Earning Practice Gear

As a youngster, I grew up with the concept of earning whatever I desired. My parents made certain I understood the value of working for an allowance. Both of my parents were educators and knew that children who understood the value of work also valued themselves. The children who were always given something for nothing expected more of the same. Those were the same children who didn't find themselves worthy and saw challenges as impossible to overcome.

In order for our Golden Eagles to find a deeper self value, we have instituted a policy which makes them earn their practice gear. We want them to believe wearing their practice gear is an honor and a privelege. When they put on their shorts and practice jersey every day, they should feel a sense of pride in how hard they worked to earn them. It is this same sense of pride that we want them to display as they step onto the court for a game.

To earn their practice gear, they must accumulate 600 points. It is not an easy 600 points. By achieving each preseason challenge, they can receive 20 points. These are challenges designed to push them to a place where their lungs are bursting and their muscles are quivering from exhaustion. There are five challenges which means they can earn up to 100 points. If they don't get their challenge on the first attempt, they have to continue doing the challenge until they make it but they don't receive any points toward their practice gear.

They receive 10 points every time they make all the sprints on a conditioning day. If they make the time 14 out of 15 sprints, it does not count. They must make every one of them. They earn 10 points for increasing each lift in the weight room. Again, this is very difficult, but what we have discovered is how much harder they have been willing to push themselves and their teammates in the weight room. Another 10 points is awarded when their team wins during our Friday game days. It makes game days really competitive. Last Friday I was so inspired by how hard they competed that I awarded the winners 20 points and the losers 10 points.

There is a 50 point deduction for each time they are disciplined. Arriving late, even by one minute, to a practice they lose 50 hard earned points. They can lose points for not going to class, "forgetting" to complete injury rehabilitation, etc. Honestly, this is so tough a measure that I almost feel bad for them when they must be disciplined (ALMOST).

There will be a couple of players who will begin the first day of practice without practice gear. They will wear their polka dot or plaid shorts and old practice jerseys until they reach 600. In order to make certain all players are motivated to earn their gear and not stand out as a "unique" member of the team, I have given them a two week time period in which they can complete earning their gear. At the end of that time period, their teammates will be forced to run sprints every day until all players are wearing the maroon and gold of the Eagles.

When each member earns her practice gear, she will feel good about her efforts. She will feel worthy and will value her shorts and jersey. She will wear them with pride and will walk tall when she enters the court. She will know when she departs the program that she is capable of working hard and she will feel she can accomplish anything if she just puts her mind to it.