Coaching Tips - Teaching Discipline

A lot of people believe that you have to be harsh andmoment will go a long way towards establishing the
loud to be an effective disciplinarian. The greatclimate of discipline.
example of UCLA coach John Wooden however tellsWhen your athletes are talking out of turn, they have
us that discipline is much more than volume. It hasto know already that this is not acceptable behavior.
everything to do with doing the right things in the rightThat means you had to have told them in the very
way on a routine basis in order to create an identityfirst practice what the standards are for the team
that will guide us through difficult times.when you're talking. They are to give you the respect
As an analogy, military discipline is what holds goodfull undivided attention and be ready to taking your
units together in times of maximum stress and combat.words and apply them on the practice field. Inevitably,
The discipline anchors us into routine ritual behaviorssome kids will be talking when you're talking.
which have a survival payoff in combat.Be firm but fair and insist upon their attention before
In sports, the discipline to do the right thing in the rightyou proceed. You can even ask them if they have
way every day builds the habits that we need to winanything else that they would like to contribute to the
on the practice field so that they'll be available to usgroup before you proceed with your information. They
automatically in the game.will quickly get the message that it's not their turn to
As an example, if we are in the habit of wearing hertalk. If their behavior persists, then you may have to
uniform properly, then the equipment will not fail us attake them aside and explain to them why their
the crucial moment. If we follow a discipline ofbehavior is unacceptable and what the standards of
warm-up and stretching before every practice, andthe team are.
doing it at the game will come as second nature andMake sure you framed this as a choice that they will
our injury rate will be much lower.make in order to be a member of the team. You
If we are in the habit of performing our little tasks to acannot impose discipline on others, you can only
high standard even when no one else is looking, andencourage it by the force of your personal example.
that discipline will carry over into how we performedAs in all things, teaching by example is the best way to
on the big tasks.instill the lessons of disciplining your young athletes. Pay
How do we help young athletes achieve a state ofattention carefully when they're talking, and take them
discipline? I think it's necessary to begin realistically withseriously. Show them that you care about the little
a few small things that we can build on as we growthings in the way that you use language and care for
our discipline muscles. If the attitude of the team in yourequipment. Insist on doing things the right way for the
group huddle. When the coaches speaking everyoneright reasons and reinforce those lessons verbally with
should be giving him their full attention. As a coach, ifthem so that they see how discipline touches
you see your players not paying attention or talkingeverything on our team.
with when you're talking, and how you handle that