Team culture is an essential factor for high school student-athletes to consider when evaluating college programs. After all, the team they choose to join will likely be the most influential piece of their college experience which will span four (maybe five) years. Recently, Dave Mullins with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) asked me about my philosophy regarding team culture. Here’s his post and my interview:
ITA Coach Masterclass: Team Culture
Every team will experience good years and bad years. Regardless of the results, the experience of all involved will be determined by the culture of the team. Establishing a culture and maintaining a culture is one of the key responsibilities of any leader. College coaches must be clear as to the type of culture they want to promote and then come up with systems as to how to monitor the health of their team culture.
“Are you willing to take responsibility for your team’s culture or do you treat it like the weather – something that happens to you?” — J. Spool
Amy Bryant has created a culture at Emory which has led to six NCAA Division III women’s team titles and is a member of the Emory Hall of Fame. She has led her teams to over 400 victories while promoting a culture of high integrity and sportsmanship.
