> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Five Things You Don't Want to Miss Heading Into Your Season - URL: https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/five-things-you-dont-want-to-miss-heading-into-your-season/ - Published: 2026-08-13T20:49:30.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-13T20:49:30.000Z - Description: Five things worth your attention before your season starts - the parent meeting, this year's culture, cuts, captains, and attitude - each with something you can use this week. - Author: Bruce Brown - Tags: #newsletter Every coach scripts the first practice. Far fewer script the two weeks *around* it — and that’s where the tone of a whole season quietly gets set. ## 01Script the parent meeting like a first game If a practice goes poorly you get another one tomorrow. You get one shot at a preseason parent meeting. Walk in completely prepared and organized, and you will gain trust and confidence. You can’t fake preparation. Send these out before the meeting - A brief letter introducing yourself, your philosophy, and your team standards - Practice and game schedules - Team Standards and the role of the parent within those standards - Volunteer jobs with the exact responsibilities spelled out - A request that each parent bring, in writing, any information that would help you teach and motivate their son or daughter — including health concerns [The full agenda for running the meeting itself →](https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/planning-for-a-parent-meeting/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=season-start-2026&utm%5Fcontent=01-parent-meeting) (members only) ## 02Build an intentional culture You are going to have a team culture. The question is, will it be by design or will it be left to chance? There is a path to doing it by design. Two questions to start the process: Ask your team this week - What are your covenants? (What would you like your team to stand for?) - How do your covenants look in performance standards and relationship commitments? [All four team stages, and what each one needs to advance →](https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/team-stages/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=season-start-2026&utm%5Fcontent=02-culture) (members only) ## 03Give cuts the time they deserve If you are in a sport that has to cut players… there is no good way to cut a player, but there are more effective ways to treat each player. The change that makes the most difference is simply slowing down: take extra time if necessary. Make the time to talk with every athlete face to face rather than posting a list. One suggestion worth considering - **Identify the criteria out loud before tryouts begin** — what you’re looking for, which roles are open, and which measures you’ll use. Almost every hard conversation gets easier when the standard wasn’t a surprise. And Bruce’s question, for the conversation itself: “Have we seen you at your best?” [How the whole process evolved, conversation by conversation →](https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/no-good-way-to-cut-players/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=season-start-2026&utm%5Fcontent=03-cuts) (members only) [Also: Bruce’s short video on cutting — seeing tryouts from the player’s side →](https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/cutting/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=season-start-2026&utm%5Fcontent=03b-cutting-video) (members only) ## 04Write the captain’s job description first — ways to develop team leaders There are many ways to formulate your team leadership. The leadership responsibilities need to be clearly defined. A title with no job description attached becomes ineffective leadership and leaves everybody guessing. Remember: no single captain has to do all of it. It only matters that every part of the job gets done by *someone*. [Five ways to select captains, including the Unity Council model →](https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/selecting-captains/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=season-start-2026&utm%5Fcontent=04-captains) (members only) [Also: how to give leaders real authority →](https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/avoiding-leadership-voids/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=season-start-2026&utm%5Fcontent=04b-leadership-voids) (members only) ## 05Continue to install and reinforce attitude while you are installing the technical parts of the game Teach attitude to your athletes all year round. If you have taught correct athletic attitude, you can catch them doing things right as part of your teaching and defining the core covenants of your culture. If you wait until the season begins, you catch people doing things wrong and have to confront. Most athletes arrive with no clear idea what a good athletic attitude even *is* — so define it, in words specific enough that it can’t be misread. An example you can hand your team Understand and model the core covenants of the team. Be aggressive, enthusiastic, confident, disciplined, and compete fearlessly. Be intelligent enough to listen and develop the ability to learn and work. Have faith in the people you are working with, don’t let your teammates down, and always put the team ahead of yourself. Maintain your integrity and your sense of humor. Give your team an attitude of gratitude. Some behaviors are **challenges** — fear of failure, low confidence, the athlete new to an established team. Those need teaching. Others are **violations of your team standards**. Violations need immediate addressing. Coaches who mix the two end up disciplining a frightened kid and coaching a defiant one. [Twelve behaviors, the signs of each, and what to do →](https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/teach-attitude-first/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=season-start-2026&utm%5Fcontent=05-attitude) (members only) [Also: every word of the definition, unpacked →](https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/defining-athletic-attitude/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=season-start-2026&utm%5Fcontent=05b-defining-attitude) (members only) **About this letter and the links in it** This one is open to everyone — free to read, and yours to keep. The pieces behind each link are the full working materials: the complete meeting agenda, all four team stages, the twelve attitude behaviors with what to do about each, the captain job descriptions. Those come with membership, along with the rest of the library and Ask Bruce. If you’d like to look around first, there’s a [seven-day free trial](https://www.proactivecoaching.ai/pricing/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=email&utm%5Fcampaign=season-start-2026&utm%5Fcontent=cta-pricing) — no rush, and no hard feelings if it’s not your year for it. Know a coach whose season starts this month? Please forward this along — it lands better coming from a friend. — Proactive Coaching