Yesterday I forgot to include the link to Dave Cross’ article on “No Surprises.” It’s here for the reading.

Dave is the National Director of “Yes, I Can!” volleyball, and his article led me to think about about some definite “no’s” for your program. For instance, there should definitely be no excuses on your team.

This comes from Matt Bahr, hero of the New York Giants‘ drive to the 1990 Super Bowl championship. He kicked five field goals, including one as time ran out, to put the Giants into the Super Bowl. Then he kicked another one for the eventual margin of victory in the Super Bowl itself.

Interviewed on radio, Bahr said he always felt comfortable in late-game situations because he knew he was doing his best. Bahr also felt that Bill Parcells, the Giants coach at the time, liked him because he never gave an excuse.

If he missed a kick, Parcells would ask him, “What happened?” Bahr would reply, “I missed it.”

Do your best. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. If you lose, end of story. No excuses.

Hall of Fame hockey player Mark Messier said, “The minute you start making excuses, you’ve got one foot in the grave.”

Noted sports psychologist Dr. Rob Gilbert puts it this way: At the end of the day, you are going to have either results or reasons. Which would you prefer?

If you prefer results over reasons, then concentrate on results and leaves the reasons to others.

In your program, there are no excuses.