| BUILDING A PROGRAM THE CYCLE OF SUCCESS |
| Why does it seem that you constantly see the same teams doing well year after year at the Conference, Regional, and National levels? It comes down to a term I like to use The Cycle of Success. So how long does it take to build a successful program? The answer to that question is not so easy to identify. It takes years to instill the proper attitudes, traditions, philosophies, methodologies into your athletes. Patience As the old saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day", neither were great distance programs. It takes time to lay the proper foundation that will allow for your athletes to reap the benefits year after year. Many athletes and coaches make the mistake of trying to "strike while the iron is hot" and forgetting that to put the individuals best interests first. Never forget that you can success today without compromising tomorrow. This attitude of Leadership You need not only good leadership from the coaching staff, but it is vital that you have good leadership from the athletes themselves. The great coach Jumbo Elliot was once asked how he could maintain such a high level of accomplishment from his teams for such a long time... |