Coach,
I know how chaotic and fast-paced this time of year is– it seems like every minute of every day there is another fire to put out, another “ask” to answer, or another task to complete…not to say anything of the next game you are preparing for.
Coaching is not for the faint of heart, the unorganized, or those that are satisfied with checking boxes and moving on.
Neither is tackling the problem of sportsmanship.
You are among those in the state that have chosen to go above and beyond the responsibilities of your job, and invest in the movement that is The Texas Way– THANK YOU!
With that being said, the question must be asked: How do we make The Texas Way more than an initiative? How can you ensure that The Texas Way transforms your program, and the culture of athletics in Texas?
The answer: The Four E’s.
In this week’s Texas Way Weekly, I am going to share how The Four E’s framework can maximize the impact of The Texas Way for your district. Let’s go!
1. Set the EXAMPLE
As the leader of your program, what you value will become what your coaches and student-athletes value. In the same way, how you live day to day, react to circumstances, and interact with people will set the example for how your coaches and student-athletes will live, react, and interact.
- Do you use profanity, yelling, or negative comments to “motivate” your coaches?
- Do you lower your standards under stress?
- Do you let “bad calls” exempt you from “good leadership”?
If we, as leaders, set a poor example in our day to day, how can we blame our coaches or student-athletes when they do the same thing in the heat of competition?
No one expects you to be perfect.
There is, however, a responsibility to set the example and lead others to do the same. Here, the first pillar of The Texas Way, Respect of Others, is a good guide for the example we set, especially in the face of adversity.
- Recognize the value of others: Do I see the best or the worst in this person?
- Empathize with others: Have I looked at things from their point of view?
- Speak positively: Are my words adding value or taking value away?
- Protect others: Are my actions helpful or hurtful?
- Enjoy the opportunity: Am I acting from gratitude or entitlement?
- Commit to your best: Am I working to make a difference or check a box?
- Take leadership seriously: Am I OK if my actions are replicated?
2. Start with ENCOURAGEMENT
One of the things students tell me ALL. THE. TIME.
“I don’t need you to put more pressure on me…I need you to give me more encouragement.”
I wonder if you can relate? I know I can.
The pressures of life, work, and yes, even an initiative like The Texas Way, can get heavy. And that is OK. Pressure can be a helpful and necessary tool. But the difference between pressure that crushes and pressure that catapults someone into success is encouragement.
When it comes to implementing The Texas Way, WORK to catch your coaches and athletes doing right, and celebrate them! Be their biggest cheerleader!
One way to do this is the UIL’s “Good Sportsmanship Reporting Form”. {https://www.uiltexas.org/machform/view.php?id=950916} This form gives officials the opportunity to recognize your coaches and student-athletes who display good sportsmanship in UIL competition.
In your pre and post-game communication with your officiating crew, let them know that you are a Texas Way school, and that if they see The Texas Way on display, to fill out the form (it only takes a few minutes) and submit it to the UIL. Every time the UIL receives a “Good Sportsmanship Reporting Form”, the associate athletic director for that sport will forward the report, with a thank you email, to the superintendent, the athletic director and the coach responsible.
This is a WIN-WIN for everyone, and will go a long way to reinforcing the attitude and behavior that we want to see across competition. Remember this:
“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
3. Set the EXPECTATIONS
We don’t allow students who don’t pass their classes to play sports. We don’t allow students who don’t practice to play sports. We don’t allow coaches who aren’t educators to coach sports.
And we can’t allow bad sportsmanship to be a part of sports.
As the leader of your program, you must hold a firm line on sportsmanship, and if you want The Texas Way to be more than cool stadium decor (get your stadium banner and sign artwork here) {https://portal.2words.tv/texaswayassets}, you must make it a NON-NEGOTIABLE. This can’t be a good idea, the way eating your veggies and flossing your teeth are good ideas.
I know every leader has a different style, but whatever your style, don’t allow there to be a gap in implementation. One of the ways we are going to measure the effectiveness of The Texas Way is by looking at the ejection numbers of three groups:
- Districts that did NOT sign up for the Texas Way
- Districts that did sign up, but did not implement The Texas Way
- Districts that did sign up and implemented The Texas Way
You are signed up for The Texas Way. Set the expectation and make sure your district isn’t in group two.
4. Get Serious about EQUIPPING
Here is a helpful reminder: The higher your expectations, the better your example, the more frequent your encouragement, and the better your “equipping” must be.
This is why we invested so much into the creation of the curriculum for coaches and athletes, and all the resources on the website. I wanted you to have every tool possible to meet the very high expectations that are shared from leaders across the state.
As you are meeting with your coaches, ask them how you can help them be successful in the implementation of The Texas Way. If they need a tool or resource that you don’t have, or have a question you can’t answer, email me and let me get to work for you.
You, and your coaches, are not alone in this.
You have a TEAM of HEAVY HITTERS in your corner. From The Texas Way founders (THSCA, THSADA, and 2Words Character Development), to Mammoth Sports Construction, who’s investment in this has made this program free to every school in Texas, to the many sport specific associations who are endorsing The Texas Way, and many more. We are here for you. If we can help equip you or your coaches, just ask.
Thank you for being a part of this. Thank you for your work. If I can help you or your district in any way, or you want to tell your story, email me at Mackey@2words.tv.
Until next week: remember the FOUR Es!
Mackey