Bill Parcells: Motivational & Coaching Ideas

My wife said to me once, Explain to me why you continue to do this? The times that you enjoy it are so
much fewer than the rest of the other stuff. What kind of ego do you have that you have to keep proving
things to yourself? Why do you do it? Youre not happy, so why do you keep doing it?

I told her she didnt understand. I told her

its just about competition because my
whole life, since I was seven years old, you
went to the gym or you went to the
playground. It was always who are we
playing and where? Im still doing it.
Nothing has changed. Its still, Who are we
playing today?
BillParcellsRequiredReading
1. WhatKeepsBillParcellsAwakeatNight?
NewspaperarticlebyMichaelLewis,NewYorkTimes
2. NoMedalsforTrying
BookbyJerryIzenburg
3. AHardManforaHardJob
MagazinearticlebyJackMcCallum,SportsIllustrated
4. SummerSchool
MagazinearticlebyPeterKing,SportsIllustrated
5. TheFinalSeason
BookbyBillParcells&WillMcDonough
6. FindingaWaytoWin
BookbyBillParcellswithJeffCoplon
7. Parcells:ABiography
BookbyBillGutman
Youdontgetanymedalsfortrying.Youresupposedtodothat.

Idontwannahearaboutbackups.Backupsareexpectedtocomeinandplay.Ifthey
cant,thenyougottagetthemoffyourteam.

Theworstthingthatcanhappentoaplayer[fromaplayersperspective]isforhim
nottoknowwhatthecoachisreallythinkingabouthim.

LockerRoomSigns
IndividualsWinGamesbutTeamsWinTitles

BlameNobody.ExpectNothing.DoSomething.

ItoldthemandnowthisisrightafterTaylorhadbeensuspendedaboutaunit
thatIknewaboutthathadgoneoverthere[Vietnam]withaboutonehundredguysand
thefirstdaytheylosteighteenguysinbattle.Andthenextdaytheyhadtogobackout
there.ThepointIwastryingtomaketothemwasthatrightnowBavaroandBanksaint
readytoplay.Youlostyourpunter,Marshallcantplay,BensonsretiredandTaylorjust
gotsuspended,soreallythats6ProBowlplayerswhocantgo.
Nowwerenottalkingaboutlosingliveshere.Someofthoseguyswillbeback,
butnoweventhepressisfeelingsorryforyoubecausetheydontknowwhatyoure
gonnado.YoureplayingthedefendingSuperBowlchampionsandnobodythinksyou
canwin.Nobodythinksyouhaveachance.Andtheyrefeelingsorryforyouandtheyre
talkingaboutTaylorssuspension.TheyredoinallthosethingsbutonTuesday
morning,theyreonlygonnawanttoknowonethingwhowonthegame.Thatsall
whowonthegame.Itsblackorwhite.Youwonoryoulost.Theyllbesittinginthe
dinerdrinkingcoffeeandeatingtheirDanishandtheresonlyonethingtheywantto
knowaboutwhentheypickupthepaper.Whowon.Notwhodidntplayorwhotried,
butwhowon.
Andwhentheycameinafterwinninthegame,thatsalltheywereshouting,
Whowonthegame?Whowonthegame?

Wetalkedaboutalotofthings.HehastoplayKentuckythisSaturday.Andhe
pointedoutthatherewearetwocoaches,withathletes,someofwhomareaboutto
playthebiggestgameoftheirlivesandherewearetryingtomotivatethem.Makesyou
wonder,doesntit?

Whenhewasinvitedtopreseasonminicampbeforepreseasontraining,Parcellshad
askedhimtodropbytheofficetotalk.Tellmeaboutyourself,thecoachhadsaid.
WellIplayedspecialteamsand
 No,Parcellsinterrupted,Imeantellmeaboutyourself.Iknowaboutyour
football.

YoudonotpointtosomeoneandsimplysayLawrencecantplay,youreit.His
dutiesaresodiversethatanumberofpeoplearegoingtobeaskedtodoanumberof
differentthings.

Seethiskindofgameisjustlikeplayingbaseball.Ifyourfastballisgettingthemout,
youjustkeeponthrowingituntiltherestwentysevenofemgone.Itsthatkindof
thing.Ifyougetawayfromthatinagamelikethis,itsonlybecauseyouwanttoshow
everybodyhowsmartyouareasacoach.Thatslikecarnivalfootball:jugglerstotheleft,
sealstotheright,andtheneverybodysays,Lookhowsmartthecoachis.Thisisreally
exciting.Butyourenotacoachatallthen.Youreacarnivalbarker.

Mockinterceptstheballintheendzone.Nowwereinthelockerroomandthepress
isallaroundhimandareporterasks,Isthatthebiggestplayyouevermadeinyour
life?andthekidsays,Yep.NowtheguyaskswhyandMocksays,BecauseifIdont
makeit,theywin,butImadeitsowewin.
IknewrightthereIhadthatkid.Iknewheunderstood.Thatshowsimpleitis.
Yougetyourcoachesandyourplayerstounderstandit,youwin.Youdontgetanything
forbeingsmarterorflashier.Allanybodywantstoknowisifyouwon.

ToHavementality.vs.ToBementality
Youworktobethebestyoucanbeandthentherestfollows.ItsnotToHavefirst.Its
ToBefirst.Youshouldntworktohavethecars,themoney,thehouses.Playtobethe
bestyoucanbeandtherestwillfollow.

Youcantsitthereandlookoveryourshoulderandwaitandseeifheisgoingtobeat
you.

Ifitwerentforgameslikethis,Iwouldntbehere.
Iknowthatitjustdoesntmatterwhocantplayorwhoisnt100percent.Youcant
rationalizelikethat.Theresawaytodoitawaytowin.Youjusthavetofindit.
Thatsthementalityofwhatcoachingisabout.
Mickey[Cochrane,hishighschoolbasketballcoach]taughtmethat.Healways
saidtherewasawaytowineverygame.Findingitiswhatseparatessomepeoplefrom
others.Irememberagame.Iwasseventeenyearsold.Andthescoreistiedandhecalls
timeout.Hesaystome,Parcells,Imgonnagetyoutheballinthislocationwithyour
backtothebasketwith8secondstogointhegame.Yourjobistogetinthebasket.
Alright,nowhehastogetthroughthetechnicalpartofittogetmetheball.He
hastodeliverthesituation.Thatscoaching.Thatswhathessupposedtodo.Imjust
focusinghowtogettheballinthebasketbecausetherestofthejobishis.Thatsbeinga
coach.MaybeIdidntrealizeitatthetimebuthereducedittothebottomlineforme
whenIwasonlyseventeenyearsold.
 SomaybewedonthaveTaylorandmaybeSimmsisnt100percent.Buttheres
awaytoputusinapositiontowinthatgametomorrow.Itsmyjobtofindit.

Itsgonnabehungrydogs.Youcouldplaythisgameintheparkinglot.Idjustas
soondoittherewithnobodywatchingateightoclockSundaymorning.IfItellTaylor
orCarthonorMowattweregoingtotheparkinglotatBloomingdalesandwereplaying
onconcretetomorrowmorningandnobodyisgoingtobetherebuttheEagles,theyllall
showup.Theydontcare.Becausethatswherethegameis.

ItcomesfromthefearthatIhavetodomorethanhedoeswhoeverheisbecauseI
wanttomakesureImbetterthanhim.

ClubFighterMentality
Intheolddaysofboxingyoudfindaclubfighter,aguywhowasprettygoodbut
knewhewasnevergoingtobeachampion.Hekeptonfightingbecauseitwasaway
tomakealiving.Hehadtokeeponfightinghard,eventhoughheneveraspiredtobea
champion.Itoldthemwecanthavethatmentalityandbesuccessful.Wewanttobe
goodenoughtobeontopofthecardatMadisonSquareGarden.Wecouldnottrap
ourselvesintothinkingaboutgoingthroughthemotionstherestoftheway.Ifyoulet
someofthemdoit,theywould.Itshumannatureinasituationlikethis.

Importanceofteachingyourstaff,trainthecoachesunderyoutoseethegameasyou
seeit:Look,ifIcanjustleaveyouwithonethingwhenIleavehere,itsmyeyes.What
domyeyessee?

Asaheadcoach,nolessthanfiveunexpectedthingswillhappentoyoueveryday
itsallabouthowyoureacttothem.

Thereare3fightsthatateamhastofighteveryday:
1.Divisionfromwithin(teamchemistry;unhappinessregardingroles)
2.Competition(youropponents)
3.Outsideinfluences(agents,media,family)

Justbecauseyouveidentifiedaproblemdoesntmeanyoureanycloserto
solvingit.Itdoesntmakeadifferenceifyouknowwhyyouarefailing,youmustdo
somethingaboutit.

SuperBowlXXVteamsmantra:MaketheOtherTeamQuit

Formerassistant:IfyoucoachforBillParcellsthereisnotonedayyoucantakea
breath.Itslikedogyears:oneyearworkingforhimequalsseven.Butitmakesyou
betterandyoulearnsomuch.

TheoneguyIanswertoistheoneinthemirror.
Iveneverfearedconfrontation(althoughIveneversoughtit).Itsawinning
attitude,especiallywhenattachedtoanaddendum.Ifyoureafraidofconfrontation,
youregoingtohaveaproblembeingaheadcoach.

Iwantbeavers.Whatdobeaversdootherthanchopdowntrees?NOTHING,itJUST
chopstrees.Iwantguyswhojustthinkfootball.

Parcellsgivesallformerassistantsthatmoveontoheadcoachingjobsadeskplatethat
readsJustCoachtheTeam.

BillBelichickonParcells:Billneverlosessightofthebigpicture.

Priortoaplayoffgame,ParcellsgaveTayloranairlinetickettoNewOrleans.Fly
downandgivethereturntickettoPatSwilling[NewOrleansSaintslinebacker]because
hestheonlyonethatcanhandlePankey[LosAngelesRamsoffensivetackleIrv
Pankey]youcertainlycant.
Billunderstandspressureinvolvedinthisgame,RomeoCrennel,aformerParcells
assistantcoach,says,Hewantstoknowwhethertheplayersandcoachescanhandlethe
pressure.Therefore,heappliesitduringtheweektoseeiftheycanhandleit.Hewantsto
knowwhocanperformunderthatpressurethegamebrings.
Staffshouldalwayssticktogether,mentalityshouldbeOnewrong,allwrong.

Iftheydontbiteaspupstheyprobablydontbite.

LOSERSASSEMBLEINSMALLGROUPSANDCOMPLAIUNABOUTTHE
COACHESANDOTHERPLAYERS.WINNERSASSEMBLEASATEAMAND
FINDWAYSTOWIN

Thefirstthingyouhavetodototurnaroundateamistoenvisiontheprocess.
Envisiontheprocessanddoitasfastasyoucanbecausepatienceisntavirtueinthis
business.Youvegottoknowwhatyouwantistolooklike.Ivehadchampionship
teams.Iknowwhattheylooklike,actlike,behavelike.IknowthepricetheypayandI
knowhowtheyconductthemselvesandgoabouttryingtoaccomplishthesetasks.

Parcellsgoalforeachofhisteams:playconsistentlytoitspotentialMychallenge
asacoachistoorganize,structureit,givetheteamagoodenoughdesignandmotivation
toallowtheteamtoplaytoispotential.

AsayoungmanagerIwasmuchmoreconfrontational,moredistracted,paidattention
tothingsthatIlearnedwerentquitesoimportant.AsIbecamemoreofaveteran
manager,IeliminatedthingsIknewdidntmakeanydifference.
Whenyourelosing,youcoachbetter.Youscrutinizethingsmoreclosely.Youre
payingattentiontomoredetailtogiveyourteameverylittleedgethatyoucantowin.

Toaplayer:Youknow,maybemyexpectationsforyouasaplayerarehigherthan
yourownandiftheyare,youandIaregoingtohaveaproblem.Ithinkyouneedto
elevateyourexpectationsbecauseIseemorepotentialinyouthatyoucansee.

Motivationhastobeselfstarting.Idonthavetheabilitytomotivateanybodythat
doesntwanttodoit.Peopleconfusemotivationwithproperdirection.

Youhavetodrawafinelinebetweenpeoplethatjustdontcareandthosethatneed
direction.

Youcantleadfromanivorytower.Youhavetobeinthemix.

OnThursdaypriortothe1990NFCChampionshipgame,Parcellsgatheredhisteam
andexplainedtothemthatiftheyweretobeatthe49ersinSanFrancisco,theGiants
wouldtraveldirectlytoTampafortheSuperBowlratherthancomingbacktoNewYork.
Hetoldhisplayersthattheycouldpackforaweekendiftheyplannedonlosingin
CaliforniaortheycouldpackenoughforanextraweekinTampa.Astheteammulledthe
question,Parcellsgrabbedanextraordinarilylargesuitcasefromunderthetableand
slammeditonthetable,sayingIthinkyouknowmyanswer.

Youmayonlyneedonethingtomotivateaplayer.Findthatonethingthathe
respondstoandthatsallyouneed.

Inthelockerroomafterclinchingthe1998AFCChampionship,Youhearsameold
Jets,sameoldJets.WellnowyouretheChampsandnobodycantakethatawayfrom
you.Youhavearesponsibilitytokeepplayingthatwell.

Weretoostupidtobeanygoodrightnow.

IntheGiants1989regularseasonmeetingwiththe49ers,theGmenwereabletoonly
runfor13yards.Priortotheirmeetingwiththe49ersintheNFCChampionship,Parcells
routinelyreferredtotheoffensivelineasClub13.

Formerassistant:Parcellswouldchallengehisplayerstoreachformoreandhehad
therareabilitytomakeitseemlikeaquestionoftheirverymanhood.

Ifyourespectaplayerandherespectsyouthenyouhavearelationshipandina
relationshipallcommentaryisallowed.IcansayanythingtoPepperJohnsonandhell
understandwhereImcomingfrombecauseofthemutualrespect.
TheabilityIhaveasacoachistoseetheendpicture.Ivebeenaroundenoughto
knowwhatittakestogetateamtoreachitspotential.

Formerassistant:Hesjustascomfortablejokingwithhisplayersasheisquestioning
theirmanhood.

Iwantplayerswhowanttoreachtheirpotential.

Inregardstoaplayerherodetoomuch:MaybeIgotonhimalittletoomuch.Maybe
IneverlethimknowwhatagoodplayerIthoughthewas.But,youknow,Iranintohim
recentlyandhesaidtome,Thankyouforbeingthewayyouwere.Youmademea
betterplayer.

Becauseitsimpossibletocontroleveryelementofthelockerroom,hegets5or6
players(hisguys)tospeakhismessageforhimandwhoarehiseyesandearsand
completelydevotedtohim.

Formerplayer:WhenBillwouldsaysomethingingeneralterms,Iwouldliterally
thinkhewasonlytalkingtome.

Inacompetitiveatmosphere,tostaythesameistoregress.

Ontakingoveralosingsituation,Theywentfromagroupofguyswhowerebeaten
downtoguyswhoweremoreconfident.Isawithere,IsawitinNewEngland,withthe
Giants.Theresadistinctpatternandwhenithappens,theteamgetshungrier,wanting
morechallengesandvictories.

Toaplayer:DontcomeinhereandsayBill,youowemeachance.Idontowe
youanything.Youmakeyourownchances.

Torookiesduringtheirfirstminicamp:Canyoubethesamepersoneveryday?
Dontbetheguywholookslikeaworldbeateronedayinpracticeandthenextday
youreboredandjustcantkeepup.

Tohis1999teamafterarashofearlyseasoninjuries:Alltheexcusesareinplaceif
youwanttousethem.Ifyoudo,youwillnothaveaproductiveyear.

Howtoknowwhentobackoffconditioninginpractice:payattentiontothetwobest
conditionedathletesontheteam.Whentheystartshowingfatigue,stop.Iftheyre
dragging,therestofthemarealotworse.

Sometimesyoufallintothetrapofgivingaplayer,especiallyayoungplayer,too
muchtoosoon,toapointwhereheisovercoached.Withmostguysyouhavetospoon
feedthemalittleatatimeandinasequencethatmakessense.Ifyoutellhimeverything
youknoworeverythingyouthinkheneedstoknow,hecanbecomeconfused.Youcant
givehimtoomanythingstothinkabout.Ifyoudo,hesnotplayingnotreactingto
whatsgoingon.Hesthinkingtoomuch.

CycloneHart&VitoAntuofermo

ParcellsdidntseetheHartAntuofermofightinpersonbutwastoldaboutit,years
ago,byafriendandboxingtrainer,TeddyAtlas.Itstuckinhismindandnowstrikes
himasrelevant.Seated,atfirst,hebeginstoreadaloudfromthepages:howinthis
fight29yearsagoHartwasawellknownbigpuncherheavilyfavoredagainstthe
unknownVitoAntuofermo,howHartknockedAntuofermoalloverthering,how
Antuofermohadnoapparentphysicalgiftsexcepthebledwell.But,Parcells
reads,hehadotherattributesyoucouldntsee.Antuofermoabsorbedthe
punishmentdealtoutbyhisnaturalsuperior,andhediditsowellthatHartbecame
discouraged.Inthefifthround,Hartbegantotire,notphysicallybutmentally.
Seizingonthemoment,Antuofermoattackedanddeliveredaseriesofquickblows
thatknockedHartdown,endingthefight.

Whenthefighterswentbacktotheirmakeshiftlockerrooms,onlyathincurtainwas
betweenthem.Hartsroomwasquiet,butontheothersidehecouldhear
Antuofermoscornermentalkingaboutwhowouldtakethefightertothehospital.
FinallyheheardAntuofermosay,Everytimehehitmewiththatlefthooktothe
body,IwassureIwasgoingtoquit.Afterthesecondround,Ithoughtifhehitme
thereagain,Idquit.Ithoughtthesamethingafterthefourthround.Thenhedidnt
hitmenomore.

Atthatmoment,Hartbegantoweep.Itwasreallysoftatfirst.Thenharder.Hewas
cryingbecauseforthefirsttimeheunderstoodthatAntuofermohadfeltthesameway
hehadandworse.Theonlythingthatseparatedtheguytalkingfromtheguycrying
waswhattheyhaddone.Thecowardandtheherofeelthesameemotions.Theyre
bothhuman.

Toplayersafteradisappointingloss:Oneofthethingsyoucandointhisbusinessis
foolyourself.Itshumannature.Donttrytoputaspinonitandtheeffortyoumade
becauseanyonewholookscanseetheeffortwasntthere.
Itsaweektoweekthingincoaching,everyweekhasadifferenttheme.Youhaveto
figureoutwhichisthebestwaytoapproachit.Itslikebeingajockey.Ahorseisnever
thesameforall10rides.Thejockeyhastosensewhatishappeningearlyonand
thenadjusttoitifhewantstogetthemostoutofthehorsethatday.

Parcellshasanincredibledisdainforinjuries:Youmustbepresentinthetraining
roomtomakesureitdoesntbecomeasocialclub.Parcellswouldsetthetemperaturein
thetrainingroomatanuncomfortablycoldrate.

WhatdoIlookforinacoach?Iwantsomeonewhosconsistent,whosnotafraidto
confronttheplayersandwhomakestheplayersaccountablefortheirperformance.

ToPhilSimms,Youusedtobealeader,butnowyouretryingtobeeveryones
friend.

EarlyonwiththeGiants,IdontthinkIwasbeingmyself.Iwastoowrappedup
actinglikeIthoughtaheadcoachwassupposedtoactandnotreallybeingagoodleader.
Hey,justbeBillParcells.JUSTCOACHYOURTEAM!

OneofParcellsstrengthshasalwaysbeentopokeandprobeplayers.Whathelikes
todoiselicitaresponse.Hecandoitinaplayfulmanner,whereyoualmostthinkhes
sarcasticorhecandoitinaseriousway.

Disciplineistheonlythingyoudonthavetobeconsistentwith.Consistency,in
termsofpunishment,isoverrated.Aleaderisobligatednottobeconsistent,buttobe
righttodowhatsbestfortheorganization.

Itdoesnttakeathleticabilitytohustle.

ParcellspostedamemoineachplayerslockersayingWhatwillyoudotohelpus
win?

Igotopracticeeverydaywiththesoleintentionoftryingtoimprovemyteam.

EachdayinpracticeParcellstakesonegamesituationandteacheseveryplayerand
coachwhomightbeinvolvedhowtohandleit.

Parcellsworksextensivelyonspecialteamsbecausehefeelsyouvegotachanceto
getbetterfasteronthatthananythingelse.(Equivalentsofthisinothersports?)

TheonlyplayersIhurtwithmywordsaretheoneswhohaveaninflatedopinionof
theirability.Icantworryaboutthat.

Toaplayer:Dontconfuseroutinewithcommitment.
Losingmaytakealittlefromyourcredibility,butquittingwilldestroyit.

Focusonyourplayersstrengths:Itseasytodowngradepeoplebydwellingontheir
weaknesses.Itshardertolookatthemwithfresheyesandidentifytheirstrengthsand
howtheycanhelptheorganizationtofunction.

Toteachyouhavetolistenaswellastalk.

Onwhatsetsdisciplinedpeopleapart:
1.Thecapacitytogetpastdistractions
2.Thewillingnesstoconditionmindandbodyforthetaskathand
3.Theabilitytokeepyourpoisewhenthosearoundyouarelosingtheirs

Onhowperformanceimpactsconfidence:Confidenceisonlybornofdemonstrated
ability.Ateamscollectivementalsideisruledbythepsychologyofresults.Inother
words,pastoutcomesdramaticallyaffectthegroupsattitudegoingintothenextgame.A
teamteachesitselfwhatitisonthefield,inaction.

Asaheadcoachyoumustknowthatthecomingseasonwontbewithoutseveral
crises.Theresnodoubtaboutit.Theyrecoming.

Ahalfhourofcandidconversationtellsmoreaboutpeoplethanamountainof
statistics.Forstarters,Imightaskthemtonamethreeorfourofthemostimportantthings
intheirlife.Familyorreligionoftentopthelist,whichisfine;footballdoesnthavetobe
numberone.ButfootballbetterbeintheresomewhereorIlldeducethatthisguyisntall
thatinterestedinthejob.
ERWplayer=aplayerwhojusteats,ridesandwarmsup(doesntplay)

AfterlosingtoSeattleonafumbledsnap:Youdontwanttogothroughthewhole
processagain,togettorightwherewewere.Youknow?Andallyougottodoiskicka
fieldgoal,themostelementaryofplays,andthenyoujustdontdoit.AndsoIdont
wanttogothroughthatprocessagain.Toomuchblood.

MyjobistocallattentiontothethingsthatIthinkarethedifferencebetween
winningandlosing.IfIcantdothat,thenIhavefailedasacoach.

Dumbplayersdodumbthings.Smartplayersrarelydodumbthings.

Thedesperateteamusuallywins.

BEONTIME.PAYATTENTION.PRACTICEANDPLAYHARD
Torookiesatfirstminicamp:Ifyouaresensitive,youwillhaveahardtimewith
me.

Imlookingforguyswhoarewillingtodowhateverittakestowinallthetime.

Acoachwouldntthrowyoutothewolvesifhedidntthinkyouhadsomewolfin
you.

GameQuitters=playersthatseemasiftheyretryingtowin,butreallytheyve
givenup(choosingawaynotapparenttothenakedeye).GameQuittersaremore
concernedwithpublicopinionthantheendresult.

Imnotreallyintheexcusebusiness.Wehaveanexpression:Donttellmeabout
thepain,showmethebaby.Idontwanttohearabouttheprocess.Letsgetthejobdone
here.

Acoachlivesinablackandwhiteworldyouwinoryouloseandtheblackside
stayswithyoualotlonger.

Whenleadershaveavision,theycanpicturethedesiredresultofaprojectbeforethey
begin;theyrelyontheirownmeasuringstick.

Inanunstableenvironment,itisespeciallyvitalforleaderstoarticulatetheirvisionfor
theorganizationclearly,explicitly,andoften.

Itseasytogetdivertedbyallthevariablesoutsideyourcontrol,toletthemeatawayat
yourvisionandselfconfidence.Butdetourswilldoomyou.Losefaithinyourselfand
youllfulfillyourownworstprophecy.

Iftheydontbeatwhentheyrepuppies,theyusuallydontbite.

AskedWillieMcGinestwhiletheywereonstageforMcGinestspressconference
introducinghimasaPatriot,ArewegettingtheMcGinestwhoplayedagainstPenn
State,ortheWillieMcGinestwhoplayedagainstUCLA.Idontwanttheguywho
playedagainstUCLA,becauseheisntverygood.ButtheguywhoplayedPennState
hasachancetobegreat.

Traditionsaremadetobebroken.Ifyouredoingsomethingjustbecauseitsalways
beendonethatway,youmaybemissinganopportunitytodobetter.

Consistencyisoverrated.Aleaderisobligatednottobeconsistent,buttoberightto
dowhatsbestfortheorganization.

Threethingsthatcanruinanyorganization
 Competition:whetheryourrivalsareToyotaandHondaortheWashingtonRedskins
andtheDallasCowboys.
Publicperception:Ifyourealwaysseeninanegativelight,yourgroupsmoralwill
likelygounder.
Divisionfromwithin:Whenyourteamisunited,itcanwardoffanyflakfrom
negativeperceptions;itwontmakeanydifferencewhatoutsidersthink.Andwhen
yourteamisworkingtogether,yourcompetitionwillhavefewerweaknessesto
exploit.

Itsonetingtohatefailure;itsanothertofearit.

Collectalltheinputyoucanbeforebigdecisions.Thencutofftheseminaranddo
whatyouthinkisright.

Excusesandalibisarethemainenemiesofaccountability.

Peoplecantbecomeaccountableunlesstheyunderstandexactlywhatyouwant.

Theimportanceofconcretefollowup:Youhavetocontinuallymonitorandasses
them,anddoitasobjectivelyasyoucan.Astrongleaderwillpreemptallalibisthata
playermightuse.Iwatchthetapesbymyselffirst,earlyMondaymorning.That
afternoonIsetthetoneofourmeetingbeforemyteamlooksatthem:Ivebeenstudying
thisalldaynow,andthisiswhatIsaw.

OnceleftagasolinecaninBryantCoxslockerwithanotethatread,Isthereanygas
leftinyourtank?

Inscouting,youmustalwaysbethinking,howarewegoingtolose?

Thereare28teamsinthisleague,ifwepracticeharderthan27ofthem,wewillwin.

WhenParcellsbeganhavingsuccesswiththeJets(whohadbeen115intheseason
priortohisarrival),hewouldaskplayersWhichwayisbetter?whenhefelttherewas
somecomplaininggoingoninthelockerroom.

Tshirtslogans:WhoSaysWeCant?&TakeAnotherStep

Hegetseveryonetothinkalike,fromtoptobottom.Ithinkitsoneofthebiggest
reasonswerewinning.Hegetseveryonetocometogetherforonecommongoal:to
win.

IftheplayersonthisteamarentreadytogoonSundaythatdoesntmeanwin.I
meango,giveittheirbesteffortthenIdontwantthem.
Ifyoureafootballplayerandyoucantpayattention,Idontwantyou.Ifitsnot
importantnow,Icantimaginewhenitwouldbe.

IfIhaveastrengthasacoach,itstocoachateamtothebestoftheirability.

Parcellswouldconstantlyaskplayers,Whatdidyousee?duringgames.

Imnotinterestedinbeingacompetitiveteam.Iwantachampionteam.Thatsthe
onlygoalaguylikemecanhave.Imnotinterestedinmakingateamcompetitiveweek
toweek.Iminterestedinchampions.
Idonthaveacrystalballforanything,butwhatIdohaveisaplan.

Becarefulwithyourpostgamecriticism:theworstthingyoucandotoaplayer
immediatelyafteragameistocallattentiontotheerrorshejustmade.

Ibelievethatpressureistheonlythingpeoplerespondtoinanyundertaking.Whena
playerdealssuccessfullywithpressureduringtheweek,gamepressurewontfazehim.

Atthestartofpractice,ParcellswouldsometimestellhisplayersImturningthis
clockoffoutheretoday,andwhenIlikethewayitlooks,wereleaving.Untilthen,
werestaying.

Dealingwithatoughsituation:Thefactis,theyrenotgoingtocanceltheseasonjust
becausetheNewEnglandPatriotshaveyettocollecttwentytwoperfectprototype
players.Wevegottoplaysixteengames,andourownerwontmuchlikeitifweforfeit.
Wellbringinthebestpeoplewefan,andthenIwanttohearmystaffsay,Welljust
playthisguyandgetitdonewithhim.

Saysomethingtoeachindividualeveryday.

Theteamthatmakesfewermistakeswillgenerallygettheopportunitytowin,even
whentheoppositionhasmoretalent.OnMonday,Illtalkaboutablunderthatcost
someotherteamagamethatweekend.

Parcellsadvicetocoaches:givethemagooddesignandgetthemtoplayhard.

Anybodythathastheirownagendathatsseparatefromtheteamswontbearound
long.

Themostdifficultthingincoachingistoscrutinizetheperformancethesameway
whetheryouwinorlose.Whenyoulose,theproblemlookslikeanHbomb.Thatswhy
yourplayerssaythecoachisneverhappy.Butalotoftimeswhenyoulose,youseemore
goodthingsthanwhenyouwin.