Building Bonds Beyond the Field: The Power of Commitment in Families- Part One
Bob Ladouceur spent 34 years at De La Salle High School in Concord, Ca. He began as an assistant coach when he was 25 years old and brought the team their first winning season his first year as head coach. Ladouceur finished his career with a 399-25-3 record, still holding the title of winningest coach in California high school football.
More important than the winning record, Ladouceur instills in his players the importance of respect, accountability, selflessness, and commitment. He believes that these tenements are what yield success between the lines, and in life. He may have recorded 151 straight wins in his career, but more importantly, he made lasting impacts on his players.
So how did he instill these beliefs in his players and have success season over season? Ladouceur used commitment cards with his players as a means to build commitment not only to the team, but to each other, and to recognize that their contributions can profoundly impact the team.
Players set weekly individual goals, which they recorded on index cards, and committed to another player on the team. These commitment partners are accountable to each other for weekly practice, training, and game goals.
Ladouceur’s former players continue to recognize the lasting impact these commitment cards had on their team, and their relationships off the field.
Transitioning from the world of sports to the realm of family dynamics, Ladouceur's approach offers profound insights into fostering intrinsic motivation within familial relationships. Just as he emphasized respect, accountability, selflessness, and commitment among his players, these values are equally vital within the family unit.
In fact, many parents strive to instill these very principles in their children from a young age, understanding that they serve as the bedrock for personal growth and fulfillment.
Much like the commitment cards used by Ladouceur, families can develop rituals or practices that encourage individual goal-setting and mutual accountability, nurturing a sense of collective responsibility and support.
In the next blog, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to utilize the commitment cards in your family in a meaningful and effective way.
Dr. Analia Carcer and the XQ Focus Consulting Research Team
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Douglas, Rebecca Lee. “Why Do Kids Today Get so Many A’s?” Freakonomics, 23 Mar. 2024, freakonomics.com/podcast/why-do-kids-today-get-so-many-as/.
Weigel, Daniel J., et al. “Family Influences on Commitment: Examining the Family of Origin Correlates of Relationship Commitment Attitudes.” Personal Relationships, vol. 10, no. 4, Dec. 2003, pp. 453–474, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1475-6811.2003.00060.x.