Preseason Ch. 1: Getting OrganizedEstablish right away in the first meeting the only rule for the team: “Don’t doanything that’s detrimental to yourself. Because if it’s detrimental to you, it’ll bedetrimental to our program...” (Krzyzewski, 2000, p.4). Don’t dwell on it, so it does not ruin themoment.Recruit individuals who want to be part of a team and who are cacheable.Use plural pronouns from the very first meeting on. Use the words “our” instead of “my,” “we”instead of “I,” and “us” instead of “me.” Leadership on a team is plural, not singular.Make sure you are not the only one speaking in meetings, especially the first one, to demonstratethe principal of “we’re all important” (Krzyzewski, 2000, p.7). Include players, assistants,trainers, and team managers. Time ManagementDuring the first meeting, hand out notebooks and pocket calendars with important dateslisted, such as practice times, special events, and game schedule.“Teach time management, not only as it relates to individuals, but as it pertains to agroup” (Krzyzewski, 2000, p.18). AcademicsRemind athletes to tell professors of their schedules, when they will be missing class,and their plans on what to do for getting the materials they missed.Encourage the athletes to get the total university life experience. That is why there areno athletic dorms, so there is no separation between the athletes and student body.Stress the honor in academics and all things. RulesThe rule “don’t do anything detrimental to yourself” covers a wide variety of things.Establishing too many rules gets in the way of leadership. “Don’t be a team of ‘Igot’chas” (Krzyzewski, 2000, p.10). Leadership is “ongoing, adjustable, flexible and dynamic,” and so it allows the leader tohave discret...
