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Status Differentiation

2012-05-03T01:49:24Z

Status Differentiation
Maintaining Status Differentiation

What is “Status Differentiation?”
“Status” connotes a specific and usually acknowledged hierarchical standing. It is understood, when someone has status, there are other statuses present, usually some below and some above. “Differentiation” means distinct separation between things, so much so that, the difference between them is noticeable.

All organizations should have levels of status. When each and every level is clearly defined (particularly the responsibilities), each member eagerly accepts his or her delegated duty, and there is a team spirit of helping each other, that organization can succeed. On the other hand, when the statuses are not differentiated and no team spirit exists, that organization will not function near its potential.

To put it another way, all successful organizations achieve because there is good teaching, from each status down to the next. Good teaching can only happen when status differentiation is present. When the teacher knows he’s the teacher, and when the student knows he’s the student, a major step toward a solid learning foundation has been established.

Coach Wooden and Status Differentiation
The one major reason for Coach Wooden’s success as a coach is, he was an incredible teacher. You may be able to win one championship because you happen to get some great players, but you cannot win ten. To win that many, you must be able to quickly and properly transfer all necessary knowledge to your players, every year. In other words, you must be a great teacher.

“Necessary knowledge” means everything the players need, to be at top physical and mental form and able to successfully handle every possible challenge. I don’t know if you’ve ever coached, but there’s a lot to teach and very little time to teach it in. (I coached a 5th grade boys team and couldn’t teach nearly everything.) Yet, Coach Wooden, year after year, taught everything. How?

As mentioned above, organizations don’t become successful by accident. Those at the top teach those below them. Those below them, teach those below them and so on and so forth. Learning is maximized when the Indians know who the Chiefs are, and the Chiefs know how to teach. At UCLA, status differentiation was never weakened. Coach was the Chief and we Indians listened and learned. And we learned more in one practice than most teams did in a week.

How did Coach maintain status differentiation?
1. He obeyed the law.
2. He obeyed his boss.
3. He played within the rules.
4. His behavior was above reproach.
5. He dressed as a coach.
6. He was slow to laugh with us.
7. He would not allow any player to think he was more important than the rest.
8. He would not allow any player to think he had special privileges.
9. He followed through with discipline.
10. He was not easily influenced by his players.
11. I think you get the point.

On the practice floor of Pauley Pavilion, there was no doubt who the Chief was. Next time you visit Pauley, you’ll see the championship banners hanging from the rafters. They are there because of The Great Chief Teacher. He was able to transfer knowledge, in part because he maintained status differentiation. If you look closely, you’ll see a few feathers up there.

Metta World Peace: If the NBA Would Have Done the Right Thing

2012-04-26T02:18:03Z

Metta World Peace: If the NBA Would Have Done the Right Thing
Swen Nater

Following are two articles. The first is much like many articles that were written about the violent elbow thrown by the Lakers’ Metta World Peace in last Sunday’s NBA game versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. It states, World Peace was fined but will return to play. The second article is fictitious, will never happen, and is idealistic. It is, in my opinion, THE article that would have been written, if the NBA would have done the right thing.

Metta World Peace Suspended 7 Games for Elbow
Allaboutthemoney Press Association

Sunday, April 25, 2012

The NBA suspended Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) 7 games for his latest violent act. World Peace was suspended Tuesday for hurling a direct vicious elbow at the head of Oklahoma City’s guard, James Harden, giving him a concussion, Monday. When interviewed after the game, the seemingly-calm World Peace explained he was celebrating his dunk and that the blow was purely accidental. NBA commissioner David Stern, after getting all the facts, including Metta’s history of similar violent actions, said,
"The concussion suffered by James Harden demonstrates the danger posed by violent acts of this kind, particularly when they are directed at the head area. We remain committed to taking necessary measures to protect the safety of NBA players, including the imposition of appropriate penalties for players with a history of on-court altercations."
World Peace will miss the last regular game of the season at Sacramento and the first six playoff games. He will lose $348,000 in salary if he serves the entire suspension this year. If the Lakers lose in the first round quickly, the remainder of the suspension will be served next year.

Now suppose, if the NBA would have done the right thing because it is concerned with player safety, public opinion of the league, and the youth of this country, this is the way that article would read.

Metta World Peace Fired; NBA Commissioner Says He’s Had Enough
Common Sense Press Association

Sunday, April 25, 2012

Sunday, Lakers forward Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) hurled a vicious elbow into the head of Oklahoma City’s guard, James Harden and was ejected. World Peace told reporters the incident was accidental. However, when the commissioner and his staff viewed the film, he immediately made the decision to oust World Peace from the NBA.

Said the commissioner, “There is no place in this league for anyone who deliberately throws blows at another player’s head. There is no place for anyone who repeatedly has shown he not capable of self control and does, at any point, fly off the handle and begins physically damaging other human beings. Metta World Peace is not welcomed back to the NBA ever.

“Going forward, if we see this happen again, from anyone no matter if they have a record or not, and it is determined the act is premeditated and endangered the health of the victim, we will release that person from the league. I don’t care if the Players’ Union takes us to court. My primary concern is the welfare of our players. But I am also concerned with our young people. They need to know how the game should be played and I am a firm believer, the best players in the world have a responsibility to demonstrate exactly that.”

Metta World Peace is expected to begin training for his new career in Ultimate Fighting on Monday where he is expected to receive a few blows to the head himself. However this time, he will have the opportunity (unlike Harden) to see the elbow coming.

One and Done Recruiting Operations Guide

2012-04-23T01:01:30Z

One and Done Recruiting War Operations Guide
Swen Nater

There’s no way around it; the “One and Done” is here to stay. High school superstars, not quite ready for the NBA, are playing their college freshman years and keeping their bags packed for the pros. These “athletic students,” as opposed to “student athletes,” are going to sign with the university program that will give them the best chance, after one year, of going pro. Right now, the University of Kentucky is that program. For the past four years, every point guard has become a “One and Done,” This year, almost immediately after UK won the championship, all five starters—Lamb, Jones, Teague, Davis, and Gilchrist—entered their names in the NBA draft.

Kentucky is already busy recruiting another five high school players to spend one year in “Player Purgatory,” on their way to becoming millionaires. If you’re the coach of another Division I school and you want to beat Kentucky for the title, you had better come up with something that will convince some of those players to sign with you instead of the Wildcats.

Like I said before, these players are going to college for one reason: To raise their NBA stock as high as it will go. After all the red carpet university visits, and these eighteen-year-olds have considered everything with their mature high school brains, their decisions will be made on one condition and one condition only: Which training camp (school) will give them the best chance of becoming a lottery pick. So it’s either put up or be number 2. Here are some suggestions for successful One and Done recruiting. Make him feel like a VIP.

Top-of-the-Line Accommodations
Offer him a pre-paid one-year lease on a luxury dorm suite, complete with a closet big enough to house his $1,000 collection of sneakers and warm-ups he’s already “purchased” with the allowance money he’s saved up since he was two.

The Basics
But don’t stop there. For him to sign your “One and Done Letter of Intent,” you’ll need to add basics like Dove Soap, a monogrammed towel set, door-to-door laundry and dry-cleaning service, and a Luxury Spa Package. After all, you don’t want your Valued VIP to have sore muscles during his brief stay.

High-Quality Foods
In one year, your VIP will be a rich man, frequenting the finest restaurants in the country. It will mean a lot to him if you help him prepare for the high life by promising a personal Chef who will create a cuisine with such high end foods as Wagyu Kobe steaks and fresh organic vegetables from Whole Foods. When in high school, he will think sushi is a misspelled girl’s name. But trust me; when in the NBA, he’ll acquire a taste for it. Promise him gift certificates to the finest Japanese restaurants in town.

Electronics
And let’s not forget the essential electronics gear either. To ensure a victory in the One-On-One Throwdown, furnish the Celebrity Suite (I mean dorm room) with a big screen HDTV (3D of course), and provide an iPad 3, and Xbox, and Wii sports so he can keep that valuable body in shape between practices and games.

VIP Locker Room Space
A nice touch—which will really sit well with the team—is to make his locker area twice as large as the ones for the players who pass him the ball and are there for an education. The media will need that room for cameras and reporters when they interview him after the game.

Playing Time
And while you’re at it, you better promise him a starting spot. He’s going to ask for it anyway.

On last thing and a word of caution; whatever you do, don’t promise him if he signs with you, you’ll help him finish his degree. God forbid you convince him that the primary reason for going to college is to get an education.

How to Train Young People to be Successful at Work

2012-04-13T03:47:18Z

How to Train Young People to be Successful at Work
Swen Nater

I work at Costco, in the corporate office. I’ve been here 17 years. I also played sports. I truly believe a sports coach can do much to help young people prepare to function successfully in a corporate office-type environment. By “successfully” I mean, be productive, be an asset, be likeable, help the company reach its goals, get promoted, and generally be happy.

I wrote down twelve things I thought were necessary to be successful here. Then, one by one, I determined if sports could prepare a person in that area. In each case, it could.

1. Discipline to get the job done right and on time
2. Working hard
3. Loving what you do
4. Discovering how to improve and move up
5. Being an effective member of a team that is working on something together
6. Being at work and being on time
7. Being creative
8. Being subordinate
9. Helping improve or change things
10. Being responsible and dependable
11. Knowing how to be led
12. Knowing how to lead

After I wrote them down, it hit me; John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success covers many of these. So, I went back and entered the Pyramid traits (in parenthesis).

1. Discipline to get the job done right and on time (DEPENDABILITY)
2. Working hard (INDUSTRIOUSNESS)
3. Loving what you do (ENTHUSIASM)
4. Discovering how to improve and move up (AMBITION)
5. Being an effective member of a team that is working on something together (TEAM SPIRIT, COOPERATION, FRIENDSHIP)
6. Being at work and being on time (INTEGRITY)
7. Being creative (RESOURCEFULNESS)
8. Being subordinate (LOYALTY)
9. Helping improve or change things (LOYALTY, COOPERATION, ALERTNESS)
10. Being responsible and dependable (RELIABILITY)
11. Knowing how to be led (LOYALTY, FAITH)
12. Knowing how to lead (POISE, CONFIDENCE)

I was so excited. Yeah! Through youth sports, The Pyramid can prepare someone to be a great worker and a great asset to any company. Cool!

So go tell your child, “Sign up for a team. Here’s a Pyramid of Success. Take it with you and make sure you get all of these things out of it.”

That sounds silly, right? A child can’t use the Pyramid of Success to prepare for the workplace; that’s the coach’s job. And I hear, some coaches have. If you know of someone who was trained in youth sports through the Pyramid, please call me. We want him or her at Costco. Thanks.

Mrs. Tepfer

2012-03-24T00:47:47Z

Mrs. Tepfer
Swen Nater

Did your children take piano lessons? Mine too. My two daughters were taught by a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Tepfer. Once a week after school, for two years, they went to Mrs. Tepfer’s house for practice. Often, they came home and practiced and I listened. You know what? They were good. Mrs. Tepfer was a good teacher. The recitals were nerve-wracking, not only for the girls, but for me too. But, they did very well, every time.

I thank God for Mrs. Tepfer because she was a very good influence on my girls, not only through her teaching, but in another, very different way.

I believe we gave her daughters Christmas presents one year. Two days later, we received thank you notes. When I saw Mrs. Tepfer a day later, I told her about it because I was impressed at how soon the notes came. She said, “It’s because they know, they can’t use a gift until they have written the thank you note and mailed it.”

That seemed like a good idea and, although we didn’t enforce that rule at our home consistently, the girls became prompt and excellent Thank You Note writers, and they still are.

We have all received Thank You Notes or letters and we know, there are “thank you notes” and then there are “Thank You Notes.” Following are the four steps to writing a thank you that means something. Oh, yes. Almost forgot. Thank You Notes should always be handwritten.

Suppose you gave me a can of Noxzema Shave Cream for my birthday.

Give Thanks

Thank you for the beautiful and colorful can of Noxzema Shave Cream.
Include Consideration

That was very thoughtful. It takes me back to the barber shop on the corner of Sharp and Blade Streets.
Feature the Function

I just ran out of Edge, which I usually use, but I’ve actually been thinking about going “old school” and back to Noxzema. I’m looking forward to tomorrow morning and a warm, close shave. I’m setting the alarm for 5. Can’t wait.
Thank Again and Sign

Again, thank you so much for the wonderful and thoughtful gift. Swen

My girls remember some of what Mrs. Tepfer taught them about piano (In other words, they can actually play more than Chopsticks.) But they remember all about the thank you note writing passed down to them by Mrs. Tepfer. To this day, I always receive an excellently-written thank you note from them, and very shortly afterward. But neither one would dare give me shaving cream.

Thank you

A Grain of Salt

2012-03-18T23:15:59Z

A Grain of Salt
Swen Nater

I have often wondered how Coach Wooden was able to keep his feet on the ground when all around him, many were raising him up to be almost a god. The truckloads of honors and praise he received never went to his head. Most of it was offered him after he retired. There came a point where he simply could not accept another “Teacher of the Century, Father of the Year, Coach of the Decade, or Man of the Year” trophy or plaque.

They called him “The Wizard of Westwood.” He shunned the title. He said, “I’m not a wizard; I’m a teacher.” Credit, for the championships, was offered him but each time, he politely but sternly, gave credit to the players, managers, and even his athletic director. He also gave credit to his wife, Nellie.

I really don’t know how he did it but I do remember him telling me, “You’re never as good as they say you are and you’re never quite as bad either. Take what others say with a grain of salt and know, somewhere in the middle, is where you really are.”

I just remembered that the other day, so I put it into verse so I’d never forget it.

A Grain of Salt
Swen Nater

Don’t swallow sweet words from the flatterer’s tray,
Nor the bitter taste of the critic’s cup.
Remember to add just a grain of salt,
When they serve the praise or dish the fault.
For you’re never as good as they build you up,
And you’re never as bad as they say.

Precious Prisoners of Their Youth

2012-03-11T16:36:03Z

Precious Prisoners of Their Youth
Swen Nater

They’re like the unborn butterfly;
They toss and turn about.
They’re restless prisoners of their youth,
Pushing to get out.

They’re like the hooked and splashing, jerking,
Jumping, speckled trout.
They’re restless prisoners of their youth,
Pulling to get out.

They’re like the ant beneath the brick,
Scratching through the grout.
They’re restless prisoners of their youth,
Clawing to get out.

Impatient for the end of teens,
They scan the clock and scout.
They test they try, they creep they cry
They push they pry and pout.

They think they’re like a waterfall,
But they are still a spout.
They’re restless prisoners of their youth,
Yearning to get out.

But just behind the guarded faces,
Between their frequent frantic paces,
They’ll never tell you, but they burn,
With fiery minds that want to learn.

But who will love them with the truth,
And who can hear their silent shout,
And who can feel their thrashing bout,
And who will teach them, ‘fore their out,
These precious prisoners of their youth?

I'm Seven Feet Tall

2012-03-01T14:06:18Z

I’m Seven Feet Tall
Swen Nater

I’m seven feet tall, and what is that you say?
You wish you were tall in the very same way?
You wish you could stand, above all the rest?
You think that would be, better than best?

If you knew what it’s like to be way above low,
You would think once or twice before wishing it so.
For the life of a person as tall as a tree
Is not as elite as you think it might be.

You can fit in your bed and you sleep like a lamb.
But my bed is not nearly the length that I am.
Come and see me in bed if you have any doubt,
And you’ll see it’s my head or my feet that stick out.

When you shop at the grocer, you finish so fast.
By the time I am done, an hour has passed.
Folks know I am tall; I can see every sign.
So they ask, “Where’s the bread, or the cheese or the wine?”

In the morn you get out of your bed with a hop,
But if I stand too quickly, my eardrums, they pop,
And my nose starts to bleed. So to easy all the pain,
I sit right back down but my ears pop again.

When you enter a party, you mingle and dine.
As the host brings hors de oeuvres and expensive French wine.
But when I go to parties, the host does beseech,
“Would you change that light bulb I just couldn’t reach?”

“You look so distinguished,” you jealously say,
“With a high head of hair that is bluishly gray.”
But I tell you the truth; it is not as you said.
My hair is not gray; that is snow on my head.

You think birds are cool soaring way in the sky,
But to them, I’m a hindrance and not a nice guy.
So they deem me a target and let their bombs fall.
So that snow on my head is not snow at all.

The $29.99 Suit

2012-02-26T14:36:02Z

The $29.99 Suit
Swen Nater

A middle-aged man saw an advertisement in the paper for $29.99 custom-made suits. He took the ad to the proprietor, was fitted, and left the store, walking down the sidewalk toward home in a brand-new suit.

Soon, he saw his friend, Ron, who was walking the other way and about to pass him. They exchanged greetings and then Ron said, “Did you get a new suit?” The man nodded and said, “Do you like it?” Ron said, “Yes, but did you notice the right sleeve is too long? The left one is fine.” The man looked down, saw that his friend was correct, and said, “I’m going back to that store.”

When he arrived and told the salesman about the problem, the salesman said, “That’s no problem. Just pull the sleeve up a little [he lifted the sleeve by pulling on it at the shoulder] and hold the sleeve in place with your chin.” He had the man turn his head to the right and press down on the shoulder with his chin. “There. That will do it.” The man looked in the mirror, saw that both sleeves were the same length, said, “Thanks,” and walked out of the store once again, but this time with his chin on his shoulder. It was rather difficult going in a straight line because his head was turned.

One minute later, he saw another friend, Bob, about to pass. Bob said, “Did you get a new suit?” The man said that he did and asked Bob if he liked it. Bob said that he did but then added, “But the left pant leg is too long. The left one is just right.” The man thanked him, did a 180, and returned to the store, still holding his right sleeve up with his chin.

After the man explained the problem with the left pant leg, the salesman said, “That’s no problem. You take your right hand and hold your left pant up like this.” The salesman had the man grab his left pant, with his right hand, about the pocket area. After looking in the mirror, the man saw that both pant legs were the same length and both sleeves were also. He left the store and, once again, walked down the sidewalk toward home. This time, he not only weaved all over the sidewalk, but he limped like a man with a cast on his left leg.

Two elderly women approached. After passing, one, having seen the man walking with his chin on his right shoulder, right hand on his left pocket, weaving, and limping, said to the other, “Did you see that poor deformed man?” The other woman quickly said, “Yes, but doesn’t the suit fit nicely?”

Moral of the Story:

Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.

If you don’t like that one, how about these?

You get what you pay for. Don’t be so cheap.

If the suit doesn’t fit, don’t wear it.

The True Meaning of Conditioning

2012-02-23T14:18:21Z

The True Meaning of Conditioning
Swen Nater

This is going to be a rather long posting. I’ll try to keep the quality high from beginning to end, though I may become a little tired. I’ve not done this long a posting before. [deep breath] Here goes.

It was early on an April 1980 San Diego morning, the first morning after the last game of the San Diego Clippers season. I put on my Clippers socks, basketball shoes, practice shorts, and practice shirt and walked out the front door of my home into the cool, but soon-to-be warm, day. The eastern sun, slowly rising like a released golden balloon, almost blinded me. But it warmed me slightly.

My usual off-season workout was weights, sprints, footwork, jumping, or shooting. I had never tried running. As I stared jogging I thought, ‘With the kind of shape I’m in, I should be able to run all day.’ The “eye-opener” was just around the corner. .

Planning on “getting it over with” in as little time as possible, I picked up the pace from a jog to a run. My heart rate increased and leveled off a bit. About 5 minutes into the run, my legs began to tighten a little and my breathing shifted from aerobic to anaerobic. In other words, I began seeking more air. It felt like the third overtime. I slowed down. That didn’t help much so I reduced my pace to the slowest jog I could muster, hoping to finish the two miles. Finally, after one mile, I quit and began my walk back home. With my head down, lungs burning, hands on my hips, and confused, I could not figure out why someone who could run four miles in a basketball game (combined with jumping and extreme wrestling) and not be tired, couldn’t run two miles straight without jumping and no one hanging on him. I was conditioned to play more than an entire NBA game but not conditioned to run two miles.

In 1974, I was challenged, by a 60 year old PE teacher in San Antonio, Texas, to a game of racquetball. I had never played before but I figured, since I’m used to running on an 84’ X 55’ court, the much smaller area would not be a problem. Because of the teacher’s experience, he had me running from wall to wall while he stood in the middle of the court, sadistically, joyously, and without an ounce of compassion, spreading the ball around. Ten minutes into the match, I began tripping over my tongue and was convinced I had used all the oxygen in the place.

Conditioning is Activity-Specific
It can be said; a couch potato is in condition because he’s accustomed to sit five hours in front of a television set working the remote, eating potato chips, and drinking Bud Light. It can be said, “He’s in shape.” He’s not in great physical shape but he’s in shape to sit in one position for 5 hours without becoming physically, mentally or emotionally fatigued.

A New York traffic intersection cop is conditioned to move his arms and stand for hours without becoming physically, mentally, or emotionally fatigued. A court stenographer, scorekeeper at a basketball game, graveyard custodian in an office building, and garbage collector, are all in a condition I am not. And, they are not in the condition I am for what I do. Conditioning is activity-specific.

Therefore, training must also be activity-specific. And, the more the training is “like the activity” itself, the more properly trained people will be.

Conditioning in Youth Sports and Classrooms
This might sound like common sense but like many things that are obvious, it doesn’t always happen. Nowhere is this truer than in youth sports and the classroom.

Youth Sports
The game/match is a series of skills, executed randomly, in various situations, at various stress levels, and for a length of time (i.e. two hours), with few breaks. For example in basketball, freethrows are shot throughout the game. Yet, many coaches dedicate one section of the practice session to it. That is not conditioning your players to be able to shoot freethrows well at the first and second half. Many coaches reserve one part of practice for full-court running in order to develop physical conditioning. All that does is condition the players to be able to run hard for that amount of time—not for an entire game.

The coach who truly conditions the team for game play has the players shoot freethrows throughout practice, makes each drill a conditioning drill, and has the proper amount of scrimmage time. Not only that, but the team is also mentally and emotionally conditioned throughout practice by providing various levels of stress, where concentration and self-control are tested and trained.

The Classroom
There is conditioning in the classroom. Students must be trained to be at full concentration, self-control, and production for the entire class time. Therefore, classroom energy and expectations must remain at a high level. In order to do that, the teacher must be extremely organized and have a good plan to keep things moving. Long breaks and irrelevant diversions can quench the spirit of learning, never to be regained again.

And, like it or not, students must be conditioned to be at full concentration from the beginning to the end of the exam. Quizzes and practice exams, with uncompromised time limits are effective training, much like scrimmages prepare the sports team for competition.

I just checked word count. That’s 906 and I’m tired. If you find typos or other errors, it’s because I’m not conditioned to write this much. I’ll practice and give you even longer ones. Just kidding.

It Doesn't Rain in Seattle All the Time

2012-02-12T22:49:41Z

It Doesn’t Rain In Seattle All the Time
Swen Nater

Seattle weather forecast for tomorrow: Raining with a chance of drizzle.

Many of you know I live close to Seattle, Washington. And many of you know, when you think of Seattle, you think of Casinos, salmon, and rain. Many times, friends have asked, “How can you stand it up there? All it does is rain all the time.”

First of all, don’t exaggerate. It doesn’t rain “all the time.” I remember a couple of days, three years ago, when it drizzled and we don’t consider drizzle, rain.

Wendy and I just got back from L.A. Down there, they kvetch about the last time any moisture came from the sky. Up here, I’m saying stuff like, “My calendar says it’s a full moon tonight but I’ll just have to take its word for it.”

The job of weatherperson on the evening news in Honolulu is easy. It’s going to be sunny and 82 degrees. The only question is, from which direction the wind is coming and how many little bitty clouds are going to pass overhead and, God forbid, block the sun for ten seconds. It doesn’t rain here all the time, but in Seattle, the weather is equally simple to predict. When you can’t see Mt. Rainier, it’s raining. When you can see Mt. Rainier, it’s going to rain.

It doesn’t rain here all the time but, when the Pillsbury Doug Boy made an appearance at a local grocery store, and a Seattle native saw him, he complimented the mascot on his nice tan. If you see me and my skin seems a little darker, don’t be fooled. It’s not a suntan; it’s rust.

It doesn’t rain here all the time but, we don’t celebrate daylight savings time because it probably means an extra hour of rain.

It doesn’t rain here all the time but another Seattle friend, an optimist by nature, wears a sun visor on his rain hat.

Somebody get me out of here for awhile. I’ll even take Buffalo.

What do call two straight days of rain in Seattle? A weekend.

A Pedagogical Throwdown

2011-11-18T14:03:57Z

The Pedagogical Throwdown
Swen Nater

What’s a “Throwdown?” It’s a head-to-head competition between two entities to see who the best is. The Food Network has a show, “Throwdown, with Bobby Flay.” Here’s the way it works.

Delilah Winder is a local legend in Philadelphia. Her Mac ‘n’ Cheese was voted the nation’s best on the Oprah Winfrey show. She has been dubbed America’s Undisputed Mac ‘n’ Cheese Queen for years. She is about to release a cookbook and The Food Network is throwing her a cookbook release party. But she doesn’t know Bobby Flay will crash it to challenge her to a Mac ‘n’ Cheese Throwdown right there on the spot. Will Bobby’s five-cheese version match up to Delilah’s award-winning seven-cheese wonder?

Because the audience is there expecting to eat, the food has to be prepared in a hurry. So, when Bobby shows up, the incumbent is usually already ready to cook. Bobby and his crew get going and look like Keystone Cops, hurriedly getting set up. In less than one hour, both sides have prepared world-class dishes and the audience is in culinary heaven.

When you watch the show (I know you’re going to now), you’ll see both parties peaking over to the other side to see what they’re competing against. That often means, unplanned, last-minute adjustments. I saw a chili maker change from Jalapeño to Chipotle because Bobby was using them. I’ve seen Bobby make many changes also. In any case, the point is, for that one hour, there is urgency and the amount of achievement and production per minute is astounding. There is no wasted time. That one moment, when one of them relaxes or loses concentration, could be the difference between winning and losing.

I believe Coach Wooden conducted practice as if he were in a throwdown. In a real sense, he was. On Monday, he and the coach he was opposing that Friday evening were in competition to see who could prepare his team the best and win. And I truly believe (without seeing the other team practice) the difference between Coach and that other coach was, the other coach had moments when he lost concentration while Coach Wooden didn’t. It could have been not catching a mistake, spending too long correcting a mistake, spending too much time talking, or transitions between drills were too long. But Coach kept right on working, milking every second of a practice for more progress.

Too bad there are no Throwdowns between classrooms in our public schools. Too bad they are not set up for it. But if somebody figured out how to do it—and did it right so that nothing but positive comes out of it—can you imagine the urgency, industriousness, economy, and productivity? For example, can you imagine the skills two 8th grade Algebra teachers would quickly acquire when they agreed to go head-to-head and the winner was determined by an end-of-semester test? I can see one of them, secretly asking students from the other class, what’s going on and then stealing the idea. Imagine the crazy pace at which those students would be learning? I can see the teachers spending their weekends studying for the next week. I can see students holding their hands up in class and saying, “Hold it, Teacher! Slow down just a little. What was that last thing you said?” and the teacher saying, “You’ve got to keep up.”

A Pedagogical Throwdown. It would work, right? But I’m just a dreamer. Don’t mind me.

To Coach Wooden, Everyone Was an Equal

2011-11-11T14:31:29Z

To Coach Wooden, Everyone Was an Equal
Swen Nater

My boss’s, boss’s, boss walked by me in the hallway. I said “Hello” but he didn’t answer. Deep in thought? I guess. However, that would have been our CEO and not me, I’m pretty sure he would have turned into Mr. Friendly.

From experience, I have concluded, it is human nature to be nicer to those we deem valuable to us, or those we think are our equals or higher, and not so much to those who are not. This is not limited to the workplace. It happens in classrooms, sports teams, clubs, and churches. Generally speaking, people respond to others according to the respect they have for them.

I’m not proposing The President of the United States spend as much time interacting with a citizen as he does with one of his cabinet members. But, I do think he should do the basics, just so that citizen knows Obama considers him or her an equal.

What are the basics?
1. A verbal greeting
2. A non-rushed friendly conversation
3. An appreciative departure.

Here’s an example of when I witnessed a little boy (with his father behind him) approaching Coach Wooden after one of our games. The conversation went like this.

“Mr. Wooden. Mr. Wooden.”

“Yes, son.”

“I think you’re the greatest coach and I love watching the games. I think UCLA is the best.”

“Well, thank you son but you know, you have to have good players to win.”

“Yeah. I guess. But you’re good and my father says you’re the best.”

“Do you play basketball?”

“Yup, but I’m not very good.”

“You practice and someday you may be a Bruin.”

“OK. I’ll practice. Will you sign the game program for me?”

“Of course. What’s your name?”

“Alan”

“There you go, Alan. Are you and your father coming to the next game?”

“We sure are.”

“Then I’ll see you then and please stop by. Thanks for saying hello.”

This type of humanity, humility, and consideration was common practice for Coach Wooden. When on the road, he acknowledged the janitor as heartily and genuinely as he did the opposing coach. When on campus, he conversed with students as often as college professors.

Do you remember the Coke commercial with Mean Joe Greene and the little boy? Mean Joe was limping on crutches off the football field, down the tunnel, and toward the locker room when the little boy asked him if he needed help or if he wanted his Coke. At first, Joe declined but then when the boy offered again he said, “Thanks,” took the Coke, and began to drink. The boy, turning and walking away, said, “See you around.” Mean Joe said, “Hey kid. Catch,” and tossed his uniform top to him. The boy caught it and said, “Wow! Thanks Mean Joe.” Joe smiled.

That’s kind of what I’m talking about.

Next posting: A Pedagogical Throwdown

The Boy, The Man, and The Nine Iron

2011-11-07T03:01:59Z

The Boy, The Man, and The Nine Iron
Swen Nater

“Look around and see if you find anything,” the woman softly told her 12 year old son as they entered the dimmed and musty-smelling second-hand store. They split up looking for treasure—she to the racks of clothes near the front, and he to the back, where the toys, tools, and gadgets were. Every Monday, when the new load was in, they made the trip and arrived five minutes before opening. Each time, she meticulously perused the shelves and racks for shorts, pants, shirts, socks, and even shoes, looking for things that were almost new, things that didn’t look second hand. Sometimes she found nothing. Sometimes she struck gold.

“Find anything, Hon?” she pleasantly asked, approaching the boy who was holding a golf club with both hands, looking at her with wide-open hopeful eyes and a slight smile.

“I found a golf club, Mom. Can I have it, please?” said the boy. He extended his arm, hopefully offering her a shiny nine iron that was in pretty good shape. It only had one nick on the face where someone had hit a rock or something.

She tucked the pair of pants and blouse she found under her left arm and took the club with both hands, holding it horizontally and turning it once or twice to see if it was in good shape. “You don’t play golf, dear,” she said.

“But I want to,” he said. They walked to the front, she made the deal, and they walked out of the second-hand store, the woman with a near-new pair of pants for his brother and a colorful blouse for his sister, and the son with a nine iron.

It was summer and there was no school. The very next day, he walked four miles over a hill to a driving range someone told him about once. He had thirty cents, just enough for a small bucket of balls. At first, he sat on a bench and watched the other men swinging at the ball. Some weren’t very good but the man in the next stall was contacting the ball well every time. After a while, he stepped up on the Astroturf platform and began trying himself. Once in a while, he connected. It was fun.

But, it didn’t take long to finish the small bucket. There were only about thirty balls in it. He took his nine iron and walked out of the driving range back door, ready for his long journey home.

“Hey son,” someone said. He looked around and saw a man—the same man who was hitting balls next to him—standing at the back of his car with the trunk open. He was about to put his clubs away.

“Yes sir?” the boy said.

“Come on over here.” The boy slowly walked to the man and stood close enough to be able to see in his trunk. “You like to hit golf balls, don’t you?”

“Yes sir, I do. But I can’t hit as well as you do.”

“That doesn’t matter. All you have to do is practice. But, you also need good equipment.” Out of his trunk, he lifted complete set of brand-new shiny irons, still in the original box. Looking at the boys nine iron, he asked, “Is that the only club you have?”

The boy nodded his head. “Yes. My mom bought it for me at the second-hand store yesterday.”

“Well, if I give you these, would you promise to practice?”

“Boy, would I?” said the boy while still staring at the glittering new irons. The man gently handed the box of clubs down to the boy who received them with care and then stared at them a while, in unbelief. He thanked the man and left for home. At first he walked but, when he was out of sight, he began to skip and then sprint.

That little boy was me. I never saw that man again, but I think about him often. To this day if a child needs something, I try to find a way to make it happen. Do you know why? Because, when I give, I know that child will have the same incredible feeling I had when that man gave me the irons.

Next Posting: Coach Wooden—Everyone He Met Was An Equal

Noter to Self

2011-10-31T00:50:51Z

Note To Self
Swen Nater

Coach Wooden was addicted to one thing—the obsession to keep improving things until they were as close to perfect as possible. In the off season, he performed exhaustive topical research and learned from experts. However, many of his ideas came to him during the practice session. For that reason he always had pen and paper handy during the workouts. It is very safe to say, Coach Wooden would not have experienced the amount of success he did, had he not been a note taker.

His workout plan was typed on 3 X 5 cards. Several times a practice, I saw him jotting things down on the backs of those cards. When I became a teacher myself, he told me, they were “notes to self” that pertained to how to improve things for the next practice. He said, had he not done that, he would have forgotten most of those ideas.

When I get home from work, I always have a piece of paper in my left pocket. That is where, during the day, I write things down that I need to remember when I get home. You know; pay a bill, write a posting, balance the checkbook, make a dinner reservation, and the like. If I didn’t do that, I would never remember most of them. In the same way, Coach Wooden took notes all practice long to remind him of what to do the next day when he and his assistants planned that day’s practice session. He told me, most of what he wrote had to do with what drills he needed to do for certain players the next day. But some were regarding the drills themselves. “Do Rebound drill longer.” “Create a variety for the shooting drill.” “Need more time on shooting.” “Find a way to get Swen more playing time.” (Wish that were true.)

While in the middle of something, have you ever thought of something really cool and important, didn’t write it down, and later, pulled your hair, trying to remember it? Been there; done that. Well, there’s good news. If you carry around a pen and piece of paper, like Coach did, you won’t ever get that terrible feeling again.

I’m sure you’re already sold on the idea (not because I said it but because Coach did it) but, just in case you’re on the fence, here are three benefits of writing Notes to Self. .

1. Improve Job Performance. (Keeps you on task.)
2. Saves Time. (Helps not having to reinvent the wheel.)
3. Facilitates Improvement. (Saves innovative ideas.)

So tomorrow morning, when you’re about to leave the house and you go through your checklist, “wallet, watch, keys, cellphone, and briefcase,” don’t forget to add, “pen and paper.”

Be more fearful of the opponent that is improving himself than the one trying to beat you.

If Coach Wooden Made Salad Dressing

2011-10-20T02:57:13Z

SWENSDAY STUFF

If Coach Wooden Made Salad Dressing
Swen Nater

Wendy and I enjoy making recipes together. This summer, we were on a mission to make the best barbecue sauce. We gathered countless recipes, tried several, combined some of them into a new recipe, and tweaked it to where it was so good, when I conducted a BBQ Sauce Throwdown here at work, my fellow employees selected it over Stubb’s and Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Our next undertaking was Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing. Wendy came up with a recipe we think is hard to beat. It’s a perfect blend of vinegar, sweetness, spices, and kick. Now we’re on a determined quest to make the very best Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette.

Every off-season from 1948 to 1975, Coach Wooden conducted a deep scientific study of the various components of basketball and teaching by: Collecting data, Analyzing it, Making a Decision, and Trying those findings out. As Wendy and I embark on our exciting “Quest for the Best” Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette, I can’t help but wonder—if Coach were to do it, would he use the same method he did when he studied the game? I believe he would.

Collecting Data
First, he would learn which experts made the best dressing and send them questionnaires. Then, he would drive to Albertsons and look at the ingredients on every Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette salad dressing and copiously write them down. He would curiously peruse every on-line recipe and every page of every culinary book and magazine (i.e. Better Homes, bon appétit, Cook’s, Cooking Light, Food Network, and Good Housekeeping), hunting for recipes and secrets. He would make appointments and visit Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, Julia Childs (he’d find a way), Mario Batali, and Martha Stewart (optional), picking their brains for, not only the ingredients, but for culinary tips.

Analyzing Data
After exhaustive weeks of gathering every possible bit of information, he would lay it all out to be sorted and analyzed. He would first look for commonalities and would find all contain vinegar, honey and mustard (duh), oil, salt, and pepper. He would also notice, most recipes instruct you to slowly drizzle the oil in last, while whisking or blending the rest of the ingredients on low speed. Then, he would notice, good recipes include four varieties of vinegar: Red wine, White wine, Rice, and White, and he would see there was not an overwhelming preference for any particular one.

He would look for “outliers,” some interesting out-of-the-box ingredient intended to kick the recipe up a notch. Three outliers he would find would be dried basil, hot sauce, and nutmeg. One cook suggested flax seed oil while 99.9% of cooks recommended olive oil.

Make a Decision
When Coach finished analyzing his data, he would probably put on his blue and gold apron, get out his food processor, and make many recipes. For example, in a recipe that called for white wine vinegar, he would try red wine, white, or rice vinegar. After trying every possible combination, including the outliers, he would finally come up with a Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette he thought was near-perfect.

Try It Out
Last, he would invite the UCLA guys over for dinner and serve us salad with his J.W.’s Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette. It would be to die for and well-qualified to be served at Denny’s….I mean….Ruth’s Chris.

But to my knowledge, Coach didn’t cook. Nellie was much better at that. But, after finding the perfect recipes for teaching rebounding, offense, defense, motivation, maximum production in practice, conditioning, teamwork, and fundamentals, the flavorful presentations he put out on the court year after year, weren’t too bad, don’t you agree?

The Mystery of the Greatness of Wooden and Einstein

2011-10-08T22:46:52Z

SWENSDAY STUFF

The Mystery of the Greatness of Wooden and Einstein
Swen Nater

What was it that resulted in UCLA’s 10 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships and, even more amazing, 38 consecutive playoff victories? How did Coach Wooden do it? The greatness of John Wooden will forever be a mystery, at least in part. Those that teach and lead will continue to dig to see what the secrets were. Even now, once in awhile, someone will come up with another ingredient. And, we know, there are many ingredients. I will present one in this article.

The greatness of Albert Einstein will also remain a mystery. But it shouldn’t. In two sentences, he gave us the blueprint, the same type of method Coach Wooden used and the same design anyone can use to become great at anything worthwhile.

I do not consider myself to have any special talent. Curiosity, obsession, and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have led me to my ideas.
Albert Einstein

When we study what Einstein wrote, we will arrive at a roadmap to greatness. At the same time, we will learn what prevents people from achieving greatness. Einstein’s goal was in proving relativity, for example, that speed could influence relative time. Coach Wooden’s goal was finding the best ways to facilitate quick, permanent, and practical learning. Einstein achieved greatness in his field. Coach Wooden achieved greatness as a teacher.

Einstein’s formula has four steps: Curiosity, Obsession, Dogged-Endurance, and Self-Criticism. He said, his greatness had nothing to do with talent. Coach Wooden’s formula is the same. Greatness is ignited by a snooping-interest in something. It is accelerated by a fascinated-fixation on finding the answers. It is fully-fueled by a patient fortitude to see the quest to the end. It is kept on track with contempt for smug-complacency with any progress or praise. In other words, Einstein and Wooden never even slowed down on the road to greatness.

Once I was obsessed with becoming a great violinist and practiced for hours a day. Then, something stopped me. At Jefferson Jr. High, when I took up violin, I was not very good. I practiced and practiced; so much so, during summerschool orchestra class, Mr. Sandberg gave me the solo part in the end of summer concert. I was so proud. You would have thought that success would have been a catalyst for accelerated improvement.

Coming from middle school, I was placed far down the pecking order in the Wilson High School orchestra. Somehow, I wasn’t able to sustain the motivation I had in middle school. Wilson High School, arguably, had one of the finest orchestras in the nation. Consequently, in my junior year, I quit.

Wendy and I went to a trumpet player’s concert recently. There, a very talented and accomplished guest performer, a violinist, played the instrument so well, it sang its way into my heartstrings. At that moment, I lamented the lack of dogged endurance I had as a youth. Had I kept going, perhaps I could have played like that.

What stopped me? What stops anyone from becoming great? Why didn’t Einstein or Wooden quit? The answer is simple and is found in the hard grout that secures the cornerstones of John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success: Industriousness and Enthusiasm.

I didn’t love violin enough to do the necessary work that would take me to greatness. There are many who are curious. There are many that are, for a time, obsessed. But, somewhere down the road, when things get really tough and more love and hard work are required to keep moving, they do the math and decide, it’s not worth it. And that’s why there are so few Einsteins and Woodens.

What is your theory of relativity or mastery of teaching? Is it astronomy, writing, poetry, victory over addiction, or art? Greatness is not a mystery. Keep the fire of curiosity and obsession going, and commit to as much hard work as is it takes to get there. Greatness didn’t come to Einstein or Wooden; they needed to find it through sustained and passionate effort. Remember, Einstein said, curiosity, obsession, and dogged-endurance, combined with self-criticism, led him to his ideas. Don’t ever give up and you will join Albert and John someday.

Consider the postage stamp; its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. Josh Billings

Let the Games Begin

2011-09-29T13:37:59Z

Let the Games Begin
The Value of Competition to Learning
Swen Nater

Competition Can Accelerate Learning
Under Coach Wooden, all practices were divided into five sections: Fundamentals, 3-on-2 Conditioning, Breakdown of offense or defense, Scrimmage, Special situations. The last four were mainly game-like competition. The first, Fundamentals, were taught in isolation but often turned into competitive situations as well. One example is The Shooting Competition. Once the basics of the jump shot were taught, Coach divided us into three groups and we competed. First team to 15 wins. Hold that thought.

I would guess that in at least 70% of UCLA practices under Coach Wooden we were competing against each other in some way. Don’t get me wrong; he drilled in the basics every day. But he didn’t wait for mastery. He put us into the heat of competition to test our skills. Are you a classroom teacher? Are you a drill team or cheerleading coach? Are you a sport coach? In almost any teaching venue, competition, if properly managed, can accelerate learning. Here are some reasons why. Competition…

1. Exposes what fundamentals are weak and need more work.
2. Allows student to take self-inventory.
3. Displays how students react to adversity or success.
4. Adds pressure and pressure speeds up thinking and reacting.
5. Creates teamwork.
6. Prepares students for exams, to be your best when your best is needed.
7. Helps students learn from failure and come back stronger and wiser.
8. Keeps students on task longer.
9. Drills in the fundamentals at high speed, increasing repetitions and shortening the feedback loop (Alan Lambert).
10. Simulates life. Life is competitive (Earl Salter).
11. Is fun. With good facilitation, more learning takes place when students are having a good time as well.

Competition Must Be Controlled to Be Effective
Competitive games, if carefully devised, can be productive. If not, they can have no value or even become counterproductive. Going back to The Shooting Competition, in order to make the game drill in the fundamentals of passing, shooting, and following the shot, Coach set rules.
1. Shooter must rebound his own shot (nobody else can touch the ball).
2. Shoot fifteen feet from the basket on this spot.

That’s it. Had he not set the rules, a non-shooter would have waited under the basket, got the rebound or miss, and fired it back to the next shooter. That would speed things up. And, we would have cheated by moving in closer to the basket.

Rules are important in order to help competition get the desired results. Here are some other guidelines that will help.
1. All fundamentals needed in the competition must be developed to a satisfactory degree before putting them to the test. Otherwise, it will be sloppy.
2. Competition cannot embarrass or discourage the less-talented and less-skilled.
3. If possible, the movements in the game should resemble the real game.

Let the Games Begin
I told you about Mr. Calvetti before. He’s the Victorville, CA, elementary school teacher that was teacher of the year more times than Pee Chee has folders. He created a competition for multiplication tables. After teaching value, I witnessed an entire 5th-grade class virtually memorize their 8s in one hour.

Competition need not be against people; it can be against a clock or record that needs to be broken. Can you come up with a competitive game to accelerate spelling? How about diagramming sentences, memorizing the presidents or the US states? Can you come up with a game to help cheerleaders memorize the routine faster? Let the games begin.

Competition in Perspective
Two final thoughts: Competition must not be overused, and Competition is not an end-all.

Coach Wooden used some form of competition for most of practice. But for classroom teaching and depending on the class, that may be too much. It’s the teacher’s call. Don Dinero, author of Training Within Industry, The Foundation of Lean, says,

I think competition is like stress; we need some to have us perform at our optimum, but too much will have the opposite effect.

Competition is not an end-all. As Franklin D. Roosevelt reminds us, it’s just one step toward the ultimate—working well with others.

Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off.

To Snub or Not to Snub

2011-09-23T01:42:11Z

To Snub or Not to Snub
Swen Nater

Have you ever been snubbed? Not sure? Oh, you have, believe me. Need a definition? OK. Actually a snub is nothing. It’s something that happens to you when nothing happens to you. By definition,

A snub is a deliberate and premeditated non-response by an eligible recipient, to the dispenser of a clear and audible in-person greeting.

Let’s say you’re walking down the hall at work or school and you see someone that also works there. About ten feet from passing each other, your eyes meet and you say, “Hello.” He ignores you, looks away, and passes without a sound or acknowledgment. You’ve officially been “snubbed.”

Snubbing is rude. The snubber makes you feel like you don’t belong on this earth and you have no value. I get snubbed all the time. At my height, I know they see me so there’s no excuse. They just choose not to respond after I’ve made the effort to be friendly. That’s rude. But I’ve discovered, some apparent snubs that I thought were snubs, were not really snubs at all, according to the official definition. That has kept my blood pressure down. Below are examples of snubs and no snubs.

The Nod Snub
You say, “Hello” and the other person makes eye contact and nods. Not a snub. It’s a partial snub, but not a pure, unadulterated, full snub. The reason is, there was a degree of response, albeit weak and bare minimum.

The Couple Snub
You say hello to one or both of a pair of people that pass you. Once, I considered this to be a snub but some friends pointed out, when two people are engaged in conversation, they have a right to ignore the dispenser of a greeting because their conversation takes precedence. In fact, they accused me of being rude by interrupting. Wow!

The Minor Snub
When you greet a young person under the age of 21 who doesn’t know you, and he or she quickly looks the other way, you have no right to claim a snub. See definition; children are not “eligible” recipients. Children are taught not to talk to strangers.

The iPod Snub
This is when someone doesn’t respond because he or she has tuned the world out by listening to “music.” It is debatable whether this is an authentic snub. According to the definition, it is not because, supposedly, the recipient didn’t hear the greeting. However, on a larger scale, it could be considered a snub in the sense that the person, by hooking up to the device, has decided to snub everyone, including the Pope if he passed by.

The Texting Snub
Once in a while I pass someone who is texting while walking. These are people that negotiate their way like bumper cars. They run into walls, hug the walls to get them to where they want to go, and make those coming in the other direction swerve to avoid them. It’s best to leave them alone and not greet at all because it’s a no-win. If they respond, they’re ticked off because you interrupted their typing. If they don’t, it’s a snub. Just let them pass and listen as they scrape the walls with their shoulders and run into doors.

E-mail Snub
Some people actually employ and activate the option to have the computer tell them when the intended recipient of an e-mail has opened it. And, if that e-mail has not been opened in due time, they will call the person and ask why they snubbed. Sorry to disappoint you, but that’s not a snub. A snub can only be a snub if it’s in person. See definition. The Facebook Snub also falls under this judgment.

Paper Towel Snub
At work, we have a paper towel dispenser that is motion activated. The other day, I swished my hand over the sensor and nothing happened, although there was plenty of paper. I came back to my cube and told my fellow workers, “I just got snubbed by a paper towel dispenser.” You wouldn’t’ believe it. They immediately jumped on my case and told me, “It’s impossible to get snubbed by any machine because machines cannot premeditate a response.” I stood corrected, with wet hands of course.

Oh, yeah! I just remembered. It’s possible that I snubbed Coach Wooden one time. My first day at UCLA, walking by Pauley Pavilion, Coach and two superstars, Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe were approaching. He was in the middle. Now he’s almost six feet and they were both about 6’8” so I only noticed the two superstars who I had never met. I greeted them by name, ignoring Coach, and walked by. By definition, I did not snub Coach Wooden but, I’m thinking, he might have not seen it that way. I did sit the bench for two years.

The are few things more powerful than the “hello.” It can turn an enemy into a friend and clouds to sunshine.

That's Really Neat

2011-09-15T01:58:20Z

SWENSDAY STUFF

That’s Really Neat
Swen Nater

It is surprising how many players do not know how to wear their equipment properly and how careless they will become about their appearance if the coach does not assume the proper responsibility in this regard.
1. The wrinkles must be smoothed out of their sock feet
2. The shoes must be laced snugly but not tightly
3. The shirt tails must be tucked in
4. The supporter must be kept smooth
5. The hair and fingernails must be kept short

The above is straight out of Coach Wooden’s book, Practical Modern Basketball. It was written in 1966. In the seventies, he added, “Sideburns no lower than the tops of the earlobes.” for obvious reasons.

When I attended UCLA, during practice, I remember numerous times when a coach would tell a player, “Tuck your shirt in.” They also checked our hair and fingernails. Our socks were to be pulled up not scrunched down. When we entered the practice court, they looked at our shoes to make sure they were laced properly. Prior to the first practice, Coach Wooden had all of our feet measured and we received shoes that were usually one-half size smaller than our street shoes. He didn’t want the foot to slide forward when we came to sudden stops. Regarding the athletic supporter, he just took our word for it that it was properly put on.

Coach was anal about these things, in part because of safety and maximizing performance. For example, hair that was too long would get in your eyes and shoes that were laced too tightly would eventually cause injury. But he also had another reason; he wanted us to be neat. He believed, if you are not neat in practice, you won’t be during games.

But Coach went a step further. He believed neatness outside of practice and games carried over to the court. In other words, he believed we should be neat all the time. When on the road, we left the locker rooms clean. When travelling, we wore blue blazers, white shirts, and ties. And, we were always clean shaven. (Not a problem for me because I had no facial hair at the time.)

Every team, club, company, and classroom has a culture and that culture is always established and created by the leader. That leader develops the culture by example, by setting of rules, and, more importantly, making sure those rules are followed. UCLA Basketball’s culture was one of neatness. Coach Wooden set the example by always being well-dressed, clean, and groomed. He helped us clean locker rooms. As if we were his own children, he disciplined us to do the same. He set the rules and believe me; he followed through.

The perfect backdoor play for the score, the timely offensive rebound, the unexpected steal, the blocked shot that set up the fast break, the rapid passing that left the opponents dizzy as they watched the ball go through the net once again. Our play was near-perfect and, yes, neat. It all started with the socks, hair, fingernails, coat, white shirt, and tie. Neatness was just the way we did everything. Now, isn’t that neat?