Teams
Building A Tradition of Excellence
As we begin the process of building a championship caliber basketball program, there are a number of items that our coaching staff is going to insist upon. Some you will like, some you will dislike. Some you will agree with, some you will not. Regardless, they are guidelines that are non-negotiable and important details, which will be adhered to if you are going to represent the Sprayberry Lady Jackets Basketball Program. Please read them, adhere to them, and expect to be held accountable for them.
Act Like A Champion
Champions support their teammates, coaches, parents and friends.
Basketball, and life for that matter, is a team game. We can’t be successful if we spend our time absorbed in selfish thoughts or actions. Celebrate the accomplishments of others. Pick each other up when things are tough. Win or lose, we are in this together.
Champions make commitments, not excuses.
Commit yourself to becoming the best you can be. Be the best daughter, student, friend and basketball player that you can be. When things aren’t going, as you would like, look first within yourself. Before you blame someone else for your perceived misfortune, ask yourself what you can do to remedy the situation. What can you do to better your position in life: school, family, basketball, etc. Remember, the greater the challenge, the greater the satisfaction in meeting that challenge.
Champions speak only in terms of the positive.
Avoid words and phrases such as “I can’t…”, “I won’t…”, “This is too difficult…”, etc. Replace them with phrases such as “I can…”, “I will,,,”, “I will do whatever is necessary to help my team win…”, etc.
Champions “walk the walk”.
Some people “talk the talk”, others “walk the walk”. Everyone knows that actions speak louder than words, but sometimes it’s easier to talk about what we’re going to accomplish than it is to work to make that talk a reality. That is not the Sprayberry way. We believe we will outwork outhussle and outthink our opponents – not outtalk them. These are factors that we can control. A Lady Jacket “walks the walk”.
Look Like A Champion
Champions recognize that appearance does matter.
Whether you like it or not, your appearance is the first thing people notice about you. Our appearance and language, verbal and nonverbal, all speak to our character. The way you present yourself is a reflection of not only you, but also your parents, coaches and school. Consider this…you might be the one and only representative of Sprayberry with whom an outsider comes in contact. The impression you leave with that person will be what he/she takes away as representative of this community. A team player will sacrifice personal comforts for the good of the team.
Play Like A Champion
Champions practice with a purpose.
All you can expect of yourself is to give your very best each and every day. Easy to say-difficult to do consistently. Challenge yourself every time you step on the court to leave it a better player. Mediocre players practice with the mentality that practice is simply a necessary part of being on the team. Champions approach practice differently. Champions approach practice with the intent of pushing themselves to a higher level than they did yesterday. They welcome constructive criticism and use it to improve themselves. Make yourself better, make the others around you better and you’ll make your team better.
Champions play with pride.
PRIDE: Personal Responsibility for Integrity, Discipline and Example
We play as representatives of our coaches, parents, school and community, and within the guidelines of good sportsmanship. We play with the intent of reaching our full potential. We play hard. We play smart. We play together. We play for each other. We play for Sprayberry. We play to win.
Those Who Stay Will Be Champions!
