Stephen Strojny 337-278-9068 Stephen.Strojny@stmcougars.net @scstrojny Twitter @scstrojyny Instagram Stephen Strojny on Facebook www.bemorenow.blog

Building Your Team’s Culture and Hashtags. Focus on the ROOT not the FRUIT.

NOTE: To change images on this slide, select a picture and delete it. Then click the Insert Picture icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. Building a positive and firm team culture may be the difference between winning vs losing state, making the playoffs vs not, being .500 vs not, and overachieving vs underachieving.

Your team culture must fit YOUR team. There are no cookie cutter cultures. Your team’s culture must be unique. Players must be able to identify with it and want to be a part of it.

What is Team Culture? The characteristics of a particular group of people.

Why is team culture important? It makes a coaches job easier. Expectations are clearly defined. When your team’s name is mentioned in a room or gym, what do people envision? Ex. Michigan State men's basketball, Villanova men’s basketball, Kentucky men’s basketball, and LSU men’s basketball.

Building a Culture Takes 3 Years, So Be Patient. Year 1: Baseline Survival Mode Year 2: Reinforcement Year 3 and Beyond: Lock in and get creative (must never become stagnant)

How do you create culture? Nice or truthful: Before looking at your teams culture you have to ask yourself a few questions: Are your players motivated by you and your staffs’ actions that you model? Do you clearly communicate your goals and expectations? Are you too busy to communicate? Your busy schedule should never come before your team.

7 C’s for coaching character

Step 1: Team Vision Do you serve your team or does your team serve you? What do you want for your players? What are your team goals? Get your players involved in writing your team vision. Unity is key Short-term & long-term

Step 2: Mission Statement Focus on the ROOT not the FRUIT Post your Mission Statement in the locker room. Let your players get involved in writing it.

STM Lady Cougar Vision and Mission Statement Vision: To create a family like environment in which players have the opportunity to willingly embrace leadership roles and their faith on the court, in the locker room, and in the community. Mission Statement: STM Lady Cougar Basketball players strive to be GREAT teammates who personify the attitude of WE>ME, toughness, and respect all the while asking themselves one question everyday, “how can I make everyone in the gym better?”. 21 Ways to be a Great Teammate.

Activities for building culture Fox Hole Test Mottos (Under Promise and Over Deliever) Wristbands A signed pledge (Positive Pledge) Energy Bus concept Toughness evaluation Gas Tanks

WTH is a Hashtag?

What is a hashtag? It’s a reference point When a Twitter user clicks on a hashtag, it goes to the stream of tweets containing that hashtag. You can also find hashtags using search. This is how you find things on Twitter by topic.

It’s how they communicate. Kids love Twitter! It’s how they communicate. It motivates them to see themselves on Twitter. Create a universal team hashtag. Use it, share it, and reap the benefits. Share videos, stats, tag coaches who visit.

Use it as a way to store resources Create your own unique hashtag. #lhsbcanow Check with your school about policy. Tag coaches