Blog Posts

You have probably heard the quote “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Attitude is one of the few things in life you can control. It’s impressive when you can show a great attitude during the toughest of times. When it comes to attitude, the majority of people think that IT is the problem, but you need to realize you are the problem. You need to realize that your attitude will come out through your constant communication even if your mouth isn’t moving.

There have been a variety of studies performed to find the percentage of communication being nonverbal vs verbal. The studies have created a variety of results ranging from the nonverbal percentage being anywhere from 60% to 93%. This number ranges due to the variance of the situation and the individual.

The precise number is irrelevant, but it is important to understand that…

Nonverbal communication is the most important characteristic of communication.

Pat Summitt and Paul George on Body Language

In sports, people will call the nonverbal Body Language.  The late Pat Summitt, former legendary coach at University of Tennessee said, “We communicate all the time, even when we don’t realize it. Be aware of your body language.” You always have something to communicate and if you are not saying anything then it is being communicated through your body language.

It is so important that Paul George brought it up in his press conference about Lance Stephenson after their game two loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, in the 2017 playoffs. “He’s got to learn to control himself and be in the moment,” George said. “Lance, in our locker room, is looked upon as a leader. His BODY LANGUAGE has to improve — just for the team.”

It is important to realize that body language is learned as children. As a child when you were disobedient then what did you do? Quite often, you probably did something to make yourself look smaller and part of that might have been to go and hide. Well, when you transition into adult hood, you can’t take that approach. When you are in a meeting with your coach, teacher or supervisor due to poor choices then you are not going to be able to take the same childlike approach. Understand, when you get older your gestures are not as intrusive as you were as a kid, but they do become smaller. Majority of the time, you will not be conscious of the gestures you are giving off at any given time. You need to realize that you always have something to communicate and if you are not saying anything then it is being communicated through your body language.

You need to communicate all the time that you’re paying attention, you’re engaged, you’re tough, and you’re eager to learn more. Great body language will make your coaches coach you more, will make your teachers teach you more, and will make an employer want to hire you one day.

4 Common Body Language Examples to Master

Here are four of the most common body language examples to be aware in your communication:

1. Postures: Most people have a limited knowledge of their respective gestures, because they think the gesture to be exactly how it is described. For example, crossing your arms is a common practice for people while communicating. It does not seem like that big of a deal. But, what you don’t realize is that the other person might think you are being closed off, negative or not listening. Research has even shown that people who are opened up retain information at a higher rate. Your physiology impacts your psychology, which will impact your emotional state. What you do with your mind, body and emotions are all linked together. You change one thing in the system and it changes something else and everything is impacted.

2. Gestures: Subconsciously you express yourself with gestures. You wave, signal, point and use your hands when you are speaking enthusiastically or arguing. You need to realize that the meaning of your gestures can be extremely different across areas and cultures.

3. Facial Expressions: The human face is able to express countless emotions without saying a word and these expressions are universal. Shawn Achor, in his book The Happiness Advantage, states that research has proven that the human brain can identify an emotion in another person’s face within 33 milliseconds, and this emotion primes the receiving person to feel the same way. Your facial expressions can impact the mood of your team, either in a positive or negative way, within a couple of minutes. To change it for the better then “Twist Your Frown Upside Down.”

4. Eye Movements / Eye Contact: When your eyes are maintaining little contact, looking at something else, or are downcast, it gives the impression that you are not really listening. The worse is when you roll your eyes at another person. That person speaking to you will begin to think that you are not interested and are not coachable.

My question for you is what does your body language say about you on a consistent basis? Does it make a coach want to have you apart of their program or does it cost you an opportunity because they cross you off the list?

– Coach Jim Huber

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Maya Angelou once said, “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” 

I remember the bliss I felt the day my college coach taught me an invaluable lesson; if you want to learn how to do anything well in life, teach it. 

Although I have forgotten a lot in the 22 years since that encounter, I remember these things because they are behind my passion for coaching the game of basketball and teaching character development that goes beyond the court.  

Elite coaches represent themselves first as genuine humanitarians, they seek to better the lives of others and second as developers of competitors.  They always find a way to effectively communicate a positive perspective. They go beyond training the mind and body; they influence the soul.  

Exceptional coaches teach more than how to be nimble and execute plays.  They form the cornerstone of their player’s personal belief systems. Some use passionate words of encouragement.  Others use a style that makes you stretch your mind by using an uncomfortable in-your-face approach. My experience with the latter type of coach taught me to concentrate on the content of the coach’s message rather than the tone.  

Here are 10 qualities I believe all highly effective coaches share:

1. Make players feel good about themselves. 
2. Show empathy.
3. Congratulate publicly, critique privately.
4. Listen to players (EVERYONE can get better here).  
5. Explain mistakes when they happen.  
6. Stretch player’s minds to develop character (grit, passion, confidence, etc.).
7. Take personal responsibility and hold players accountable for their actions.
8. Routinely find new ways to help players improve.
9. Treat everyone fairly but not the same.
10. Expect excellence from themselves and others at every performance.

The impact my little league football coaches had on me is unforgettable and I recall those feelings to this day.  Coach Bubba called me “Flutie” because I could throw the football far like the NFL star. Coach Big O taught me how to be “nice-ty” by playing with an edge on the field and being a gentleman off the field.  These coaches always brightened my day and left me feeling empowered. In my book, My Attack Planner, they are perfect examples of exceptional coaches. 

Now in my own 5th Quarter, which is coaching basketball, my number one priority is to impart wisdom to my players.  Every lesson I teach is meant to evoke positive feelings and actions from my players.

I make it my daily mission to reach at least one player so they may experience the same powerful feelings I did as a young athlete.  As I always remind my players, “Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn. But as long as you pay it forward you never lose!”

– Coach Charlie Miller

By the way, I am also a lead camp instructor for Breakthrough Basketball.   

If you share my belief that you can coach positively, and at the same time, demand great effort and great attitude, I highly advise you check out Breakthrough Basketball Camps!

Social Media gets criticized greatly.  In reality, social media is an amazing tool for athletes when used the right way! It is important to educate younger athletes on how to use social media to learn, grow and be a positive influence on others.   

Posts on social media are public and are seen by teammates, fans, opponents, and coaches. It is in the public and anyone can get a hold of these posts. Many athletes don’t realize that the content posted on the internet can last forever.  Content can be captured in screenshots or saved by other users. Social media and all of your profiles are like your personal digital resume. College coaches absolutely love this because it doesn’t take them very long to see if they want to continue recruiting a player. 

Scholarships are not given from what’s posted, but a scholarship can be LOST quickly on derogatory or negative posts from prospects. There are plenty of stories where student-athletes lost scholarship opportunities or have faced legal charges because they posted something inappropriate.  

Here are five tips to keep in mind when posting on social media:

#1 No DRAMA!!!!

If you have drama on your social media accounts, a coach can go ahead and assume that you will bring drama to their program. NO coach wants that! So be sure to leave your drama off your accounts. Plus handling your drama over the internet is not healthy.

Unfortunately, I see this from grown adults as well. You have a problem, don’t tweet about it, don’t post a subtle picture on IG, or write a passive-aggressive status on FB. If you need to, pick up your phone and call them or set up a time to meet them in person and handle your problems in the old fashion way. The internet and social media are no place to have your drama. 

#2 Show Your Passion

Show what you are passionate about. For athletes, this one can be easy. Posting about how much you love your sport is a great idea. Coaches will eat that up!

You can also post about other things you are passionate about. That lets coaches and other people get to know the real you. Remember this is your digital resume!  But you need to also realize that spending too much time on social media can give college coaches the impression that you don’t spend enough time on the important stuff in your life.  

#3 Show Gratitude

Show gratitude for your fans, teammates, coaches, trainers, family, friends, etc. This is always a good idea. Coaches like to have players with High Character. I know multiple coaches who look for High Character players when recruiting. Obviously they want you to be skilled, but beyond that, they are looking for the intangibles.

One way to show your character is by using social media as a great platform to let others know that you appreciate them.  It’s a win-win. Others get recognized publicly and you are perceived in a good light.  

#4 Don’t Criticize (or Remain Positive, Especially After Adversity)

Don’t criticize teammates, coaches, fans, parents, opposing teams, refs, etc. Again this is an insight into your true character. So, after close defeats or poor individual performances, you will have negative remarks directed at you through social media.  Avoid falling into the trap of responding and instead, focus on how the temporary setback can be turned into a positive one.  

#5 Show Support of Others

Student-athletes can provide a positive example for other students by sending positive messages about their peers in other sports or activities at school.  Even after a tough loss, congratulating the opposition shows a lot of character.

There’s a common theme here…be POSITIVE. That will take you so far in life!  

Here a three rules to put in place to make sure you use social media in a positive way:

• Don’t Use Social Media When You Are Highly Emotional

 If you are in a negative emotional state and want to post something that isn’t positive then I recommend sleeping on it.  Allow a good night of sleep to get your emotions under control.  

• Pause Before You Post

 If it is something that you don’t feel good about in your gut , then don’t do it.  Take a moment to think about the consequences of the post. If you can’t live with these consequences then don’t post it.

• Don’t Share What You Would Not Want Mom or Dad to Read  

If you feel that your mom, dad or grandma would be disappointed to read it then don’t put it out there.  

Please, don’t use social media in a way that can cost you an opportunity that you will regret for the rest of your life!

Also, if you’d like to learn more about the intangible qualities and develop basketball skills that help players excel, check out our Breakthrough Basketball Camp Schedule.  There are different camps for all ages and skill levels across North America.

– Coach Jim Huber

Breakthrough Basketball

As I blog today I sit here in awe of Stephen Curry’s 15 point outburst in 118 seconds last week to even the series verse Oklahoma City Thunder.  He is hands down the most amazing shooter in the history of shooting.  Period!  End of discussion.  He’s so great that the three, shot by a 6’3” skinny gym rat – is now THE most exciting play in the NBA, a league filled with the most talented, strong and freakish athletes the world has ever seen.  It’s like watching David slay Goliath on a nightly basis.  You never get tired of seeing the little man sling that rock and nail that target from a mile away (unless of course, you are Goliath, in which case, it gets really old, really fast).

All of the amazement Steph has generated has of course led to a ton of discussion and thought on the art of shooting among coaches, players and fans, and I’m right there with all of you.  I am drawn like a moth to a flame to any article or video from a great source about the path that Steph has taken to his superhuman abilities.  Some of my fellow coaches, who only had eyes for physical specimens, are now opening their eyes a bit wider when it comes to recruiting true knock down shooters (which are rare finds).

I have a fellow coach, Troy, that helps me out on the Jim Huber Show, Episode #19 Creating The Next Steph Curry.  He is obsessed with the science of shooting, and he comes by it honestly, as he has a 6’2” skinny gym rat son, Nic Slavin, who the staff at Breakthrough Basketball have watched develop into an elite level shooter.  I’ve had a front row seat watching this kid develop as a shooter from the 7th grade to now going into his senior year at Olathe South High School next year.  As a junior, Nic led 6A Kansas in 3 point shooting with 67 makes in 21 games at 42.7 percent.  He had 6 games this season with 5 or more made 3 point baskets.  Along the way, Troy and I have had a five year running discussion of shooting during Nic’s development.  Below are some of the important things that I have learned along the way.

10 TRAITS THAT GREAT SHOOTERS SHARE

1. They shoot every day.  Shooting is about repetition.  There are no shortcuts to greatness when it comes to shooting.  If you practice a couple of times a week, expect mediocre results. Practice daily?  The odds of becoming “great” as a shooter rise dramatically.

2. They have repeatable mechanics.  Every shot has the same characteristics.  Great shooters don’t go to the gym and shoot 500 shots.  Great shooters go to the gym and shoot the same shot, 500 times.  Some of the mechanics I emphasize in workouts involve finishing with the elbow above the eye (for proper arc), putting the index finger down through the rim, and “freezing the follow through” to give the ball a chance to go in the basket.  Your feet should always be the same, shoulder width apart and slightly staggered.  The shoulders should mirror the feet, if the feet are slightly staggered, the shoulders should match the feet.

3. Great shooters believe every single shot is going down as they shoot it.  They accept the fact that not every shot will go in, but they believe every shot is going in as they shoot it.  You have to learn to expect and seek perfection, while understanding that perfection is impossible. There is a reason they call it “shooting” and not “making”.  Same reason fishing is called fishing and not catching.  Shooters miss, but they believe the next shot will be good.

4. Great shooters immediately go to the next play when they miss a shot.  They understand that they cannot control misses; they can only control their preparation before the ball arrives, and their mechanics (their body).

5. Great shooters go to the gym with a plan.  They put their phones away, and they get down to business when they get to the gym.  They understand that focus is needed in their workouts. Just going and shooting won’t make you better.  Going and shooting game shots, from game spots, at game speed is the way great shooters do their job.

6. Great shooters make personal concessions to become great.  If you are going to be great, you are going to be in the gym on an almost daily basis.  That may mean missing some social activities with friends sometimes.  Being a great shooter can be a lonely occupation sometimes.  It takes time alone in the gym to make it look easy when the lights are on and the game is on the line.

7. Great shooters have no fear of failure.  They want the ball at the end of the game and accept the consequence of taking the big shot.  They believe they will make that big shot, and they can live with it if they miss.  If you cannot accept failure, you cannot become a great shooter.

8. Great shooters have an eye for detail.  As they warm up close to the basket with feather shots, form shooting, etc., they are their own shot doctor, making the little tweaks and corrections that lead to swishes.  They know if their shot is a little flat, they need to finish a little higher for better arc.  They know if they are missing to the left or right that they need to concentrate on putting their index finger down through the rim.  They are meticulous in their preparation.

9. Great shooters think “Shot” when they catch the ball.  They do this for several reasons.  If you are thinking “Shot” as you catch, you are immediately a threat and the defense must respond accordingly.  If you catch and are truly ready to shoot, your defender must close out quickly with hands up.  If they closeout late, the shot is gone.  If they closeout well, they are vulnerable to the drive.

10. Great shooters understand what a great shot is.  Shaquille O’Neal was a great shooter because he understood what a great shot for him was (a Dunk).  He made around 60 percent of his shots for his career because he only took shots he knew he could make.  For a perimeter player, the formula is simple.  If you can make 8 out of 10 unguarded shots in practice daily from a spot, you will make about 4 to 5 out of 10 from that spot in a game with a defender.  If for instance you cannot make 8 of 10 consistently from 3 in practice, you really don’t have any business launching 3’s in a game setting.

You will find some other great insights about how to develop into a great shooter in this podcast Episode #19 Creating The Next Steph Curry.

“Thou Shall Not Steal.” I remember learning the commandment as a kid in Catholic school. Seemed pretty clear to me at the time, but now as an adult, I’m considering telling my kids they should be stealing, and stealing the really valuable “high end” stuff. I mean, I want my children stealing the right things! After all, Father Bill used to tell us, “The only place you can steal and get away with it are on the baseball field or the basketball court! Steal anywhere else and you’ll deal with Sister Mary Helen!”

On Episode #9 of the Jim Huber Podcast, we spoke with Damian Lillard’s college coach and skills trainer Phil Beckner (Listen/Subscribe Here) about what Damian did to go from an unknown quantity at Weber State to an NBA Franchise Player.

Phil described Damian’s process and the mindset they had to develop to achieve his goal of playing in the NBA. Phil made it simple for Damian, he had to outwork everybody in the country. Period. To make the NBA from Weber State, he had to be willing to outwork the guys at KU, Duke and Kentucky. Without a pedigree and at a small school, the only way to beat the blue bloods was to outwork the blue bloods.

“Damian had a willingness to work on things that he was not good at or was uncomfortable with. Basics, footwork, ball handling, finishing around the rim, working hard on his weak hand. A lot of kids want to skip this step and say “Damian’s doing it, I’ll steal this drill and be like Damian!”

We talked about the tendency of players and trainers to steal drills from this player or that player online, and then expect to start playing like that player on the floor at game time. It doesn’t work that way. Kids do it because they want instant results from the latest KD, Steph or LeBron Secret Drill! Sadly, no such magic exists.

Working all those hours in the gym and watching an unknown go to NBA Superstar gave Phil a unique frame of reference about what made Damian special. It wasn’t the drills Damian would steal, it was the fact that he was stealing the work ethic of the greatest players in the world, he was stealing their discipline, stealing the habits that made Steve Nash, John Stockton, Tony Parker the greatest at his position.

It wasn’t the drills that made them superstars, it was the way they approached the drills, the way they took care of their bodies, the way they studied film, the way they treated the towel boy as well as they treated the team owner that made them superstars. Kids today are stealing drills off the internet, but they aren’t stealing the right stuff.

It wasn’t gadgets, complicated drills, or talking basketballs that took Damian Lillard to the NBA. It was him, Phil, and a trashcan, working on pick and roll basketball. It was hours and hours in the film room, stealing moves and mentality from Nash and company. It was the modeling his life after the greatest who have ever played the game that allowed his ascent.

Sister Mary Helen might frown at me as I say this, but kids it’s okay to steal as long as it’s the good stuff! TVs, iPads and Laptops are way out.  A healthy lifestyle, great attitude and tireless work ethic? Have at it and pass it on by inspiring the next generation of players to “steal” from you someday!

Coach Beckner shares a ton of great information in his interview.  Click Here to Listen to the Entire Podcast. 

Every year of my coaching life it’s a new battle to get a group of kids to learn the playbook.  It is rarely easy, although some teams I have had were easier than others.  It’s incredibly frustrating to call out a play and watch it break down in a critical situation because someone didn’t know what they were supposed to be doing.  It can be frustrating to have a terrific playbook, and a team that doesn’t know how to execute those plays.  Coaches have nightmares about this stuff, we awaken in the dead of night dreaming of missed assignments, blown screens and games thrown away.

In the Jim Huber Podcast #15, we went to one of the smartest human beings on Earth for answers on creating a smarter team.  Jim Kwik is renowned memory expert that folks like Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and the team that created Google have hired to maximize their brain’s learning potential.

Quick story on Mr. Kwik, he was a child that had suffered a traumatic head injury as a boy that impaired his learning.  After struggling mightily and falling behind in school, he literally began ignoring traditional methods of learning in school and began instead to focus on mastering the process of learning itself.  He decided he had to “learn to learn” all over again, and the results were astounding.  Jim can now meet an audience of a hundred people, have them tell him their names and 2 numbers, and then recite it all back to them in any order they would like.  His mind, once labeled as “slow” is amazing.

Most of us rely on traditional teaching methods in practice to master our plays. Repetition. Repetition. Repetition.  The thing is, repetition takes time, and as you know with a limited practice schedule time is of the essence.

We asked Jim about his FAST method and how it might apply to learning and mastering a playbook and teaching a team to execute what they have learned on the hardwood.  The method also applies to learning skills, say shooting or footwork as well.

• The F in FAST is Forget.  To learn something new, we need to empty our cup (all that we think we know), and accept the new information.  If I want to learn shooting from Steph Curry, I have to be willing to let go what I think I know and truly take in the information he might give me.  Jim says, “If you want to learn something brand new you have to forget what you already know about the subject temporarily.  You can’t learn what I have to teach you if you don’t empty your cup.   People need to forget what they know and have an open mind.”

• A is for Active in FAST.  Kwik’s research says that the way we traditionally learn, passively sitting or standing around being lectured to and hoping something sticks is a poor way to learn.  Active means getting your players to participate, ask questions, roll their sleeves up and get involved in the process by teaching others. Fantastic quote from Jim, “Learning is not a spectator sport, you have to get off the bench, because what you put in is what you get out.  You need to be active with your learning.”
• S is for State in FAST.  Kwik describes “state” as a fancy word for the mood or feelings of your mind and body and says all learning is state dependent.  If your players are bored as you explain say a new offensive or defensive scheme, that boredom will become “attached” to the information and much of it won’t stick. Attaching meaning to the information, “guys, this is the scheme that will help us beat our hated rival this year”, might change the player’s state as they learn the information.  Thinking of beating that rival makes the information relevant to the emotional core of the mind as it learns, it gives it a reason to learn and absorb the info more fully.  Another way to change state is through physical movement as you learn.  Kwik quote, “Another way of changing your state is by changing your physiology or your body.  As your body moves, your brain grooves.  The people that are physically more active will remember more because you create certain hormones in your body and brain.  It allows you to retain things.”

• T is Teach in the FAST method.  I suggested to Jim that it might be a good idea to have members of my team teach certain plays to the rest of the team.  He LOVED that idea.  “Teaching something to someone else will assist you in learning it quicker.  When that player learns a play in order to teach it to others, he or she will by necessity have to learn it at a higher level.  They will approach the play with an entirely different method and mindset than if they just stared at a playbook.” When you teach something, you learn it twice, and therefore teaching can be one of the highest forms of learning.

The amount of great info Jim Kwik shared in episode 15 of the Jim Huber Podcast was tremendous. In 18 minutes I became a better coach and teacher and it’s my hope that you will too.

Find information on Jim Kwik, receive a free gift and view his learning resources at  www.kwiklearning.com/jimhuber

When I look back, I’m amazed I’m here.

As a teenager, I have trouble counting all the occasions I could have gotten myself killed. I had more than one, “my whole life flashed before my eyes!” moments in those years. I drove too fast and cornered too hard, among other transgressions.

As I look back to how I behaved as a teen, I am alarmed as a Parent to think about the possibilities when my baby boys become teenagers.

When we spoke with former Boston Celtic Chris Herren, on #14 of the JHS Podcast, about his fall from grace, his battles with cocaine, alcohol and heroin (among many other drugs), we tried to dig down to what might have been done to change his path.

Chris told us how his Parents, his Coaches and his Teammates got on him about his behavior, “Chris if you fail another drug test you are going to be suspended. Scouts will know and your draft stock will go down.  But nobody asked me why I was willing to lose it. Nobody wanted to sit down and get to the root of it and ask what is going on that you would take a chance of it.  Why is powerful, it is emotion, why is the reason and we have to figure out the why.  If you get that answer you can work with it.  I tell kids it is ok to share with what you struggle with we can build off of that and move forward.”

Why is powerful. When our kids mess up, and they all mess up, our reaction is shock and anger. How could they have been so stupid in their actions? The tendency is to want to yell, punish, and then maybe yell some more. There is a place for punishment, and for consequences, but after talking to Chris, I’m seeing that there is a place for grace, and there is great power in “Why?”

As a parent, I know a day could come when one of my sweet baby boys will do something that will endanger their lives as teens. I pray that this will not happen or if it does that they will survive their transgression and that I’m able to put aside my anger, show a little grace, and have the courage to ask them “Why?”

Chris was a kid that torn up over his parent’s divorce (alcohol played a role), and a kid feeling tremendous pressure from the game of basketball. He was a brilliant basketball player. He felt the eyes of all the coaches in the stands watching his every move as a 15 year old. He felt the weight of expectations from his entire community, that he would be as good as his older brother Mike, that he would lead the team to a State Title, that he would make the NBA. All that weight was on a 15 year old’s shoulders, and he wanted to escape.

So he rebelled. He smoked. He drank. He partied, and he got busted. He was lectured, he was yelled at, people told him they were disappointed in him because he had all this talent and was throwing it away. But nobody got right down to it and asked him, Chris, “Why?” Why are you doing the things that you are doing?

In an upcoming JHS Podcast, we will be talking with Steve and Lorri Zeller, the parents of Luke, Tyler, and Cody Zeller. All three kids are in the NBA. All three were nearly perfect academically in high school and college. All three nearly died in high school because of crazy, irrational actions. In reading their book, the way they handled those situations involved incredible acts of grace.

It’s not just “bad” kids that get into trouble in high school and do things that risk their lives. It’s most kids. It happens, and it’s part of life and it could happen to me someday as a parent. I’m so grateful for the honesty and wisdom that people like Chris Herren and the Zellers are sharing with me on the podcast. For me, I’m still scared about getting that phone call, but I feel more prepared about handling it.

When my kids mess up, I’m going to swallow that anger and I’m going to sit down and look them in the eye and I’m going to ask them, “why?” And I’m not getting up, or giving up until I get a good answer, because as Chris said, “Once we know why, we can work with that!”

I hope you’ll keep listening and together, let’s make the world a better place through sports.

Click Here to Listen to the Entire Chris Herren Interview

In general, coaches would rather not have to deal with the parents.  They would like to keep them as far away as possible to not spend time with issues that arise due to frustration with team placement after tryouts, lack of playing time and their child’s role on the team.  In today’s society, coaches need to realize that it is inevitable that parents are going to get involved.  It can be disappointing because the parents are enabling their children by not allowing them to grow through the challenges they face.  Coaches need to realize that it is only a matter of time when it is going to happen.  Even today, it is crazy to think that Coach K is getting calls from parents.  So, you can imagine what is happening on the high school level.

In interview #13 of The Jim Huber Show, Jon Gordon discussed how a program can build a winning culture.  He firmly believes that to have a successful culture you need to get your parents feeling a part of it.   So you should consider them support staff and members of your team to get them to buy in and believe.  They are a part of your culture whether you like it or not, because parents are going to influence their children at home in a good or bad way.

Get them to be part of the culture early on so that they feel a part of it.  Jon is a big believer in having an initial meeting before the season begins.  In this meeting you need to equip them with everything they need to know about the program.  Here is a list of possible items to discuss.

• Values
• Standards of behavior
• Expectations
• Vision of Your Culture
• Challenges and Obstacles That Can Occur
• Consequences for Student-Athletes Making Decisions Against Your Culture
• No Negativity & Energy Vampires

Don’t just rely on the initial meeting to keep your parents bought into your culture throughout the season.  It is very important to create a form of weekly communication.  Let them know that there is an open channel to visit about anything regards to the program’s culture.  You need to let them know that doesn’t include conversations about your child’s playing time or about other kid’s performance.   The majority of Coaches don’t like to talk to parents about playing time.  I encourage players and parents to not mention playing time in the conversation.  It would be  beneficial to talk about ways they can become a better player, how they can help the team succeed or assist in strengthening the culture.  It would not be a bad idea to have more than one meeting throughout the year.  This will allow you to keep everyone committed to protecting the culture.

Jon has seen leaders have tremendous success by getting the parents informed and getting them to think more positive.  You will be amazed by how they will be a part of your culture and support it when you include them in the process.   For this to happen make sure that you are transparent and up front from the beginning.

Click here to listen to Jon Gordon’s interview on The Jim Huber Show