This article by Bruce E. Brown collects the key phrases from Proactive Coaching's Life Lessons presentation, delivered to athletes and coaches together. It defines the character traits that separate an "athlete" (a great teammate) from someone who is merely athletic — a teachable spirit, pride, discipline, accountability, mental toughness, integrity, and selflessness — and gives coaches the exact language for defining and teaching each one.
Intro
- Why teach these traits? It comes down to beliefs: put two evenly matched teams on the same playing field, and the team with character and discipline wins.
How
- Focus on the steps to teaching character — follow the rules of motor learning: define, model, shape, and reinforce. There are presentations on all four, but this one focuses on "defining."
- Standards, not rules — the clearer you can define what you want, the more likely you are to get it.
- Challenge and encourage; never try to break a kid's spirit.