CREATING CULTURE AND VALUES

Setting behavioral standards ("Better people make better players").

A team's culture is defined by "how we do things here." The most successful leaders don't just coach sports skills, they mold character.

They establish a code of non-negotiable values that govern behavior on and off the field, under the premise that personal development is inseparable from professional success.

Values such as humility, sacrifice and integrity become the common language of the group.

To instill this, slogans or mantras that summarize the team's identity can be used.

For example, a college rugby team might adopt the principle of "Character precedes championship."

This means that players are expected to be exemplary citizens, dedicated students and respectful teammates before they are stars on the field.

If a talented player displays arrogance or disrespect, the team culture (reinforced by locker room leaders) corrects that behavior immediately, prioritizing the health of the group over toxic individual talent.

Team rituals and sense of belonging (e.g. "sweeping the locker room").

For values to be more than just words on a wall, they must be ritualized into concrete actions that foster humility and service to the group.

Team rituals serve to level egos and remind everyone that no one is above the institution. These symbolic acts reinforce cohesion and a sense of belonging.

A potent example is the practice of veteran players or captains being in charge of cleaning the team bus or picking up training equipment after a game, rather than leaving it to rookies or support staff.

Seeing the team's star carrying the ball bags or cleaning the hydration area sends a powerful message: leadership is service.

This type of ritual eliminates status-based hierarchies and builds a culture of shared re