COMPETITIVE PHILOSOPHY COMPETITIVE PHILOSOPHY Damon Burton & Bernie Holliday Vandal Sport Psychology Services University of Idaho
WHY DEVELOP A COMPETITIVE PHILOSOPHY? Your competitive philosophy guides your everyday actions and helps you to make the right decision by deciding what’s important ahead of time
COMPETITIVE PHILOSOPHY FACTS AND MYTHS COMPETITIVE PHILOSOPHY FACTS AND MYTHS Developing a competitive philosophy is not a one-time process but an ongoing journey that requires frequent reflection and systematic updating—a constant work in progress. It has to be personalized to fit your experience, attitudes, values and beliefs as well as the society you live in. You can’t borrow your philosophy from a coach you admire or from simply reading a book. It is a product of your experiences and values. You must cultivate and nurture your coaching philosophy and constantly work to make it better.
DEVELOPING YOUR COMPETITIVE PHILOSOPHY 1. self-awareness… monitor thoughts, feelings, and behaviors ask others 2. prioritize competitive objectives… personal development versus winning How much importance do you place on each of these objectives?
PHIL NIEKRO’S CAREER- CHANGING INSIGHT 1. Niekro let his ego get in the way early in his career. worried about how much he pitched, what spot he occupied in the rotation, and whether he won. 2. At 32, Niekro quit worrying about winning. pitched his best until wins followed
WHY COACHES/ATHLETES BECOME WIN-CENTERED? Pressure from media, parents, boosters, administrators and themselves. Living vicariously thru their athletes. Model their philosophy after win-oriented pro coaches and athletes. Easier to evaluate success based on winning instead of long-term development.
CHALLENGE OF REPRIORITIZING WINNING 1. Do you compete for any of these reasons? 2. Is competition a personal ego trip? 3. Do you link your personal worth with winning? 4. Do you understand what Phil Niekro learned?
JOHN WOODEN’S PYRAMID OF SUCCESS
RETHINKING MARTENS’ MOTTO… Rainer Martens’ American Coaching Effectiveness Program (ACEP) motto… “Athletes first, winning second” “Athletes first, winning second” Our revised motto highlights the relationship shared between personal development and success. “Personal excellence – The foundation for success” “Personal excellence – The foundation for success”
PERSONAL EXCELLENCE MOTTO Your first priority is development and maximizing personal growth. Personal excellence also enhances chances of winning. Increasing physical, psychological and social development improves your probability of outperforming others. Increasing physical, psychological and social development improves your probability of outperforming others.
WINNING – DEVELOPMENT CONTINUUM Excellence- Win- Centered Centered Where would you put John Wooden, Bobby Knight, LaBron James, & Barry Bonds? Where would you put John Wooden, Bobby Knight, LaBron James, & Barry Bonds?
BILL SNYDER DEVELOPS THE ‘TRUE COMPETITORS’ In turning Kansas State from the nation’s worst football program into one that won 11 games six years in a row, Snyder emphasized... getting better every day, getting better every day, improving as athletes, students and people instead of winning, improving as athletes, students and people instead of winning, evaluating success based on enthusiasm for the game, life- skill development, graduation rates, future career success, and character development evaluating success based on enthusiasm for the game, life- skill development, graduation rates, future career success, and character development
‘TRUE COMPETITORS’ BRING THE MOTTO TO LIFE… “striving to win” versus “actually winning” appreciating “the journey” versus “the destination” the challenge becomes practicing what you preach… community-wide competitive philosophy development