Daily Thought - Competition

"When you get away from Mommy and Daddy, it's a tough world out there.  The people that work in corporations and do a really good job usually have corner offices and trips to Cancun and bonuses.  If you don't do a good job, you don't.  I think a lot of times kids aren't taught that."  Urban Meyer

Daily Thought - Kevin Eastman

Kevin Eastman, assistant coach Boston Celtics
"If your not beating your competition you better be learning from them.  What are they doing that you should/could be doing?"

Daily Thought - Anson Dorrance

"Competition is key to developing players. The only practice environment in which you truly develop a player is a competitive arena." Anson Dorrance

"Competitor of the Week Jersey"

Northern State men's basketball coach Don Meyer has a great phrase: "It's not what you teach, it's what you emphasize."

One of my fundamental coaching philosophies is competition.  We should always be competing, not just on game-day but throughout the week in practices.  In order to better "emphasize" this fundamental, I'm going to give a weekly award (jersey) to the player who is the competitor of the week.  They can wear the jersey all week to practice, sort of like a badge of honor.

I'd love to hear ideas from other coaches of ways they reward/emphasize player performance.

Daily Thought - Jerry Sloan

In an interview following his resignation yesterday as Head Coach of the Utah Jazz, Jerry Sloan was asked, "What was your favorite part of coaching?" 
His response, "Watching players compete.  There is a difference between playing  hard and competing.  You can play hard and be satisfied with losing.  A competitor has to beat the other guy."

Daily Thought - Cael Sanderson

"My dad was my wrestling coach from little league through high school.  He taught my brothers and me that our effort was more important than our results.  He expected our best effort all the time, in every competition and practice.  He called doing your best "fighting."  When we went to competitions, Dad would say "we didn't come here to win, we came here to fight."  That is the same mind set that I had going through college, through the Olympics, and now as the Head Wrestling Coach at Iowa State.  I am very grateful that my dad taught me this at an early age.  Regardless of the circumstances, you can 'fight' and a 'fighting attitude' will help you be your best."  Cael Sanderson
Olympic Gold Medalist
Undefeated 4-Time NCAA Champion

Daily Thought - Pat Summitt

"You can't always be the strongest or most talented or most gifted person in the room, but you can always be the most competitive. There are bound to be days when you run into someone who is better than you. What can you do about it? You can compete, that's what. You can put forth so much effort that you cut your opponent down to size and force him to play below his abilities. Competitiveness allows you to influence your opponent." Coach Pat Summitt, Tennessee Women's Basketball in Reach for the Summit