It has been said that sports teach you so much. It is a microcosm of life. I agree. Sports teach discipline, resilience, leadership, teamwork, and more. However, it is still up to the student to “get on the right bus” as they develop themselves and their character through sports. I was watching a clip from the infamous retired coaching legend Coach K, and he recounted the advice his mother gave him on his first day of high school.
The advice was to make sure he gets on the right bus, which Coach K understood at 14 as physically getting on the right bus. His mother further explained the advice she gave him. She advised him to put only good people on his bus and only get on a bus driven by a good person. She explained that the bus he gets on will be for the rest of his life. You will need great people on your journey to accomplish great things because you can’t do it alone.
Working with many great people throughout my career has been a privilege. I enjoyed the ride and accomplished a lot because I was careful about who was on my bus. Athletic directors and coaches must ensure their athletes are “getting on the right bus.” It is not enough to tell them what sports can teach; we must ensure they internalize the messages. Setting the tone for who can drive and ride your bus is critical for our organizations and teams. We must be an example.
Yes, sometimes that means a superb athlete doesn’t play or make the team, or a coach doesn’t remain with the organization. Nonetheless, it is about setting a standard of greatness that directly reflects the type of people who fill the bus seats. We are not talking about making mistakes and getting second chances; everyone deserves redemption. Moreover, it is about preparing our athletes for a journey outside of sports. It is about helping them understand good people will help you get to great places.
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