"No lines, no laps, no lectures..." - Brian McCormick
Coaches are teachers - teaching life, sport, and more - even language. Rhetorical devices are language tools of persuasion. Everyone uses them. Everyone can use them better. McCormick's quote stresses efficiency - getting more done in the time alloted.
Tricolon
McCormick's quote uses tricolon, three words or phrases used to grab attention and make an impression. You know Caesar's "I came, I saw, I conquered" or MacArthur's "duty, honor, country."
"Play hard, play smart, play together." I've heard that credited to Morgan Wootten
"Vision, decision, execution." I've chosen that as another version of "see it, choose it, do it."
"Teamwork. Improvement. Accountability." Asking team members to remember laundry lists of values can be a "fool's errand." In his MasterClass, Navy SEAL team leader Jocko Willink tells the story of a team member who asks for three things to remember, "because I can't remember more than that."
Metaphor
Metaphor compares two dissimilar things to highlight similarities.
"Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson Jackson expresses a core value similar to "force multiplier" or a team can be greater "than the sum of its parts."
"The ball has energy." Willing passers create not only better angles and better shots but goodwill. Players have less incentive to pass or to move if they believe they won't get the ball back.
"The ball is a camera." If you want the ball, then you must get in a position where the ball (the passer) can see you. The camera metaphor emphasizes the value of playing without the ball.
Chiasmus
Chiasmus mirrors words, phrases, or ideas in reverse order, often an A-B-B-A pattern. Kennedy's 1961 inauguration featured, "Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."
"Do more to become more. Become more to do more." Encourage players to embrace their roles while working to grow them.
"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." - John Wooden Better coaches and players have specific plans to create advantage when facing tough opponents. Belichick shared Sun Tzu's Art of War advice, "Utilize strengths; attack weaknesses." Trader Linda Bradford Raschke reminds investors to "Plan your trade and trade your plan."
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” - Phil Jackson This reminds all of us of the famous line, "the strength of the wolf is the pack."
Some lines do heavy lifting.
Dean Smith said, “A lion never roars after a kill.” Smith's quote applies multiple metaphors - the lion is the winner, the kill is victory, and roaring symbolizes boasting or taunting. He messages his team to "Act like you've been there before."
Studying effective players, coaches, and their language helps us to become better communicators and influencers for our teams.
Lagniappe. Adversity is our companion. We cannot wish it away.
Nick Saban said, "There can be no great victories in your life unless you overcome adversity."
— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) December 28, 2025
"You can’t be a great competitor unless you overcome adversity. That's mental."
The best aren't fearless - they just keep showing up.
They choose toughness, persistence, and grit. pic.twitter.com/ybVBSwHbSv
Lagniappe 2. “There is seldom just one cockroach in the kitchen. You know, you turn on the light and, all of sudden, they all start scurrying around.” - Warren Buffett
Good teams have better organization, discipline, and training. Less effective teams seldom have "one cockroach." There are usually problems with preparation and training leading to execution problems.
