MOTTO
"Hero Ball"
To many, the term hero-ball has a negative connotation. To us, it means something totally different. Hero is defined as, "a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements and noble qualities." I can not think of a better way to describe what we are developing in young men.
PURPOSE
"Guide the student-athlete through the hero's journey."
In Carl Jung's book Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, he theorizes that the nature of human existence and struggle manifests itself from the collective unconscious into cultural "archetypes." Later, Joseph Campbell built on this idea in the book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In it he proposes the idea of the monomyth; that every story in mythology is connected by a common thread, which is the archetypal hero.
In Joseph Campbells book, he summarizes the heros journey; from the "awakening" and call to adventure, to the "trials" of challenges and temptations, to the "transformation" and rebirth and finally, returning home and sharing what he learned.
I cannot thing of a better way to describe the student-athlete experience. Each player leaves the comfort of their home and enters a new world. Through sport, they begin to awaken to who they are, they gain further understanding through adversity before finally taking ownership of who they truly are and what their purpose is. And than, they return home to their community and live their purpose.
CORE VALUES
Competition, Connection, Creativity & Enjoyment
I have seen core values represent different things in different programs. To us, core values literally mean our "value system." We want our program to value these four things over everything else.
By competition, we mean.The willingness to grow through experiential learning. "The only way to do it, is to do it." We mean, not worrying about the outcome."Victory is validation and failure is feedback." "BE great, dont worry about DOING great." We mean having the courage to try, even if you might fail. "Victory goes to the vulnerable." We mean respecting the opponent as a means for personal growth."The battle between you and you." The only way to grow, is to do. "Do or do not, there is not try."
By connection, we mean. Building trusting relationships with each other. We mean caring about each other. We mean mentoring each other. We mean sharing a common goal and a common purpose.
By creativity, we mean being who you are. Playing to your strengths. Valuing the uniqueness of each individual. Solving problems creatively in the moment. Being an original person. Being and original group!
By enjoyment, we mean enjoying the journey! When we step on the court, we bring a "hero's mentality." But off of the court we don't take ourselves to seriously. We are going to have fun, and we are going to enjoy our journey.
STANDARDS OF ATTITUDE AND ACTION
"Be prepared to bring a disciplined, focused effort and a contagious positive attitude to everything that we do. Don't do anything to hurt the team."
These are the team rules, and the standard that we hold each other to.
HERO BADGE'S
Throughout a players 4 year career, he can earn "honor badges" which will be ironed onto his practice jersey, which he will keep throughout his 4 years. The badges are as follows...
Gratitude over Entitlement
-freshman have to earn their practice jersey
Discipline over Expedience
-the ability to sacrifice for later
Courage over Fear
-the ability to slay a dragon of fear
Focus over Distraction
-the ability to stay focused in an extreme situation
Shooting Badge
-70%+ for 3 straight weeks in monday shooting drill
Hustle Badge
- winning a key 50/50 play
Response "ability" Badge
- for responding in a positive way
