As a young coach, I was interested to read about how coaches built programs.

Years later, I still consume all I can on this topic, looking forward to reading the biographies of the Super Bowl and NCAA championship winners to the lessons they learned to gain success on the sport’s biggest stages.

As I continued to grow as a coach, one theme remains true: Coaches learn from coaches in both the good times and bad, and the values you possess help to mold your philosophy.

The sport of football is one that so many of us care about. It’s because of that that I use the acronym C.A.R.E. – coaching, action, respect, expectation – in taking what all of those great coaches think and mesh them with my own core values to develop a philosophy on coaching.

Culture

As coaches, we are responsible for setting up the culture that we coach in. Environment is key to success. That message and mission is set from the top and carried out through the entire organization.

The coaching and learning climate is vital, and you either have a good culture or a bad culture. There is really no in between.

We constantly hear terms such as “great locker room guy” or “veteran leadership,” which we associate with successful operations. In reality, the opposite is often to blame in organizations that fail.

Bottom line: Coaches create culture and environment. Successful environments often point to positive cultures.

Action

Do you have a “get it done” or “do it now” attitude? Many times, we confuse action with activity.

Learning to work smart is the key. Young coaches who pride themselves on yelling and screaming mistake activity for action. They yell because that is what they think a coach should do, because that is what their coaches did. They don’t realize that they are yelling to yell.

Human nature points to a simple fact: We believe in what we see. Taking that one step further, we also believe in what we “think” we see.

Players who think coaches will follow up on the field by grading, correcting and teaching them see proof of that in their play. That leads to not only believing in the coach but believing in the player.

Respect

The word “respect” is thrown around so loosely it has evolved into many different meanings. The old adage of “respect is earned” is used often by many coaches. As time goes on, we start to figure out that respect it mutually earned.

Football players have become more educated – and cynical – about listening to coaches in a social media driven society where access to information is limitless. Coaches have to be that much more consistent with their beliefs and methods.

Respect often comes in the form of preparation. You hear coaches talk about it all the time: “Don’t waste a rep” or “Don’t take a play off.”

In the end, time is the only thing that we all have in common. The respect for one another’s time, both coaches and players alike, is so valuable. The ability to prepare is paramount to showing respect.

Expectation

Neither players nor coaches rise to low expectations. In sports, we all want to get better and do better, but it’s how we do it on a daily basis that is a difference maker. Expectation is that difference maker.

Players ultimately rise to the expectation of coaches, and coaches rise to the overall mission of the staff and the organization. That is where I go back to the concept of action. Action becomes the precursor of expectation. Players and coaches know an action-driven organization will rise to the expectation of knowing that “stuff is going to get done” as opposed to lowering to the “it will work itself out.” Often times, that translates into “it’s not my job,” which over time becomes costly.

What makes this sport great is what we share with each other. Traditions, theories and beliefs extend much further than in between the lines.

Continue to share. Let them know you care. Continue to make this game great.

DiGaetano is the linebackers coach at Nassau Community College in New York. A USA Football Master Trainer, he was a finalist for the 2014 American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year award. Before Nassau, he was the defensive coordinator at SUNY-Maritime and the defensive coordinator at DeWitt Clinton (N.Y.) High School. DiGaetano also is a recruiting coordinator for the Long Island and New York Public School Athletic League.