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KEYS TO WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP: THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE WAY

By Enio Sacilotto

With Alabama recently winning the 2021 NCAA National Football Championship, we looked at how they are consistently at the top of their game from season to season.

We studied interviews from Alabama’s Head Coach, Nick Saban, and two of their players John Metchie and offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood. Metchie is one of the few Canadians to win such an NCAA football title. They discuss some key points in what it takes a team from any sport or business to reach the top, in this case, an NCAA football championship.

Coaches, parents, and team administrators are always chasing the end outcome many times at the detriment of player development. In the first interview segment, listen to coach Saban closely. He talks about setting a high standard and maintaining it. Coach Saban does not concern himself about the outcome, but the set standard of play. Of course, we want our players and teams to compete hard and win, but winning is a by-product of doing things the right way!

NICK SABAN ON SETTING A HIGH STANDARD

Here are the 7 key points on winning the Alabama Crimson Tide way:

1. Set high standards for each other and the group and continue to strive to reach and exceed the high standards. Hold each other accountable to these high standards every day.

2. Fight to overcome adversity, stay the course, and pull together, striving to reach the same goal (vision).

NICK SABAN ON PERSEVERENCE, SACRIFICE, PREPARATION AND PLAYING LIKE YOU PRACTISE

3. Practise as you play. The players in the Alabama football program practice hard, then they can play hard in games.

4. The Next man mentality; every member of the team prepared by living up to the high standards. So, when there is an injury or a member cannot take part, the next man up is ready to go. The team does not skip a beat and continues to execute with excellence.

5. During any season there are always distractions, it is important to stay the course, take everything day by day, keep the agreement from all the members and stay focused on the team goals.

6. By being committed to a sport, or a profession, one can learn about themselves, their teammates, people around them, how to deal with adversity, how to work hard, and how to commit to a team.

7. One can learn that working as a T.E.A.M. (acronym), Together Everyone Accomplishes More!

METCHIE AND LEATHERWOOD DISCUSS THE ALABAM CRINSOM TIDE WAY

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