From Wooden - A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections on and off the Court - Coach John Wooden with Steve Jamison
"There was a time when the majority would follow blindly, even into the shadow of death, but such is not the case now. Young people of today are far more aware, inclined to be more openly critical and more genuinely inquisitive than they used to be. So leaders must work with them somewhat differently.
I wrote the preceding observation a quarter of a century ago.
Are people really that different today? Have times changed so much? I wonder about that."
I know that times ARE different. Socrates wrote, “The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.”
But whatever the day, we hold certain principles timeless. As coaches, we need the buy-in that comes with fairness, respect, and trust. But we share the obligation to add value to those willing to pay the price. We model what we value. If we want engagement and sacrifice, we practice the same.