team-building
How Did America Get So Good?
Today the United States sets the record for most medals ever won at a Winter Olympics. Whether the men’s hockey team captures the gold or the silver against Canada, America will own 37 medals.
By contrast, 30 years ago, when the 1980 U.S. hockey team pulled off the Miracle on Ice, the entire American squad won [...]
Miracle Anniversary
Last night’s U.S. men’s Olympic hockey victory over Team Canada came nearly 30 years to the day after the “Miracle on Ice,” in which the Americans stunned the Soviet Union.
If anything, the victory over Canada underlines exactly how unbelievable the “Miracle on Ice” was. At least this year’s American team is made up of National [...]
Just Having Fun
A New York Times article just a few days ago offers a glimpse into why kids play sports. The simple answer: to have fun.
This might shock some people, especially considering some of yesterday’s news. New Jersey’s top-ranked boys basketball team is facing expulsion over illegal practices, and a 13-year-old boy has committed to play football [...]
Management Strategies
Two of the NBA’s greatest coaches opposed each other last night, and their post-game remarks help explain what has made them so successful.
Phil Jackson’s team won, and he gave credit to the players. Larry Brown’s team lost, and he took responsibility for it.
It’s a good management strategy. Give credit to the workers when things go [...]
Clubhouse Chemistry
No matter what they major in during college years, coaches need some sense of chemistry. Not molecular chemistry, but human chemistry.
Relationships mean everything to sports teams. Bad chemistry has doomed many a dream. Great chemistry can produce what seems to be an overachieving team.
This subject comes up because of a report from ESPNBoston.com that Rajon [...]
The Horror of Big-Time Football
What is going on in the state of Tennessee?
First, four basketball players are picked up because they are suspected of having drugs, alcohol and a gun in the car.
Now some students are rioting because a football coach, Lane Kiffin, left the school to take a job at the University of Southern California. Let’s repeat that: [...]
Club vs. School
If you know any athletes who play both for their high school and for a club, you know that they must balance their participation.
Not at Immaculate Heart Academy in Northern New Jersey. There, and perhaps at other schools around the country, the rule is hard and fast: You cannot miss a school event to attend [...]
Setting Standards
W. Somerset Maugham said, “It is a funny thing about life: If you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it.”
Last night there was a special about high school bands on television. One of the band directors remarked that each season involved at least two dynamics: the ninth-graders learning the system [...]
A Life of Purpose
Our team has begun dealing with the loss of Valeria Reyes, the young woman we adopted through the Friends of Jaclyn program.
Valeria died yesterday at age 12, four and a half years after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Among the things we discussed yesterday at our team meeting was the way you chose to [...]
An Angel Gets Her Wings
Today is a difficult day. Valeria Reyes, 12, a dear friend and teammate of ours, died of a brain tumor.
We came to know Valeria through a program called “Friends of Jaclyn,” which connects sports teams with children with brain tumors.
We met Valeria 14 months ago at an adoption ceremony. Since then our team has developed [...]
