Creating and Managing a Championship Culture

Kelly Inouye-Perez led the UCLA softball program to their 11th and 12th NCAA WCWS championships in 2010 and 2019. After 15 years as head coach, 2021 marked 32 straight year in Westwood, having joined the UCLA softball program as a freshman player in 1989. Inouye-Perez's involvement in Bruin softball is highlighted by a remarkable number of program highlights. Coaching is communication. And competitive excellence involves more than the collective skills of your individual players. In this exclusive clinic, Coach Inouye-Perez provides specific guidance on how you can enhance your team's competitive edge and create a championship culture through proven communication strategies.

She reveals five key areas, which include: establishing a clear vision; utilizing effective language; defining each player's roles; creating accountability; and securing enthusiastic team buy-in. Drawing directly from her own extensive experience, she also shares tips on utilizing different communication channels, techniques for getting your team back on track, defining who your core players are, and discovering who you can rely on to help get everyone together and focused.

In managing the game, Coach Inouye-Perez breaks down the communication aspects of competition into three primary areas: Pre-Game Preparation, Game-Time Clarity, and Post-Game Meeting:

• Pre-game preparation covers offense, defense, warm-ups, pitching, team duties, and in-game expectations.
• Game-time clarity involves establishing a team focal point, creating a dugout routine, and managing strategy.
• Post-game meetings can often devolve into a redundant rehash, with the coach simply stating the obvious. Coach Inouye-Perez shows how you can turn the meeting around, get the entire team involved, and seize on this moment to create a heightened opportunity for learning and improvement.

86 minutes. 2011.