The best teams in sport all have one thing in common: they have a clear identity. They know who they are and how they play. The players know how they can uniquely contribute to the identity, and it provides something larger than themselves to play for.
Every coach wants to be told their club has an identity.
But what contributes to an identity?
It’s more than your style of play. It’s how you do things. It’s who you are. It’s the standards and expectations of all of your people, top to bottom. It is the unifying thread between past successes and future ambitions.
While attending the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Convention in Charlotte, NC, we were sure to catch a presentation by one of our college football clients at Air Force Academy.
Air Force has long been a program with a clear sense of identity. Their program is built as a reflection of their institution: Discipline. Toughness. Efficiency.
Listening to Offensive Coordinator Mike Thiessen talk on a panel at AFCA, it’s clear how much value their staff places on culture. And while it’s something everyone wants in their program, how do you go about building your culture and identity?
Well, you talk about it.
During Thiessen’s presentation, he touched on a few key questions Air Force players and coaches discuss every season.
First, you start with big picture questions that span beyond the playing field:
- What do you believe?
- In what ways do you want to grow in the next year?
- What kind of person do you want to be?
- When you walk down the street, what do you want people to think?
- What do you stand for? Are you committed to it?
From there, you can get into the more tactical questions related to the team and how you play the game:
- Who are you as a coach/player?
- What kind of teammate do you want to be?
- Who are you as an offense?
- What are your team’s strengths and weaknesses?
The first step is talking about these things. The questions may seem simple, but they can go a long way in building the bond between players and coaches alike.Air Force also establishes concrete season-long goals with a focus on efficiency—for example:
- 12 or fewer turnovers on the season
- 300+ rushing yards per game
- 47% third-down completion
- 3 points per possession
By taking time to speak about these things, you’ve taken a significant step toward accountability. Players inherently take ownership of upholding the goals and advancing the identity of the team. And in these discussions, coaches can often leave feeling even more inspired than expected.
