It's trusting the process. It's attacking each and every day. It's not worrying about the result, just being great that day. When you have that mindset that everything counts, everything is important, you're going to wake up and try to be great every day.
Matt Rhule on mindset:
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484
1,347
You have to look inward and challenge yourself to change your best. You have to be true to yourself and have a vision for your future.
Ed Orgeron on motivation:
6
429
1,351
Miami Heat Culture:
Hardest Working
"No fake gym rats."
Best Conditioned
"Challenge yourself."
Most Prepared
"The process never stops."
Most Unselfish
"We're in this together."
Most Disliked
"We're not for everybody."
Toughest & Meanest
"You have to show some grit."
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Your high school coach isn't going to convince any college coach to give you a scholarship. But, your high school coach is going to help fill in the gaps — your intangibles, what kind of person you are, what kind of teammate you are, the impact you've had.
— Chris Petersen
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I wasn't a top recruit. I didn't play right away. I didn't have it easy. I had to earn it.
This is where you learn to work. Where you learn to practice. Where you learn to compete.
The greatest honor I've ever received is being named team captain.
Tom Brady on mentality:
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418
1,297
5 Timeless Truths for Athletes:
1. The best ability is dependability.
2. The only disability is a bad attitude.
3. The little things make a big difference.
4. The harder you go, the better you get.
5. The road to success is paved in failure.
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You're not just competing for yourself, you're competing for your teammates. Be about each other every day.
Take initiative. Don't wait for someone to ask you to do something.
Nothing is promised. You have to be an active participant in your process.
Becky Hammon x Be a Pro:
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Average: I want to win.
Good: I want to get better.
Great: I want to be the best I can be.
Average: How can I get in?
Good: How can I grow my role?
Great: How can I best help the team?
Average: I’ll do what I can.
Good: I’ll do what they won’t.
Great: I’ll do whatever it takes.
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Pat Summitt's Definite Dozen:
1. Be respectful
2. Take responsibility
3. Demonstrate loyalty
4. Learn to communicate
5. Be self-disciplined
6. Work hard
7. Work smart
8. Put the team first
9. Stay positive
10. Be a competitor
11. Challenge yourself
12. Learn from wins and losses
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10 Reasons to Play Multiple Sports:
1. Have more fun
2. Make more friends
3. Learn new roles
4. Pursue new goals
5. Learn from different coaches
6. Develop different skills
7. Increase confidence
8. Decrease dropout & burnout
9. Become a better athlete
10. Become a better leader
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Treat a person as they are, they will remain as they are. Treat a person as what they could be and should be, they will become what they could be and should be.
Jimmy Johnson on expectations:
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