Starting the Season Right

Today is the official start of high school fall sports seasons in Iowa. In another week, educators will head back to school to begin a new school year. There’s always something very energizing about the start of a new “season”. Whether it’s sports, academic competitions, or anything that demands commitment and teamwork, the first days are filled with excitement, anticipation, and a lot of nerves. Everyone gets a chance to start over-if the previous “season” ended well or poorly, the beginning of the year is the opportunity show you have learned from previous experiences and will make this your best year yet. In this case, everyone—whether participant, coach, or educator—has the same opportunity to set the tone for what’s ahead.

The famous author, C.S. Lewis once said, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” The start of a “season” is a chance for everyone to do just that. I talk a lot about being where your feet are and being committed to your best effort every day. Here are a few other ideas for everyone starting a new “season”:

Build the Right Habits Early
The beginning of any season sets the tone and the culture for what’s to come. Little things matter—showing up on time, communicating clearly, supporting teammates, and maintaining a positive attitude are all vital. These habits build up over time and can often be the difference between simply showing up and truly succeeding individually as well as helping your team succeed.

Embrace the Role You Play
Not everyone will have the same spotlight, but everyone has the same opportunity to contribute. Great teams—and great organizations—succeed because people understand and embrace their roles. The quicker individuals align with where they can add the most value, the more together and successful the group becomes. Each role is vital so find out where you fit and do your best every day to fulfill that role.

Focus on Growth, Not Just Outcomes
Wins, awards, and praise from others are great—but they’re temporary. Growth, improving skills, building relationships, and learning lessons will last much longer. A season or school year isn’t just about chasing wins, championships, or awards; it’s about becoming a better version of yourself and helping those around you do the same.

Keep Perspective
Pressure can build as the season or the school year progresses, but it’s important to remember why you started or chose to be involved with. Anything we are doing should challenge us, but it should also be fun and fulfilling. Perspective helps keep stress in check and allows us to enjoy the process and each moment while still trying to do our job and be the best that we can be, even when things are going the best-which we know we will all experience.

As the legendary basketball coach, the late John Wooden once said, “Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” What a great goal for everyone who is starting a new season today or next week! I wish everyone the very best and hope you are all able to make a difference in the lives of the people you work with and work for. Have a great week!

Coach K