Culture creates championships

Here are a few thoughts I've observed while trying to motivate teenage boys through the rigors of hard work, physical exhaustion and intense summer heat: The strongest teams are built by people willing to work long before the community claps its hands and stomps its feet. Teams grow stronger when effort, not just talent, is celebrated. The players who rarely hear their name on Friday night still help write the story of the season. And I believe those thoughts apply to any group effort: whether under the lights, on the assembly line or in a sales meeting: The coach wanted to recognize selfless hard work, wanted to recognize the youngest players on his team, wanted them to know how much he — and the older players — valued their dedication. These were the players who probably wouldn't see the field on Friday night. At least not this season. Yet they still worked hard, still gave everything they had, preparing the upperclassmen for the games that mattered most. Their selflessness deserved to be recognized. So what did the coach do? At the end of each summer practice, he told the seniors to meet at midfield — where the entire team and coaching staff could see them — and select one sophomore who had dedicated himself throughout that day's practice. The seniors presented an old, beat-up mesh jersey to the player they chose. Along with the jersey, they had to explain — in a sentence or two — what they noticed about the player's work ethic, attitude, or commitment to the team. The player selected would wear the jersey the next day, knowing it would be passed to another teammate after the following practice. The color of the jersey didn't matter. The ragged mesh didn't matter. Yet there was no doubt that it meant the world to the player being recognized. What do you suppose it did for the team? The seniors were empowered. The coaches were reminded of the power of recognition. The team saw the value of selfless hard work. And the sophomores were reminded that what they did—regardless of playing time—mattered. Over time, those small moments of recognition helped produce championship results — not just in wins and losses but in the kind of culture people remember long after the lights dim and the scoreboard fades. Tony Legando is a lifelong educator, a hall of fame football coach and author of "To Lead a Good Life" and "Fables for Young Leaders." He is also a speaker who has inspired leaders for many years. You can contact him at legandot@gmail.com.