Teach the ten disciplines Bruce and Dana Brown lay out in The 10 Disciplines: arrive early and energized; give focused attention and effort for the entire training session; respect authority and opponents; take personal responsibility and accountability; listen with positive intent and to learn; control emotions and reactions even when others don't; maintain strong, confident body language; do the small things well; earn your success with no shortcuts; and finish what you start, finishing strong. Before any of the ten, teach your athletes what discipline is: focused attention and effort, not punishment. Discipline provides structure, order, direction, purpose, and focus. Excellence is never an accident.
How do I teach discipline without it feeling like punishment?
Separate the two completely. In Bruce Brown's teaching, the purpose of discipline is learning, not punishment — never discipline to punish; discipline to teach. Define it for your athletes in clear, age-appropriate terms: the ability to laser-beam attention and effort in a way that benefits the athlete and the team. Taught that way, discipline builds pride and self-confidence.
Why does discipline matter more than talent?
Discipline is more important than athleticism. When two teams near the same level of talent compete, the advantage goes to the most disciplined. A collection of talented individuals without personal discipline or an intentional team culture loses to an almost-as-talented team that has both. Undisciplined teams do not win championships. It is that simple.
What is the end goal of teaching discipline?
Self-discipline. If you love your players, give them the level of discipline they need at this point in their lives — but the goal is for them to become self-disciplined so they no longer depend on you. Every sport carries its own disciplines. Teach your athletes to accept them, then embrace them.
The ten above are the what; The 10 Disciplines in the Proactive Coaching library teaches the how — guidance on each one for competitors, team leaders, and coaches, included with membership — $180/year or a 7-day free trial.
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