Coach Moffatt’s “Woodenisms”
As adapted from Coach John Wooden (great UCLA basketball coach)
From his book (Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations...Court)
In addition to our “LHS Softball Principles”, here are a few other beliefs we prescribe to within our program; following these simple values will only help all of us improve.
- “Set of Threes”
- Don’t whine
- Don’t complain
- Don’t make excuses
- “You never fail if you know in your heart that you did the best of which you are capable. That’s all (you) can do.”
- “Did I win? Did I lose? Those are the wrong questions. The correct question is: Did I make my best effort? That’s what matters. The rest of it just gets in the way.”
- “The only pressure that amounts to a hill of beans is the pressure you put on yourself. If you’re trying to live up to expectations put on you by the media, parents, fans, your employer, or whatever else there may be, it’s going to affect you adversely because it brings on worry and anxiety. ...just (do) the job the best (you) can.”
- “Understand there is a price to be paid for achieving anything of significance. You must be willing to pay the price.” (That price would be “hard work”)
- “The goal I believe is important is the goal of making the most of your abilities. That goal is within your reach.”
- “The jersey and the number on it never belong to just one single player, no matter how great or how big a ‘star’ that particular player is. It goes against the whole concept of what a team is. The team is the star, never an individual player.” (also the “Zag” way)
- “Eight suggestions for succeeding”
- Fear no opponent. Respect every opponent.
- Remember, it’s the perfection of the smallest details that make big things happen.
- Keep in mind that hustle makes up for many a mistake.
- Be more interested in character than reputation.
- Be quick, but don’t hurry.
- Understand that the harder you work, the more luck you will have.
- Know that valid self-analysis is crucial for improvement.
- Remember that there is no substitute for hard work and careful planning.
- “Understanding that the good of the group comes first is fundamental to being a highly productive member of a team.”
- “You must take what is available and make the very most of it.”
- “We can’t obtain perfection as I understand it. But we can work, and work hard, toward obtaining it. If you do that, you will never lose, in sports or in life.”
- “There is no substitute for work. Worthwhile things come only from work.”
- “Hard work is essential, and only you really know if you’re giving it everything you’ve got. People who always try to cut corners will never come close to realizing their full potential.”
- “Enthusiasm. By that I mean simply that you have to like what you’re doing; your heart must be in it. Without enthusiasm you can’t work up to your fullest ability.”
- “Be persistent. Be determined. Be tenacious. Be completely determined to reach your goal. That’s intentness. If you stay intent and your ability warrants it, you will eventually reach the top of the mountain.”
- “The best way to improve the team is to improve ourself.”
- “If I am through learning, I am through.”
- “If you do not have the time to do it right, when will you find the time to do it over?”
- “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.”
- “Goals achieved with little effort are seldom worthwhile or lasting.”
- “As long as you try your best, you are never a failure. That is, unless you blame others.”
- “Be slow to criticize and quick to commend.”
- “Be more concerned with what you can do for others than what others can do for you. You’ll be surprised at the results.”
- “The more concerned we become over the things we can’t control, the less we will do with the things we can control.”
- “Don’t permit fear of failure to prevent effort. We are all imperfect and will fail on occasions, but fear of failure is the greatest failure of all.”
- “Acquire peace of mind by making the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”
- “Much can be accomplished by teamwork when no one is concerned about who gets credit.”