Teaching Legacy to Enhance Your Team Culture
As coaches we stress culture and team foundational principles, consider creating a legacy for every player in your program. A legacy is leaving something of yourself behind -- paying forward to all future players in the program. A legacy is not only created on the field but also in the community.
A part of our mental game teachings, we ask each player in our program what is the legacy they want to leave for that season. A player over a four-year high school or college career has the opportunity to fine tune their legacy, add to it or go in a completely different direction and leave an incredible part of themselves in your program.
I would suggest that players are challenged to leave their imprint in the community, with their teammates and on the field. We feel this helps a player become a complete person demonstrating their influence on and off the field.
Here’s a step-by-step approach:
Define “legacy” in general and some examples of players who have left their legacy in your program.
Have your player write their legacy thoughts down. Write and own it!
Check their legacy halfway through the season. How would they grade themselves at the halfway mark?
At your year ceremony (banquet) have the seniors read their legacy details to the team.
The underclassmen can listen and learn from the seniors and continue to add to their legacy collection.
Give it a try in your program and add to your culture.