Coach ,

It’s the start of a new offseason and 2021 left you feeling one of three ways:

• Our culture isn’t winning for us right now. We either underperformed or are still developing as a program but we need to really improve to get where we want to be.

• We just missed it. We were so close, but we need to find a way over the hump, and some small improvements to our culture will get us there.

• We finished on top. That puts a target on our back for next season and maintaining the status quo won’t be enough to do it again.

I’ve been in every single one of those positions and I know the time from now until that first week in January is critical in figuring out the plan to create a strong culture and the leadership necessary to move the program forward.

At times it seems like a daunting task.  

Where do we start?

What template can we follow?  

Who does it best that we can learn from?

The good news is that the work has been done in detail by Mike Kuchar at X&O Labs conducted The Player-Driven Culture Study.  

His motivation for conducting this study was simple…

For the past 10 years, we’ve heard and seen the word “culture” being thrown about arbitrarily. In conversations with coaches, in reports we’ve published, in clinics talks we’ve attended, in the posters and t-shirts, we see in programs, and in sports “culture” books we’ve read…

So getting a grasp on what exactly builds culture isn't always easy.

But, Mike correctly identifies as behaviors as the true identity of a culture.  What you see happening on the field, in the weight room, in the classroom, etc. is what your culture is. And culture is strongest when driven by players.

Herm Edwards, head coach at Arizona State who is a resource for this study, explains why a player-driven culture is best (click on image for video): 

Herm Edwards - Culture needs to be Player-Driven

Dave Clawson, head coach of #16 Wake Forest, also a resource for the study, takes it a step further and explains that the process of creating culture is teaching successful behaviors that become habits:

Dave Clawson - We teach successful behaviors

Culture is truly driven by players, and what Mike has done is identify the behaviors that are essential to a strong, positive culture and give plenty of examples to support what his research has uncovered.

I have seen plenty of great clinics, courses, and presentations on culture, but nothing is as comprehensive as what Mike has put together.  

Always be growing!

Coach Grabowski

P.S. “The Player Drive Culture Study” discount is available through Monday

The examples he gives from over 40 resources will definitely be a resource you utilize to create the culture system that is right for your program and works best with your players.

Mike is offering this course, “The Player Drive Culture Study” which has over 3 hours of video for $49.75 (75% off) as an introductory offer and it couldn’t come at a better time as you plan for 2022.