Two mottos I have tried to live my life by are “no job is too big or too small” and “leave things better than you found them.” Both of those were exemplified by a fellow coach after our home opener last year. After a Week #2 win over Middlebury High School, I walked through both locker rooms to see everyone was cleared out before heading home. There was one person left in our visitor’s locker room, the Middlebury head coach, with broom in hand, he was sweeping the locker room floor. We have always tidied up before departing the visiting locker rooms but have never taken it to that level.
Recently, I started reading the book Legacy and discovered the inspiration for sweeping the locker room. The book is the story of the New Zealand rugby team the “All Blacks,” a team with three Rugby World Cup victories and one of the most successful teams in match play. I’m amazed by the simplicity of some of their traditions, and the lessons they impart. After games, their senior leaders pick up a long-handled broom and sweep their shed. They make sure to do it properly so that no one else has to. Both personal example, and attention to detail matter. The “All Black,” leaders both believe and demonstrate that if they have personal discipline in their lives, they are going to be more disciplined on the field. In a world of highly paid (and often pampered) professional athletes, no job is too small, and no detail goes unnoticed.
So this weekend as the Rugby World Cup kicks off in France, and we have our first road game of the season, I will have to add a long-handled broom to our travel checklist so that we can leave Colchester even better than we found it.
Coach Rich Alercio is available to discuss coaching philosophy, X’s & O’s, or teach his O-Line “techniques in the trenches.” Contact Coach at richalercio@gmail.com and share http://www.olineskills.com with your colleagues and friends. Thanks for supporting this blog and joining our conversations, and as always, thanks for your time!
O Line Skills 