The Star Polisher

I have a great job in the universe of occupations. What do I do? I'm a "star polisher.  It's a very important job. If you want to know how important my job is, just go out at night and look at the stars twinkling and sparkling.

You see, I'm a teacher. The stars are the children in my class. My job is to take them in - in whatever shape they come - and shine and buff them and then send them out to take their places as bright little twinkling beacons in the sky. They come into my room in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they're bent, tarnished, dirty, crinkly and broken. Some stars are cuddly, soft and sweet. Some stars are prickly and thorny.

As I buff, polish, train and teach my little stars, I tell them that the world cannot do without them. I tell them they can do anything they set their minds to do. I tell them they can be the brightest, shiniest stars in the sky and the world will be a better place because of them.

Each night as I look at the sky, I'm reminded of my very important job and awesome responsibility. I go and get my soft buffing cloth and my bottle of polish in preparation for tomorrow and for my class of little stars.

--- by Leah Becks

Kevin Eastman: Boston Celtics Standards

1. Professionalism. (commit to acting in a first class manner every day of the year, being a pro or being professional)

2. No Personal Agendas. (one agenda & one agenda only, to do whatever is necessary to help team win championships)

3. Professional & Respectful Communication. (commitment to listening & how we send messages to one another)

4. Think of the NOW Only. (this team, this year)

5. One Way. (commitment to teaching & learning One Way)

6. Efficient Team. (execute within the system with simplicity to produce maximum efficiency)

7. Team of Execution. (commit to learning our Off/Def system)

8. Never have bad Practices. (commit to giving great effort & execution daily)

9. Responsibility. (commit to holding ourselves personally responsible for our actions, efforts, fulfilling designated roles)

10. Trust.

11. No Excuses. (we either get it done or we don't, but the next play or quarter or game, becomes the Celtic Standard

John Wooden: The Coaching Profession

Here is a great thought on the coaching profession from Legendary Coach John Wooden.

"The coach must recognize that his profession places him in the public eye, and he will at times receive both unjustifiable criticism and undeserved praise. He must not be unduly affected by either. He must also realize that much of his work is being done under circumstances that are likely to be of an emotional and excitable nature involving many immature individuals."