I first heard about core values a few years back. Then I also heard other experts talk about non-Negotiables and things you do not compromise on as a softball coach.

This made a lot of sense to me and I was glad to hear that having non-negotiable values in my mind was not unreasonable and actually characteristic of a good coach.

Do you know what your non-negotiables are? Do you know what principles you stand on? Processes change but principles shouldn’t.

• What things are absolutely not allowed on your team?
• What things are absolutely required of members of your team?
• Have you ever thought about these issues?

I’ll give you an example – never, at any time in the team environment, is it acceptable for a team member to swear at other team members, coaches, opponents, umpires, or fans. Period. This is simply not an appropriate choice, ever. There WILL be a consequence for that action. Always. No exceptions.

This is an example of a non-negotiable, a principle that never changes.

So think about it for a second.

What’s non-negotiable for you? What are the principles you stand on and base decisions off of?

Having a concrete idea of these principles and values helps take the guesswork out of some of the decision making that will come your way.  These are especially useful for some of the tough calls you’ll have to make as a coach.  Don’t settle.  Don’t compromise.  Stand strong on what’s gotten you this far.

If you want a smoother running season, it really helps if these principles are clearly communicated from the beginning – with your coaching staff, with your players, and even with your parents if you are coaching youth softball.

Take Action Now

List 3-5 things you consider non-negotiable this year.  Communicate them with your coaching staff and start emphasizing these areas with your team so they know exactly what’s expected.

If you act, think, and talk like a loser, what do you think you’re going to be?

Probably a loser.

Now when I say loser, I’m not referring to teams or players that end up on the losing side of a competition, game, or tournament. I’m talking about people who never reach their full potential because they rather make excuses than work hard. They have a loser mentality and constantly use loser language. They’re typically hard to help and/or coach because, the truth is, they don’t really want help and don’t really want to be coached!  I’m not sure if you’ve ever tried to help someone who didn’t want to help themselves.  It just doesn’t work.

With that said…

It’s tough to be a “winner” when you spend all your time and energy acting, thinking, and talking like a loser.

If you want to experience increased softball success, here are a two things you must do…

Lose the Loser Language
You can’t think or talk like a loser and expect success.  So it’s time to start eliminating your loser language.  These include words and phrases likes the ones below (I can’t, I don’t, But,):

• I can’t do that…
• But I don’t know how to…
• I don’t know if I can…
• That’s too hard…
• Only bigger/faster/stronger players can so that…
• But that’s not how I do it…
• But that feels weird…
• But I never…
• I could do that if…
• I don’t have time…
• I’m too busy…
• It’s not my fault…
• If I had more ______ then I could/would be able to _______ too

Stop Doing What Losers Do
You can’t act like a loser and expect success. It’s time to suck it up and stop:

• Making excuses
• Getting defensive when others offer suggestions
• Looking for other things or people to blame for your failures
• Looking for the easiest way out of having to deal with problems vs finding the best way to work through/solve/overcome that problem
• Waiting for others to tell you what to do or solve your problems for you vs taking responsibility for your own performance
• Focusing on the obstacles, problems, and reasons why you “can’t”
• Allowing circumstances around you dictate your confidence level and how you perform
• Worrying about things you can’t control
• Failing to take control of the things you can control

If you truly want to increase your softball success, you must first change your mindset!

This video was so good I couldn’t NOT post it.  There are so many little phrases, quotes, and concepts from this video that I love. Just about anyone can learn something from this video, softball player or not, athlete or not.  My favorites are listed below the video.  For now, press play and check it out…

• It’s hot outside - no one needs to say it again. (in other words, stop your whining and do it! lol)
• You can invest your time or you can spend your time.
• Successful people have consistency in performance.
• You can have no great victories in your life, unless you can overcome adversity, because the adversity is what makes it the challenge.
• The greatest opportunity to learn is when you make a mistake.
• …every minute of every day you are selling something. You are either selling positive, or you’re selling negative.
• …when you come out on the field to practice, you know what I want to see? I want to see somebody’s positive energy that is affecting somebody else to do it better.
• …you have to learn how to work, you only get out of something what you put in it, you reap what you sow, you have to work.
• Do you know what your character is? It is the accumulation of your thoughts, your habits and your priorities, on a day to day basis. That’s what makes the choices that you make. It is the accumulation of your thoughts, your habits and your priorities, and the choices that you make, make you who you are.
• You are going through the pain of discipline, or the pain of disappointment.
• That is what we expect you to learn, and be able to do, in this camp, is to have the discipline to sustain and be a relentless competitor, and have pride in your performance of doing everything that you do at this camp the best that you can do it, because that becomes a habit.

There are probably a few things I missed that I really liked, but this is such a great talk that offers so many great tips for those who really want to make some positive changes.  It starts with a MINDSET (not with ability).