How to build a winning culture on and off the court

Basketball, like every other sport, is not just about the players` strength or the coach`s tactics. It equally involves the desire to win and keep winning. Nothing beats the undying passion for being nothing short of the best, both on and off the court. Building a winning culture involves a collaborative effort between the players, the coaches and all staff. With the right mindset, consistency and proper leadership, any team can develop and sustain a winning culture. In this article, I will discuss key points on building a winning culture on and off the court, as seen in the Adelaine 36ers.

Selflessness

The best teams are not those with the best players with high individual ratings. Instead, the best is those who have players that are selfless to the core. These players don`t care about who starts or doesn`t, who scores the most points or who plays the most minutes; they are concerned about team growth and winning. A team looking to build a winning culture must see each other as brothers and play for one another. An example is the Adelaine 36ers; each individual is celebrated on the court as though he was an embodiment of parts of all other players.

Success-oriented

This is where the burning desire to win comes into play. Every player must take winning personally to grow a winning culture. If every player can picture a drastic consequence for losing, they`d be less likely to want to lose. This goes beyond giving their best on the court; it transcends to devoting extra hours to personal practice, dieting and everything possible to bring them closer to winning. There is no guarantee that a team will never lose again just because they are doing this, but it brings them to a point where a winning streak can go on for an entire season.

Communication

This is where the coach plays the most prominent role. Ever wonder why a certain coach can use the same players to achieve significant milestones while another will struggle to stay in the competition with the same set of players? It boils down to communication between the players and their coach. A coach needs to become a father figure for the players. Not just on the court but equally off the court, giving them the right motivation and pushing them hard in the right way. When they win, you push them even harder; when they lose, you love them as a father would. 

Final Thoughts

It is important to note that the journey of building a winning culture seen in the Adelaine 36ers is not finite. It is a work in progress and must never end because even when it appears the entire team is on the same winning page, humans quickly derail at the slightest chance of negligence. The team needs to be dynamic and willing to accept changes continually. That is the basis of creating a winning culture and equally sustaining one.

For more information, visit: Grant Kelley