333. Huddle Up with Coach Mackey - How to Build a Championship Culture: 4 Steps to Defining Core Values in Your Program

Coach 360

Culture isn’t just a catchphrase on a locker room wall—it’s the foundation that defines who your team is under pressure. Every great program, from high school teams to college powerhouses, thrives on clear core values that guide athletes beyond the game.

But how do you go from a list of words to a culture that actually shapes behavior? In this episode of Coach360: Beyond The Game, Coach Stephen Mackey lays out four essential steps to defining, teaching, and living out core values in a way that gets buy-in from your athletes.

If you’re a coach starting a new program or looking to reset and strengthen your team’s culture, this episode gives you a proven framework to make core values come alive—not just for one season, but for years to come.

Key Takeaways from the Episode

• Connect Core Values to Character Traits – The best values aren’t just words; they are anchored in character like grit, accountability, or humility.
• Define Values Through Commitments – Athletes need clear, action-based definitions so they can assess themselves and hold teammates accountable.
• Coach Core Values Like You Coach the Game – Just like X’s and O’s, values must be taught, reinforced, and practiced in different situations.
• Turn Core Values into a Mantra – A great catchphrase or team mantra helps players internalize and own their team’s identity.

CONNECT WITH COACH MACKEY

Stephen Mackey is a keynote speaker, and founder of 2Words Character Development. Building on the Six Pillars of a Championship Character – Toughness, Integrity, Belief, Excellence, Effort, and Service – he helps equip players, teams and organizations elevate their performance by building a culture of character. If you would like to connect with Coach Mackey, invite him to speak at an event, or receive his weekly encouragements texts, click here to visit Stephen Mackey's Zaap page with all of his most current related links and information.

COACH 360 IS PRESENTED BY: 2Words Character Development

Interested in connecting or taking the next step with 2Words Character Development? Let us know! Email Colton Leonard at: [e-mail] Visit www.2words.tv/preview to learn more and for a free week of the curriculum.

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