Coach,
The Texas High School Athletic Director Association recently held their Region 5 Athletic Director meeting. In attendance was UIL Athletic Director, Ray Zepeda, and he shared a hearty THANK YOU to the 400+ school districts that have signed up for The Texas Way!
He also gave a very clear challenge: SIGNING UP for The Texas Way is NOT the same as COACHING The Texas Way. Not engaging with The Texas Way after signing up is the same as not signing up at all!
WATCH Coach Zepeda’s remarks from THSADA Region 5 Meeting: https://www.thsada.com/blog/2024/09/20/episode-2-thsada-directors-cut-ray-zepeda-uil/
Here is what the data tells us:
93% of ejections in the first three weeks of the year came from schools that have not signed up for or engaged with The Texas Way.
This is not surprising.
Friends, The Texas Way is not a flash-in-the-pan initiative. This is a movement that can change the way sports are played in the State of Texas. But we must work together, and we must work daily.
The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated work. It really is simple. Simple as the ABC’s.
In this week’s Texas Way Weekly, I am going to share 26 ways you can coach up sportsmanship to maximize the impact of The Texas Way for your district. Let’s go!
26 Ways to Coach The Texas Way
1. Accountability with Athletes
Teach your athletes that their actions on and off the field reflect the team, the school, and themselves. Hold them accountable for both their successes and mistakes, emphasizing that sportsmanship is a year-round expectation.
2. Build Support with Businesses
Encourage local businesses to support your team by promoting good sportsmanship. These partnerships can reward athletes who demonstrate respect and integrity, or help promote The Texas Way and the work you are doing in your district.
3. Challenge Your Community
Engage the local community in promoting good sportsmanship by inviting them to games and creating initiatives that highlight positive behavior. Challenge parents and fans to model sportsmanship for the younger generation.
4. Dominate the Game Day
Set the tone for sportsmanship before, during, and after the game. Remind your team that their character is just as important as their performance, and dominating the game day includes playing with respect for others, control of self, and a spirit of competition.
5. Encourage Everyone—Especially Officials
Teach athletes to respect referees and officials, even in difficult moments. Coaches can model this behavior by encouraging athletes to thank officials after the game, no matter the outcome.
6. Forgive Failures—but Don’t Forget the Lessons
Mistakes happen in sports. Help athletes understand that failure is a learning opportunity, but they must also be accountable for their actions and learn from their mistakes.
7. Give Grace and Guidance
When athletes struggle with sportsmanship, offer grace and guidance, not just punishment. Show them how to grow from their experiences by leading with empathy and understanding.
8. Help Athletes Handle Hard Situations
Equip your athletes with the emotional tools to handle tough situations, like bad calls or losing games. Teach them that how they respond under pressure is a reflection of their sportsmanship.
9. Investigate Ejection Incidents
If an athlete is ejected from a game, don’t just let it slide. Investigate what happened and use it as a teaching moment to reinforce expectations and consequences regarding behavior on the field.
10. Judge to the Level of Your Equipping
As a coach, it’s important to be fair but firm when addressing sportsmanship issues. Be sure to match your judgment with the guidance and resources you’ve provided to your athletes.
11. Keep the Conversation Going
Don’t let sportsmanship be a one-time conversation. Regularly talk with your team about the three pillars of The Texas Way so that it becomes ingrained in your program’s culture.
12. Look for Sportsmanship Leaders
Identify athletes who naturally demonstrate good sportsmanship and empower them to lead by example. Use their influence to shape the rest of the team’s attitude and behavior.
13. Meet with Coaches
Inside the building, make sportsmanship a regular conversation. Outside the building, connect with, and talk to the coaches you are competing against. Agree to play and coach The Texas Way.
14. Never Look the Other Way on Sportsmanship Issues
When bad behavior arises, address it immediately. Ignoring sportsmanship issues only normalizes disrespect, and your team will take cues from how you handle these moments.
15. Opportunities to Grow are Everywhere
Ensure that opportunities for athletes to practice sportsmanship occur regularly, whether in practice, community events, or game-day interactions. Emphasize that it’s as important as physical training.
16. Prepare for Problems Prior to Problems Arising
Have a plan in place for dealing with sportsmanship issues before they happen. Make your expectations clear from the start so that athletes know how to handle adversity on and off the field.
17. Quit Kicking the Can Down the Road
Don’t procrastinate addressing sportsmanship problems. Tackle them head-on so that they don’t escalate and affect the culture of your team or your reputation as a coach. The Texas Way isn’t a “do this one day” thing. It is a RIGHT NOW thing!
18. Reach Out for Support
Don’t hesitate to seek guidance from athletic directors, mentors, or colleagues when dealing with sportsmanship challenges. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
19. Spread the Workload—Don’t Do This Solo
Involve assistant coaches, team captains, and even parents in reinforcing sportsmanship. The more people invested in promoting it, the stronger your program’s culture will be.
20. Teach Your Values, Don’t Just Talk About Them
Live out the sportsmanship values you teach. If your athletes see you practicing what you preach, they are far more likely to embrace those same values themselves.
21. Utilize the Resources
Take advantage of resources from The Texas Way. Mammoth Sports has made a major commitment to the State of Texas to help strengthen communities and build better sportsmanship. Use these tools to better educate your athletes and coaches.
22. Voice Your Concerns
If you see behavior that threatens sportsmanship, speak up. Whether it’s addressing your own athletes or calling out unsportsmanlike conduct from opponents, your voice can make a difference.
23. Work the Program
Making an impact through The Texas Way is going to take consistent effort. Treat it like any other training program, where regular practice and dedication lead to long-term improvement and results.
24. X-ample. Be the Example.
Model good sportsmanship in every interaction, whether with athletes, officials, or other coaches. Your example sets the standard for what is acceptable and expected.
25. Yield to the Teaching Moment
Yield to teaching moments during the heat of competition. Use timeouts, post-game talks, and one-on-one moments to instill valuable sportsmanship lessons, even when emotions are high.
26. Zero Tolerance Doesn’t Mean Zero Second Chances
While a zero-tolerance policy for unsportsmanlike conduct is important, remember that athletes are young and learning. Offer second chances where appropriate, but ensure that they come with lessons learned.
Thank you for being a part of this. Thank you for your work. If I can help you or your district in any way, or you want to tell your story, email me at Mackey@2words.tv.
Until next week: This work isn’t complicated…it’s as simple as The ABC’s!
Mackey