Wooden Wins! - Friendship Wins!
Wooden Wins
Wooden Wins! - Friendship Our Pyramid of Success focus this month will be on Industriousness. At American Heritage Charter Schools, we celebrate the core value of “Honoring One Another”.
The Importance of Friendship by Craig Impelman
The contributions of John Wooden were recognized on May 2, 1983, when UCLA unveiled the $9.6 million John Wooden Recreation and Sports Center. The most honored player and coach in hoops history downplayed the event in characteristic style, saying, “Honors are fleeting, just as fame is. I cherish friendship more.”
On June 26, 1999 at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, I attended the 33rd annual Victor Awards, the longest-running sports awards show in the history of TV, with Coach Wooden and his granddaughter (my wife) Christy. Coach was presented with a beautiful gold Oscar-like statue for being one of the living legends of sports of the 20th century.
Upon sitting back down next to Christy, Coach handed her the beautiful statue and said, “Honey, I would like you to have this.” It stands in our home to this day as a reminder of what is really important: friendship.
On Aug. 8, 2003 in a small auditorium at Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, California, Coach Wooden’s friend Jim Harris, the basketball coach of the Ocean View Seahawks, presented Coach Wooden with a small but lovely statue of a Seahawk. The plaque on the statue read “The Golden Seahawk Award.” Coach Harris gave it to Coach in appreciation for the many years Coach Wooden had voluntarily come to speak at his basketball camp: three times each summer.
On the UCLA Campus in the hall of fame, there is a room called “Coach Wooden’s Den.” After Coach died, the UCLA Athletics Department moved Coach Wooden’s Den from his condo and reassembled it onsite in the hall of fame.
The statue of the Seahawk is still where it was when Coach was alive, on a small table next to Coach Wooden’s favorite chair. It stands there to this day as a reminder of what is really important: friendship.
This short verse written by Coach Wooden sums up his feelings on friendship beautifully:
At times when I am feeling low,
I hear from a friend and then
My worries start to go away
And I am on the mend.
In spite of all that doctors know,
And their studies never end,
The best cure of all when spirits fall
Is a kind note from a friend.
Key Idea: "Friendship is two-sided. It isn't a friend just because someone's doing something nice for you. That's a nice person. There's friendship when you do for each other. It's like marriage - it's two-sided." - John Wooden
@Home: Friendship is an important part of life, especially for our kids. As parents we play a critical role in teaching our children how to develop and maintain healthy friendships. We live in a very me-centered world and need to help our kids learn to think about those around them, and not just their own desires. Watch this quick little VIDEO on friendship and discuss what it means to be a true friend and what it means to be inclusive. Here are some qualities we can be working on as a family this month:
- Honesty: a truthful child is more likely to develop friendships with those who do not lie.
- Loyalty: a faithful child will be less likely to be a fair-weather friend.
- Respect: a respectful child will be more likely to show consideration to others.
- Compassion: a child who has the capacity to understand the hearts of others is able to show sensitivity to those who are hurting or needy.
- Hospitality: a child who has seen hospitality modeled in the home will be more likely to reach out and be that friend that includes others!
On Campus:
Activity: Think about this quote: “Happiness is having a coworker that becomes a friend” -Unknown
Staff Response: Why is it important to become friends with your coworkers? How can you make connections with staff members on other teams, in other grade levels, or in other departments to build positive relationships?
In the Class
Friendship helps keep us accountable in all aspects of our lives. It is important to know these four things:
1. What is friendship?
2. Why is friendship important?
3. How do you make a friend?
4. How do you keep a friend?
Print this friendship chart and have you students fill out their answers to each question.
On the Field:
Friendship is such an important part of team sports. Friendship allows us to speak truthfully, care with empathy, and support fully. This month, look for ways that you can extend a hand of friendship to someone new!
Watchthese two youtube videos:
https://youtube.com/shorts/Ji2CZ7dcTXE?feature=shareQuestions: "What makes a good friend?" "What makes things eassier when trying to make a new friend?" "How can friendship have a positive impact on your team and in your life?"
Do: Intentionally give handshakes to your teamates after every drill! See how many conversations you can have with new people!