Happy Friday,

Today, I thought I'd share our internal coaching values. These nine principles are our guiding lights in terms of how we want to conduct ourselves as servant leaders. I'm proud to say I put this document together five years ago and I believe trying our best to live and coach to these standards is a big reason the program has grown how it has.

1. First and foremost, we are striving to help teenagers become better people.

• “I coach boys to be men of empathy and integrity who will lead, be responsible, and change the world for good.” – Joe Ehrmann

2. Be who you needed when you were younger.

• This is simply what we are all about. It’s why we are doing this in the first place. It means giving kids tough love when they need it, it means having tough conversations when they may not want to hear it, and it means being the support system; the shoulder; and the ear they will need a whole lot.

3. Our goal is to not help players to get to the next level, but to prepare them to have success once they get there.

• This means giving them the big-time skills that will scale (tools); it also means we do a better job than anyone else on helping them be great ‘baseball players’. This encompasses playing the game hard and playing it the right way, going about their business the right way – and taking care of all the little details (controlling the running game, base running, positional defense, etc.) It also means making them mentally tough and preparing them to be able to handle adversity.

4. DEVELOPMENT FIRST. Treat every player like they’re our only one.

• Each player’s training program will be designed with only what is best for that individual. If this means they should throw innings in the fall they will. If it means they start their off-season September 1st they will.

5. “Embody only what you teach, teach only what you embody.”

• If we expect our players to be on time and professional, we must always do the same. If we expect our players to maintain good body language and positivity when the game doesn’t go their way – we must do the same in the dugout as well.
• “Leaders lead the way” – Dick Winters

6. Athletes won’t care what you know until they know much you care.

7. If you allow it you encourage it.

• This is applicable on multiple levels. First, from a culture standpoint: we are doing kids a disservice if we don’t hold them accountable. That doesn’t mean we always have to rule with the stick, but if we allow something we are encouraging it.
• This is applicable on the field in-games. If we don’t pull players for not hustling, we are flat out encouraging it. It’s not enough to just get on guys about certain things. You cannot compromise the uncompromisable.
• This is applicable in practice and training. You can’t allow poor reps in the weight room. Similarly – there are certain things about how drill work, throwing etc. need to be done. If you see something that isn’t excellent – coach em’ up.

8. KAIZEN.

• This is a Japanese term meaning “change for the better” or “constant improvement.” As coaching professionals we want to have a growth mindset – we can constantly improve and evolve as coaches and teachers.

9. We are not for everyone!