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Excerpts from They Call Me Coach, John Wooden
Word Books, Publisher, Waco, Texas. 1972 Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. You cannot live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you. Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are. Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming. I try to convince my players that they can never be truly successful or attain peace of mind unless they have the self-satisfaction of knowing they have done their best. Although I want them to work to win, I try to convince them they have always won when they have done their best. It isn’t what you do, but how you do it. No system is any good if the players are not well grounded in fundamentals. Team play comes from integrating individuals who have mastered the fundamentals into a smooth working unit. Confidence comes from being prepared. And approval is a great motivator. I try to follow any criticism, whenever possible, with a pat on the back, realizing that I cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. We attempt always to give public credit and acclaim to our play-makes, our defensive men, and those whose role doesn’t leap out of the statistical chart. Be a gentleman at all times. Never criticize, nag, or razz a teammate. Be a team player always. Never be selfish, jealous, envious, or egotistical. Earn the right to be proud and confident. Never expect favors, alibi or make excuses. Never lose faith or patience. Courtesy and politeness are a small price to pay for the good will and affection of others. Acquire peace of mind by becoming the best that you are capable of becoming. It is amazing how much can be accomplished if now one cares who gets the credit. Over the years I have become convinced that every detail is important and that success usually accompanies attention to little details. It is this, in my judgment, that makes for the difference between champion and near champion. The best teacher is repetition, day after day, throughout the season. I never give my teams any kind of a written test. After all, they don’t have time in a game to sit down and write something. It must be instant recognition and instant reaction. One of my constant reminders is, “End practice on a happy note.” I want the boys to want to come out to practice, and I want them to get a certain amount of pleasure out of basketball. It’s a game. It should be fun. So I always try to counterbalance any criticism in practice with a bit of praise. I want my players to feel that the worst punishment I can give them is to deny them the privilege of practicing. If they do not want to practice, I do not want them there. While I am not intimately acquainted with Walter Alston, I can spot his tremendous virtues merely by watching him during a game. I once heard Al Campanis, the Dodgers’ general manager, describe Alston’s ability to handle players. “Alston is like a man handling a dove. If you squeeze it too tightly, you’ll smother or kill it. If you hold it too loose, it’ll fly away.” Continue to Next Page
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