I try to be very intentional about helping Bolt be a process-oriented team. There's a few layers to this, but one of the biggest pieces is that we deliberately focus on the journey, not the destination.
I think there's a pretty compelling argument for using this approach. It allows us to focus totally on the improvement process itself, freeing us from distractions. Our success isn't totally dependent on how we finish the season or our win/loss column on a Sunday night. I think this approach allows our team to get a much deeper understanding of what it means to invest/improve/be successful, both individually and as a unit.
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These things are easy to do when you're winning. Any approach is easy to buy into when you win all the time. Winning feels good. Winning subconsciously (or consciously) validates methods in the minds of the players (and coaches).
I think winning at the end of the season makes everyone look back with rose-colored glasses. Bench players who rarely saw the field might think that winning justifies their lack of playing time. A starter who had some disagreement with the defensive strategy might look back and overlook their previous concerns. Winning seemingly heals all ailments, team-wide.
I think this is a huge trap.
It is possible to do everything right as a team, and still lose. It is possible to do many things wrong, and still win.
Winning itself is external. So is losing. Expectations about winning or losing are risky mental territory. Expect nothing, prepare yourself, control what you can.
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Commitment to the team development process is never more important than when you are losing. There are many way to lose, here are two: 1. the team can give up and complain and decide they would rather be watching basketball in their motel with a bag of potato chips, or 2. the team can recognize the value in the games in front of them, face the fire, and rise. I think losses illuminate team character much more vividly than wins.
I believe that every point of every game is an opportunity to learn and improve, and there is no reason why this would change if the team is winning or losing. In fact, I'd say the harder the competition, the better the learning opportunity.
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To be clear, the outcome goal here is fundamentally critical. I think that most of the time, the goal for an ultimate team should be to improve whenever the team is together and play their best ultimate of the season at the last tournament. So the outcome goal could be a numerical finish or placement that reflects that. The outcome goal for a competitive team should depend on getting wins.
Also, I think teams must look back and assess their performance in terms their achievements and outcome goals. But teams should be careful that the influence of the rose-colored glasses doesn't hold them back from growing as a program. Teams should not pretend all is well if there are issues that need to be addressed. Likewise, a loss shouldn't cause a total abandon ship. You wouldn't tow your new Ferrari down to the junkyard if you got a flat tire.
I think there's a pretty compelling argument for using this approach. It allows us to focus totally on the improvement process itself, freeing us from distractions. Our success isn't totally dependent on how we finish the season or our win/loss column on a Sunday night. I think this approach allows our team to get a much deeper understanding of what it means to invest/improve/be successful, both individually and as a unit.
-----------
These things are easy to do when you're winning. Any approach is easy to buy into when you win all the time. Winning feels good. Winning subconsciously (or consciously) validates methods in the minds of the players (and coaches).
I think winning at the end of the season makes everyone look back with rose-colored glasses. Bench players who rarely saw the field might think that winning justifies their lack of playing time. A starter who had some disagreement with the defensive strategy might look back and overlook their previous concerns. Winning seemingly heals all ailments, team-wide.
I think this is a huge trap.
It is possible to do everything right as a team, and still lose. It is possible to do many things wrong, and still win.
Winning itself is external. So is losing. Expectations about winning or losing are risky mental territory. Expect nothing, prepare yourself, control what you can.
----------
Commitment to the team development process is never more important than when you are losing. There are many way to lose, here are two: 1. the team can give up and complain and decide they would rather be watching basketball in their motel with a bag of potato chips, or 2. the team can recognize the value in the games in front of them, face the fire, and rise. I think losses illuminate team character much more vividly than wins.
I believe that every point of every game is an opportunity to learn and improve, and there is no reason why this would change if the team is winning or losing. In fact, I'd say the harder the competition, the better the learning opportunity.
-----------
To be clear, the outcome goal here is fundamentally critical. I think that most of the time, the goal for an ultimate team should be to improve whenever the team is together and play their best ultimate of the season at the last tournament. So the outcome goal could be a numerical finish or placement that reflects that. The outcome goal for a competitive team should depend on getting wins.
Also, I think teams must look back and assess their performance in terms their achievements and outcome goals. But teams should be careful that the influence of the rose-colored glasses doesn't hold them back from growing as a program. Teams should not pretend all is well if there are issues that need to be addressed. Likewise, a loss shouldn't cause a total abandon ship. You wouldn't tow your new Ferrari down to the junkyard if you got a flat tire.
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