Building Tradition on Strong Beliefs and Core Values
Goal Setting and Team Policies
Buell Gonzales-Head Girls Basketball Coach
Scappoose High School
Traditions are built from core values and beliefs taught by coaches. Core values are very
important when things are going well and even more critical when things are going
poorly. Adversity brings to the surface the beliefs and values that have been laid out.
As a coach in the Scappoose Basketball Program the beliefs and values you possess are
well known only to you. As a coach we need to systematically communicate these values.
We need to know the values and beliefs of the players we coach. Gather the team
together and discuss what they believe. The key is to include all of the players on the
team in the process. By giving the players ownership the beliefs and values they have
agreed upon become more than just words on a page.
At the beginning of the season take the kids to a classroom or some other secluded setting
and discuss your observations and expectations.
Have the students think about these questions:
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What do you want your friends to say about you after your high school career?
What do you want your family to say about you after your high school career?
What do you want your opponents to say to you after your high school career?
What do you want to be able to say about yourself after your high school career?
Keep notes on paper or white board and write down any ideas the student/athletes may
have. Organize the thoughts and ideas and put them into categories. Organize these
categories and attach easy phrases the students can understand. These become your core
beliefs.
It doesn’t stop there. Post these beliefs where the kids can see them and constantly review
them so the players can commit them to memorization. These core beliefs become a focal
point and provide a foundation for your decisions. These beliefs and values are why you
do what you do, helping to handle all situations.
This process repeats itself every year with a different group of kids. The process refines
itself and allows for teams to change and/or add to the previous years Beliefs and Values.
Give the players the option of making a T-Shirt or big poster that states their teams “rally
cry”. An example might be:
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As iron sharpens iron, so we sharpen each other
Attitude is everything
Put self on shelf
In conclusion, this process starts with you. Continuous improvement helps build tradition
as well as strong beliefs and values.