Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Thank You Seniors!

On Saturday we honored our four seniors - Alexa Barbush, Colleen Bott, Tracy Hahn, and Elizabeth Snyder - before and after our game against Dickinson.  All four have contributed so much to our program over the course of their Diplomat Basketball careers - their positive energy, dedication, and bright smiles have meant so much to our entire team.  All four have also given their time and talents to many different facets of our campus community.  Thank you Alexa, Colleen, Tracy and Liz!



Thursday, February 14, 2013

Play4Kay

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Play4Kay game last night by wearing pink and donating to a great cause.  The 2013 Play 4Kay initiative (formerly known as WBCA Pink Zone) is an opportunity for a nation of coaches to raise breast cancer awareness and funds for research on the court, across campuses, in communities and beyond. 

Since its inception in 2007, the Play 4Kay initiative has raised over $2 million to support women's cancer research. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is the official charity of the initiative. 


More info is online:  www.play4kay.org





Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Being a Great Team Member

I've been following Jon Gordon on Twitter (@jongordon11) and he consistently has some great info and quotes.  Recently, he posted 9 Way to Be a Great Team Member.  The full post can be found on his blog.  Below is an abbreviated version.

1. Set the Example - Instead of worrying about the lack of performance, productivity and commitment of others you simply decide to set the example and show your team members what hard work, passion, and commitment looks like.  Focus on being your best every day.  When you do this, you'll raise the standards and performance of everyone around you.

2.  Use Your Strengths to Help the Team - The most powerful way you can contribute to your team is to use your gifts and talents to contribute to the team's vision and goals.  Without your effort, focus, talent and growth the team won't accomplish its mission.  This means you have an obligation to improve so you can improve your team.

3.  Share Positive Contagious Energy - Research shows emotions are contagious and each day you are infecting your team with either positive energy or negative energy.  You can be a germ or a big dose of Vitamin C.

4.  Know and Live the Magic Ratio - High performing teams have more positive interactions than negative interactions.  3:1 is the ratio to remember.  Teams that experience interactions at a ratio equal or greater than 3:1 are more productive and higher performing than those with a ratio of less than 3:1.

5.  Put the Team First - Great team players always put the team first.  They work hard for the team.  They develop themselves for the team.  They serve the team.  Their motto is whatever it takes to be better.  They don't take credit.  They give credit to the team.

6.  Build Relationships - Relationships are the foundation upon which winning teams are built and great team members take time to connect, communicate and care to build strong bonds and relationships with all their team members.

7.  Trust and Be Trusted -  You can't have a strong team without strong relationships.  And you can't have strong relationships without trust.  Great team members trust their teammates and most of all their team members trust them.  Trust is earned through integrity, consistency, honesty, transparency, vulnerability, and dependability.

8.  Hold Them Accountable - Sometimes our team members fall short of the team's expectations.  Sometimes they make mistakes.  Sometimes they need a little tough love.  Great team members hold each other accountable.  They push, challenge and stretch each other to be their best.

9.  Be Humble - Great team members are humble.  They are willing to learn, improve and get better.  They are open to their team member's feedback and suggestions and don't let their ego get in the way of their growth of the team's growth.


Monday, February 4, 2013

Faculty & Professional Staff Appreciation Day

This past Saturday was our Faculty & Professional Staff (FPS) Appreciation Day.  We are thankful for all the support the FPS give our student-athletes throughout the year, and were happy to recognize them in this small way.  Thank you to all the FPS who came to the game and cheered us on!