The SBA Way Newsletter #5
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Take one second and think about the best teacher, coach, or mentor you ever had.! Now come up with one memory of them, fast. (Got it?)! What’s your memory? Is it something your coach/teacher/mentor said? Something they did? Perhaps what you remembered wasn’t anything particular they said or did, but just their face — specifically their eyes, and how those eyes looked at you — or, rather, looked into you. Which is to say: the lasting impact of our teachers might not be contained in their words, but in the connections they form with us. When you look around today, a lot of coaches and teachers and bosses seem to be doing everything but connecting. Go to a soccer game, for instance, and you tend to see coaches on the sideline doing a lot of talking (shouting out mid-game advice, orchestrating the action), but not a lot of connecting. Certain CEOs and managers are similar, though perform do their sideline orchestrating via email. But is this wise? Is it useful? ! I recently met a terrific soccer coach by the name of Iain Munro, who coaches at YSC Sports Academy in Philadelphia (a burgeoning soccer hotbed in its own right). Munro, who’s in his sixties, played and coached at the top level in England and his native Scotland (working with, among others, Alex Ferguson and Jock Stein). I put the question to Munro this way: if the average coach says 100 words to his players, how many words should a master coach say? Munro looked into my eyes; he let me know he really heard the question and was giving it due consideration. He placed a friendly hand on my shoulder, and I got an ineffable feeling that I was about to hear something important. Then I did. “Ten words,” he said. “Fewer, if possible.”! The truth is, great coaches and teachers don’t spend their time talking. They spend most of their time watching and listening. And when they communicate, they don’t just start talking. First they connect on an emotional level, to one individual at a time. They deliver concise, useful information, and they make that information stick. Kind of like Munro did when he communicated with me. So with that in mind I’d like to offer the following checklist; a filter to use before you start talking.! 1. Are you connected? Do you have the person’s complete and undivided attention?! 2. Do you know — deeply understand — where that person is in their development right now, and what the next step is?! 3. Can you, in five seconds or less, deliver a clear, memorable piece of useful information to help them take that step?! Watch Munro work with his soccer teams and you’ll see him sidle up to a player during a drill, without interrupting the larger flow. He puts the hand on their shoulder, connects to them, and delivers a nugget of helpful information. Then he steps away, allowing the player to take that nugget and start applying it.! Munro’s players, of course, will remember him for the rest of their lives. Not because he makes them better (which he does) or because he’s so entertaining (which he is, too) but for the same reason you remember your greatest coach: because he’s not about himself, he’s really about the people he’s trying to help.! Credit article to “Talk Too Much?” found online!
Season Update Bowling - REGION CHAMPIONS! The Lady Eagles mounted a furious comeback against St. Agnes and captured the region title in a hard-fought 17-10 win. Julie Stoll (212), Nicole Harty, Kerri King, Jess dress, Mackenzie Nelson and Veronica Fillion led the way for the 11-0 Eagles. Meanwhile, The guys bowled the second highest team total in D2 history with their 21-6 win over MUS. Jack Schaaf led all scorers with a 289, 212, 258 performance that ranks as one of the highest in the state. He was aided by Ben Murphy (637 series), Andrew Reese (604 series), Nick Agnew (603 series), and Conner Nichols as the guys took the region title. !
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Boys Basketball! The varsity mens basketball team under the guidance of Coach Templeton have started out with a stellar beginning of the season as they currently hold a 7-3 record with wins over Bartlett, Millington, Kirby, Northpoint, and Soulsville. The team is playing outstanding team basketball and is getting better every day. They will take on Harding Friday night at 7:30 which will be an exciting game on the road for the Eagles.!
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Girls Basketball! The varsity girls basketball teams have also started out on a hot streak with a 7-3 record. They currently hold wins over Soulsville, Fayette, Germantown, Northpoint, St. Mary’s and Millington. The girls are starting to come together and play great basketball. They will also be heading to Harding Friday night for their matchup at 6pm.!
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Swim! The swim team has continued to compete at a high level with several swim meets under their belt. The team finished 2nd and 3rd respectfully Saturday at Germantown. They are primed to make a great run down the stretch as they wrap up their season. They will be competing Thursday vs White Station. !
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Wrestling! The wrestling team has opened their season in style as they have defeated Bolton, Kingsbury, Bartlett, Collierville, and Germantown in dominating fashion. Coach Jim Kurtz has done a phenomenal job of building our program and to be in contention for state championships in several weight classes. They will be competing in several out-ofstate meets over the next few weeks. !
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The SBA WAY When working with student-athletes, a successful coach will work towards building our culture as a program and as a team. The SBA Way is not about what we do, but how we do what we do. As coaches, we want to create a championship environment, and teach our players to lead an entire team. Each player will understand the SBA Way and our athletic culture. Our culture is explained by the acronym SCHAPE:!
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S - Spirited, enthusiastic, excitement - Our environment will be one that is loud, excited, spirited about what we are doing. Our culture will be full of energy and our coaches will demand it. The difference about championship practices is they are full of sound, they are intense, and everyone is involved.! C - Communication enhances every human experience - Our student-athletes will be leaders not only by example but also in their communication with the coach, teammates and parents. Coaches will teach each student-athlete how to communicate by calling names, delivering valid information, having a positive tone and making eye contact. If our communication follows this format, all communication is done directly, face to face, and not behind each other’s back.! H - Hard work - Working hard is very contagious and we will have a relentless persistence to achieve any goal. We will be the hardest working coaching staff and teams in our league.! A - Approach - Our approach to everything is the attitude we choose to bring to something; the path we take to arrive at our destination. Our approach will be made up of three rules: showing up early, learning something and adding value to our culture. Our teams will be mentally tough which will direct our focus to every situation.! P - Precision - Our student-athletes will have a ridiculous attention to detail. They will be taught to have the discipline to do something as well as it can be done, every single time, even if its uncomfortable or inconvenient (even if the coach isn't looking).! E - Enhance - We will contribute to an environment or unselfishly offer a service. SBA student-athletes will also be asked to leave their environment better than they found it by being contributors rather than contaminators. !
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Football SPOTLIGHT
! SCOTT SAMSEL - ST. BENEDICT HEAD FOOTBALL COACH!
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We are excited to announce that Scott Samsel will be the next head football coach at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School. Samsel brings a wealth of experience as a successful head football coach in Mississippi at Olive Branch High School. While a head football coach, Coach Samsel has a career record 199-84 and while at Olive Branch High School compiled a 84-23 record. Samsel’s teams would make the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) state playoffs in seven of the eight years in Mississippi’s highest classification (first in Class 5A then in Class 6A beginning in 2009).!
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Through his direction and efforts, in 2007, the high school weight room underwent a $250,000 renovation. During this course of renovation, new carpet was furnished, the walls were painted navy blue and gold, all the ceiling tiles replaced and twenty-six new weight machines were built and installed. The high school’s formerly used weight machines and equipment was relocated to the Olive Branch Middle School to enhance their weight program. All was paid for without school funds.!
! ! Another major project that took place under Samsel’s leadership included the $900,000 renovation of the Pool Field stadium. Among the many new developments made to Pool Field was the installation of artificial turf (the first and only facility of its kind in DeSoto County). The upgrade to this facility benefits varsity, junior varsity and ninth grade football, band, boy's and girl's soccer, baseball, softball, cheerleaders, dance team, boy's and girl's track, off season training, community activities & events, physical education, summer camps and little league football. The enhancements and improvements to the stadium was made possible through the ongoing support of businesses, individuals, foundations, alumni and friends. Again, all has been without school funds. !
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We are extremely excited that Coach Samsel has joined our staff and are excited about the future of SBA Athletics. Coach Samsel will serve as Director of Athletic Development and Head Football Coach.!
MOtivation
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You always have to be on edge. You always have to take each practice, and take each game, like it is your last.! ! !
KOBE BRYANT ! !
Event Calendar Sunday
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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1! FCA Fresh (H) 7:30
2! NorthPoint (H)
3! 4 Germantown (A)! Wrestling (H) 5pm!
8! CBHS Fresh (A) 7pm
9! 10 St. Marys (A)!
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Bowling MUS/St Agnes
Thursday
11! Briarcrest Fresh (H) 7:30!
Friday
Saturday
5 Bartlett (A)
6! Swim @ Germantown
12! Harding (A)
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Swim vs White Station
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15
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19! Lausanne (A)
20! Harpeth Hall/ MBA (A)!
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25
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27! Depart for Destin for Basketball Tourney (girls/guys)
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Coaches Corner CREATE A CULTURE OF GREATNESS
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To build a winning a team and a successful organization you must create a culture of greatness. It’s the most important thing a leader can do because culture drives behavior, behavior drives habits and habits create the future. As the leaders at Apple say, “Culture beats strategy all day long." !
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When you create a culture of greatness you create a collective mindset in your organization that expects great things to happen—even during challenging times. You expect your people to be their best, you make it a priority to coach them to be their best and most of all you create a work environment that fuels them to be their best.! ! A culture of greatness creates an expectation that everyone in the organization be committed to excellence. It requires leaders and managers to put the right people in the right positions where they are humble and hungry and willing to work harder than everyone else. A culture of greatness dictates that each person use their gifts and strengths to serve the purpose and mission of the organization. And it means that you don’t just bring in the best people, but you also bring out the best in your people. ! If you are thinking that this sounds like common sense, it is. But unfortunately far too many organizations expect their people to be their best but they don't invest their time and energy to help them be their best nor do they create an environment that is conducive to success. They want great results but they are not willing to do what it takes to create a culture of greatness. !
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A culture of greatness requires that you find the right people that fit your culture. Then you coach them, develop them, mentor them, train them and empower them to do what they do best. As part of this process you develop positive leaders who share positive energy throughout the organization because positive energy flows from the top down. !
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You also don’t allow negativity to sabotage the morale, performance and success or your organization. You deal with negativity at the cultural level so your people can spend their time focusing on their work instead of fighting energy vampires. And you find countless ways to enhance communication, build trust and create engaged relationships that are the foundation upon which winning teams are built. !
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If creating a culture of greatness sounds like a lot of work, it is, but not as much work as dealing with the crises, problems and challenges associated with negative, dysfunctional and sub-par cultures. While most organizations waste a lot of time putting out fires you can spend your time building a great organization that rises above the competition. !