How to Turn Your Season into a Cinderella Story

Everyone loves a good Cinderella story. However, the Cinderella of fairy tales wasn’t an underdog. She was only counted out by those who stood to gain from holding her back. Cinderella was a victim of circumstance. Once set free she soared, stole the show, and ran off with her prize. What can your team learn about fulfilling their own Cinderella story?

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Cinderella Rocked the Ball

Before March Madness tipped off most us had never heard of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County – the Retrievers. Now their story will live forever in the NCAA history books.

On Friday, March 16th, 2018, the 16-seed Retrievers took down the 1-seed Virginia Cavaliers. Until then a No. 16 had never beaten a No. 1 in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. They did what no other team had done before.

What seemed like an inevitable one-and-done situation was an opportunity UMBC took full advantage of.

 

How Cinderella Stole the Show and So Can You

When the fairy godmother showed up, Cinderella’s story went from mission impossible to unstoppable. How can you lead your team to embrace their own Cinderella story and pave their way to their own Big Dance?

Here are four lessons every team can learn from this year’s biggest Cinderella story. Each one translates well beyond the court.

1. Be United

In the locker room, before tip-off, head coach Ryan Odom gathered his team and preached a similar message he’d emphasized all season: effort and connection. Work hard and stay close.

When you work together as a team, anything is possible. Even making NCAA history. Author Jon Gordon says it this way, “Team beats talent, when talent isn’t a team.” I’m not saying Virginia wasn’t united, but UMBC showed considerable cohesion.

A united team is selfless, trusts one another, and outperforms those teams who aren’t united.

2. Be Hungry

Before the game against K-State, sophomore forward Nolan Gerrity got a tweet from a fan expecting UMBC to get blown out by the Wildcats. No surprise.

“My answer was no, not at all,” Gerrity said. “We weren’t here to take part. We were here to take over. We weren’t just happy to be here. We were here to compete.”

I love Gerrity’s response. To knock out Goliath, your team has to be hungry. Yes, appreciate the moment, the opportunity. But when they step on the court/field to compete, anything less than hungry will lead to apathy and complacency.

Encourage your athletes to be humble and hungry.

3. Be Confident

Confidence is a huge predictor of performance. Great coaches intentionally build their team’s confidence in each other, the coaching staff, and the game plan.

Jourdan Grant, UMBC senior guard, said of Odom, “As a coach he just instills confidence in us. I think it shows in the way we play – freed up – and when we step out on the court he has complete confidence and he trusts us.”

Learn and leverage all sources of confidence to give your team a competitive advantage.

4. Believe Anything is Possible

Belief is contagious. Clemson’s football coach Dabo Swinney has become known for being an “over-believer” based on how his belief inspires his players to believe in themselves.

That’s why we play the game. Some must win. Why not?

Similarly, the Retrievers belief has inspired others all over the country. Following the team’s loss to K-State, junior point guard K.J. Maura said he’d received a lot of messages from little kids. Maura shared, “They said I gave them strength and hope to follow their dreams.”

There is a lot more to Cinderella stories than what you see on the court.

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Never Say Can’t

After losing to No. 9 Kansas State in the round of 32, Odom reflected on what the Retrievers had achieved. “What I think about is the kids being told, ‘You can’t do this or you can’t do that,” Odom said. “Whether it’s in sports or outside sports. What our kids accomplished should be a lesson to everybody that, yeah, you can do it.”

There are Cinderella teams at every level of sport – those counted out, of whom little is expected (by others). But those who play united, play hungry, and believe in themselves can accomplish great feats.

Question: What else does it take to overcome the odds and become a Cinderella story?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below, or on Facebook or Twitter.

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Categories: Pursuing Your Potential, Sports
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