MEYERISMS

One of my all-time favorite coaches is Don Meyer. One of the all-time winningest coaches, Coach Meyer has had some influence on almost every coach in the game today. His notebooks and videos have been a big influence on my coaching philosophy. Coach Meyer has had an incredible career and continues to help young coaches to this day.

A coaching friend of mine recently saw Coach Meyer at a clinic and went down to chat with him for a few moments. He told Coach Meyer that his young son was there at the clinic and was getting into the coaching profession. Coach Meyer asked him to bring his son down as he wanted to meet him. That is Coach Meyer...Always teaching and influencing young coaches.

I was going through some of Coach Meyer's notes I had and picked out some of my favorite "Meyerisms". Here they are:

"Do The Best You Can With What You Have"
Don't violate the "Wooden Rule"... For those who don't know the Wooden Rule, it is "Don't Whine, Don't Complain and Don't Make Excuses!"

Coach Meyer loves the Wooden Rule. He believes it made no sense to complain about the players he had or the facilities available. Just do the best you can with what you have and work hard to make your players better and to improve the facilities you have.

"If You Want A Better Coaching Job, Make The One You Have Better"
For those who have met Coach Meyer in person, you know Coach is "Big Time" in the coaching world.

One of the all-time winningest coaches in history, never coached at the Division 1 level. But he is still Big Time.

He loved coaching at Lipscomb University and later at Northern State. At the time, Lipscomb was an NAIA institution and Northern State was a NCAA D-2 school.

Coach Meyer just didn't tell other coaches to make their job better, he practiced what he preached and the results was the institution, his players, the community and countless campers and their coaches benefitted as well.

"Champions Don't Look At It Like A Sacrifice; Champions Do What Needs To Be Done"
When the decision to achieve excellence has been made, the rest is not sacrifice. The choice was made before it becomes a sacrifice.

"Do The Ordinary Things Extra Ordinarily Well"
Pay attention to detail. There is no need to make a fancy pass. Just make it crisp, a frozen rope, to the target and away from the defense.

Make the simple shots. Like lay-ups and free throws...especially lay-ups and free throws because that's how you win games.

Screen a man and not space. Be tight with the ball. Face up in triple threat.

These are all ordinary skills in the game of basketball. But Coach Meyer's players did them with an attention to detail that was amazing.

"Know Who You Are and What Your Game Is"
Don't be someone or something you aren't...If you are a post, don't try to play the point position. If you are a supporting player, don't try to be the star.

If you are the player who is supposed to shoulder the burden, shoulder it. Be who you are!!

One of Coach Meyer's favorite sayings was from one of the Dirty Harry films..."Sometimes a man's gotta know his limitations."

The recognition of limitations allows players to take ownership. Ownership allows for progress to be made. You cannot eliminate a problem, a weakness unless you admit it exists.

"It's Not What You Achieve, It's What You Become"
Legend has it someone once asked Coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, head football coach at the University of Chicago, thought about his most recent football team and its success on the field. Coach Stagg, as the story goes, replied he would not know for another 20 years or so.

Coach Stagg wanted to see how his players lived their adult lives and made use of their educations before he determined whether or not he had been successful as their coach and they had been successful as individuals.

Coach Meyer would agree but he would also be interested to see what kind of character his players displayed in their adult lives. Did they live with passion, have a servant's heart, make the "next best choice", and commit to excellence in all that they did. Were they men of character.

"We Have Met The Enemy and He or She is Us"
You have a choice!!! God gives us total control over three things; the choices we make, our attitude and our effort. We are our own worst enemies. We make poor choices, even when we know they are poor choices.

Do the right thing for the right reason. Particularly when it comes to having a team attitude. How many good teams have you seen disintegrate from within because of internal strife, jealousy and bickering. In other words, the enemy is us!

Have a Team Attitude, do the right thing for the right reason.

"You Can Measure Somebody's Character By How They Treat People That Can't Do Them Any Good Or Can't Fight Back"
Life teaches us to be suspicious of people with good reason. Do something to change that!!

Have you had someone do something nice for you and expect something in return? Ever been manipulated by someone who did something for you?? My personal "favorite" is being treated poorly by someone because they believe I can do nothing to help them achieve what they want.

We all have been bullied, particularly when we were kids. The bullies were almost always in a position of power and had nothing to fear from those they bullied.

Character reveals itself in strange and unique moments. When a person has nothing to gain, has power over others, shows compassion for others and treats them with kindness, expecting nothing in return, it says a great deal about what is truly in the individual's heart.

Happiness Begins When Selfishness Ends"
In other words....."Living a Servant's Life!!!

Coach Meyer loves helping others. He has worked long and hard to help coaches and players around the world. He considers himself a fortunate man. He preaches being a servant leader each and every day.....

One of the of my favorite quotes from Coach Meyer is one I try to live by each and every day...."My wish is that every coach would coach for the love of the kids and the love of the game. And that everybody would strive to be a servant leader. You're no leader at all if you're not a servant to the people you lead."

Coaching Changes Update

A couple of coaching positions were filled in the past couple of weeks.

At Goldendale, Chris Twohy begins his second stint as Goldendale's head man. Twohy was coach from 1998-2000. Twohy will replace Don Strother.

At PeEll, Josh Fluke replaces Chris Fitzgerald. At Mary M. Knight, Matt Brkljacich takes over the reins from John Schultz. Brkljacich was the starting QB at Central Washington University during the 1984 and 1985 seasons. He will teach math and science at MMK.

Competitive Leadership: 12 Principles For Success

I have read the book by Former Minnesota Vikings Coach Brian Billick called "Competitive Leadership: 12 Prinicples for Success". Here are a series of thoughts that I gathered from the book:

A number of core features of an effective work team have been identified including the following:

* a clearly defined and shared sense of purpose
* a list of mutually created and agreed upon objectives
* well defined roles and role relationships
* an environment that encourages shared ideas and feelings

"Individual committment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, and a civilization work" - Vince Lombardi

"You are only as good as the people you hire" - Ray Kroc

Though I am the first to acknowledge that talent is a major key to a team's success, how could I continue in my profession if I didn't feel that my coaching could have a significant impact when I was surrounded by great talent?

"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do, and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." - George S. Patton

"Ten strong horses couldn't pull an empty baby carriage if they worked independently of each other." Coach John Wooden

Another factor that can affect teamwork is familiarity. In this instance, familiarity refers to how much knowledge team members have of their teammates jobs, and the work environment. All factors considered, the more team members get to know each other and become familiar with the work place, the more likely they are to be bound emotionally to the group.

"When individuals have team spirit, they want the team to succeed and will hold themselves - and every other member of the team - personally accountable for pursuing individual excellence - Vince Lombardi

Too many rules get in the way of leadership...people set rules to keep from making decisions." - Mike Krzyzewski

In his book, "Leading with the Heart", Coach K states that he has one rule for his players: "Don't do anything detrimental to yourself". This rule is elegant in its simplicity.

If you're not sure whether a certain behavior is appropriate or not, it probably isn't.

I have established a speaker bureau to address my team during the course of our training camp and the regular season. This group consist of a cross section of lawyers, law enforcement professionals and qualified counselors who have expertise in areas such as anger management, male-female issues, crisis intervention and motivational speaking.

Peer Pressure is an excellent way to help "suspend" self-interest.

Finally, teamwork and team spirit are fostered when a leader takes specific steps to enable groups to lead themselves. In this regard, one of the most effective actions a leader can undertake is to empower the group to make decisions that can affect the team.

"The secret of winning football games is working more as a team, less as individuals. I play not my 11 best, but my best 11." - Knute Rockne

2013 Rule Changes for High School Football

We have 34 days until the start of football practice and wanted to pass along rule changes for the 2013 football season.

In an effort to continue minimizing the risk of injury in high school football, three additional rules will take effect this coming season to address helmets coming off players' heads during game.

As a follow-up to last year's rules change that requires players to sit out one play if their helmet comes off while the ball is live, the NFHS rules committee approved three additional rules that are extensions of last year's changes.

An illegal personal foul was added to Rule 9-4-3 to state that "no player or non player shall initiate contact with an opposing player whose helmet has come completely off."

In addition, a new listing in Rule 9-6-4 will state that it is illegal participation "for a player whose helmet comes completely off during a down to continue to participate beyond the immediate action in which a player is engaged."

The committee also added language to Rule 3-5-10 to clarify that if the helmet comes completely off during the down or subsequent dead-ball action related to the down - and is not directly attributable to a foul by an opponent - the player must leave the game for at least one down, with the exception of halftime or overtime intermission. When this occurs, an official's time out shall be called.

Perhaps the most significant rules changes this coming season will be one that reduces the penalty for pass interference. While the 15-yard penalty will remain for both offensive and defensive pass interference, the loss of down has been removed for offensive pass interference and the automatic first down has been eliminated for defensive pass interference.

Goodbye to a True Role Model, Mentor, Friend

Last night, I learned that my high school basketball coach, Bob Sutter passed away earlier in the day. My first reaction was of shock, because if there was a man that would truly live forever, it would have been Coach Sutter.

Coach was one of three role models in my life that made an impact on me. He came to North Beach High School when I was a 7th grader. He was someone I wanted to be like. All the girls were in love with him. In today's society, kids wanted to be like Mike, I wanted to be like Coach!!!

Coach always demanded your best, whether it was in math class or be it on the football field, basketball court, baseball diamond, or on the track. He had a special way of making you feel good about yourself.

Coach Sutter was a father figure in my life, when I needed one. My own father died when I was 9, and he was one man I totally looked up to. When I coach today, there are things I say and do that remind me so much of Coach.

Coach taught me to always think of others before self. Until his passing, he continued that way of life. In 2009, when my team lost a tough semi-final district tournament game, and we had to bounce back to play the next day, he was there for me to lend support. I have never forgotten that, and I let him know how much that meant to me.

He was the ultimate role model. You never saw Coach in trouble. Coach Sutter was devoted family man and was devoted to our school and to every student that walked the halls of North Beach High School.

Coach is survived by his wife of 42 years, JoAnn, two beautiful daughters, Julie and Angie. I thank them for sharing their husband and father with all of us for so many years.

I hadn't talked to Coach in about 6 months. I wish I had told Coach more often how thankful I was for what he did for me. To let Coach know how much he meant to me, how truly special he was to me and every student he helped along the way. Coach, I love you and will miss you and I will never forget the things you taught me. You left this world a much better place than you found it. You impacted so many people and you truly will be missed.....

New Jersey Bans Trash Talking in High School Sports

New Jersey high school athletes who talk trash could find themselves penalized and themselves under investigation by state officials.

In announcing the new policy, The New Jersey State Interscholastic Association and the State Attorney General's Office said it brings athletic events into line with the state's anti-bullying law for schools.

According to the policy, sports participants could be in trouble and under investigation by the State's Civil Rights Division if they make harassing statements related to gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

Steven Timko, executive director for the agency, said in a statement that obscene gestures, profanity or "unduly provocative language or action toward officials, opponents or spectators" also won't be tolerated.

The new rules, which take effect in the fall, apply to athletes and coaches at the nearly 400 public, private and parochial high schools that belong to the NJSIAA.

Coaches will be responsible for reminding players about the trash-talking policy.

Referees would also be required to report incidents for possible further investigation. If discriminatory remarks are heard, they can assess immediate penalties.

The big question is.....Will the WIAA follow New Jersey?????