Vision. mission. values. standards.

In order to articulate what our program's vision, mission, values, and standards are, we must first clearly define what each of these words mean as they are often used interchangeably in most contexts. We want to help our coaches create these important stepping stone to developing their program, creating a roadmap of clarity in defining each of these terms. 

• When it comes to our program's Vision, and really your vision as a coach, it is geared more towards the future. This is the BIG picture of what we want to accomplish down the road with our players, team, and program. In short, what kind of coach do I want to be and what kind of product do we want to produce? So when you think vision think big picture for your program or athlete’s future. It’s our “WHY”. 

• Our Mission statement differs from the vision by pertaining more to what we are doing right now, in the future, to accomplish our vision. It is our purpose for TODAY. Our mission is the "WHAT". Our mission is the "cause" that "effect" the vision. 

• Values are what we use to achieve the mission's objective. Our values are the "HOW". These values are what we use to make sure that not only we are on the right path, but if we veer off course our values are what helps gets us back on the right track. 

• Standards will be the measuring sticks for our values that let us know the progress we have made or how close we are to achieving our mission through our established values. 

So the vision, mission, values, may be set by the coaches, with potentially some input from some players, but setting the standards (we feel) is where the players offer their greatest input. It is their program too after all. We need their INVESTMENT. So if one of our values is commitment then we need to figure out exactly what commitment is going to look like at various settings both on and off the floor. What does it mean to be respectful? Or to exhibit toughness? How do we compete on the court, in the classroom, and in the community? This intentional standard setting activity is what really sets up the actionable objective steps (measuring stick) that holds us to our values, achieves the mission's objective; and accomplishing our long term overarching vision. 

It then becomes up to us as the leader of the program to develop those values based on the standards we set by developing our student-athletes as people first, then players. This step is the character and leadership development tier of the pyramid. We like to define character as "the consistency of our habits and decisions". Leadership is the influence each player has over the individuals in the program and the program as a whole. If we develop the consistency of our habits and values with each player increasing their (positive) influence over others in the program then you can guess just how SPECIAL that can be. 

This intentional process can help us get passed the roadblocks that stand in the way of our vision when it comes to ALIGNMENT of that vision and the ATTAINABILITY for everyone in the program. Think about how hard it would be for that vision to MOVE with this in place. Think about how ENGAGED each player will be when they know explicitly what to be engaged in. The CONNECTIONS that we make each day help reinforce these values/standards and our ability to know redistribute the RESOURCES we have become so much easier (and clearer) once we have this foundation in place.

Need help in defining these areas for your program? Click here.

In service, 

Kyle Kavanaugh