Lesson 11- Reading #4

Tony Dungy

Dungy, T. (2004).  Quiet Strength.  Tyndale Publishing.

My siblings and I learned about the unfairness of life in the dungy household on a regular basis -- or so it seemed to us at the time.  My parents believed in treating us all as the individuals we were, which didn't fully make sense to me until I became a parent myself.

I often got in trouble for getting home late.  I might have a curfew of eight o'clock, and if I stayed out playing basketball until nine or nine-thirty, my father would reprimand me.  But at least he always knew where I was.  Not being where you said you would be at the time you said you would be there --that was a big deal in our house, as was not doing what you said you would do.  I learned that pretty early.  If you said you were going to do something, you better do it.

....

All four Dungy kids were disciplined in different ways.  My folks knew that certain things would change my behavior but not Linden's (his brother).  So even though I'd moan about it, they did whatever they thought would work best with each child.  My parents always looked at every situation individually, regardless of what seemed fair to us.  That's something that took me a while to appreciate, but learning to view each situation by itself has helped me in coaching.  I know that I can have blanket rules, but blanket rules don't always fit every individual.  I need to treat everybody fairly, but fair doesn't always mean equal.

I apply that lesson quite frequently with players.  Some guys can handle more responsibility, while some aren't ready.  A rookie might simply get an explanation from me, while a veteran making the same mistake might get "torched".  The veteran should know better, while the rookie is just learning.

To whom much is given, much is required -- whether it's privileges, responsibility, or material items.  And if God has given you a lot of ability, I believe you should be held to a higher level of expectation..

It's hard to overestimate the importance of the lessons my parents taught me--lessons that have molded and shaped me. the necessity of persistence, the value of education, the fun of athletics, and the importance of living up to your potential.  However, there is one gift they bestowed that I would place above all the others:  faith.