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Push yourself again and again. Don't give an inch until the final buzzer sounds. - Larry Bird

I mentioned last time that I spent the weekend with the people from the Positive Coaching Alliance.  One of their principles is Honoring the Game.  By that they mean respect for Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates and Yourself.  This principle really gives focus on what youth sports should be about; teaching life lessons.

One of the phrases they use to illustrate the principle is "Fierce and Friendly".  That may sound like an oxymoron, but think about Magic and Bird or Watson and Nicklaus.  When one made a shot, the other wanted to top it.

The Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA Finals three times in four years.  Celtics had what the Lakers wanted and vice-verse.  But rather than build a hatred for each other, they had an enormous amount of respect for each other.  Not to say that those games were tea parties.  Each team scratched and clawed (sometimes literally if I recall correctly) for every point.  But at the end the winners knew they earned something special and the loser knew they pushed the winners to the limits.

That sort of respect for opponents is a gift we don't give our kids often enough.  Think about the competitive games your team plays — compare that to the blowouts, both for and against.  Win or lose, your team probably plays better because they have to.   Respect what your opponent brings to the game and what they bring out of your team.  A great opponent is a gift that keeps on giving.