We’re conditioned to believe “more” is better. 

But great coaches and leaders know that’s not the case. 

They think the opposite. They know getting rid of something can make things better. 

It’s the idea of “addition by subtraction.”

This phrase means that sometimes, your team can improve not by adding more talent but by letting go of some people or practices that are hindering the team’s success. 

This blog will explore how “addition by subtraction” can benefit you and your team. 

7 Times When “Addition by Subtraction” Might Add up for Your Team

Remove the Player with a Negative Attitude (Even if they’re the “superstar”)

Imagine keeping your All-American athlete on the bench during the national championship. People’s heads would spin. They wouldn’t understand why you’re doing this. And you’d probably get some backlash for your decision. But that’s a risk Arizona softball coach Mike Candrea was willing to take. On the night before the Women’s College World Series, he found out his pitcher broke a major team rule. 

Instead of letting it slide, he left her home. His team went to the World Series with one pitcher who’d play against some of the nation’s best teams. 

Why’d he do this? He knew if he ignored this infraction and brought her along for the sake of winning, it’d be a distraction and implode the team from the inside. 

He used “addition by subtraction” in this case, and his team won the National Championship. 

Cutting or Not Recruiting Players with Bad Attitudes. 

Some players are naturally talented, but their poor attitudes and how they carry themselves overshadow it. When building your team, listen to your gut. If you feel like a player will only cause problems, keep them off the team. 

Sure, you might be giving up someone with a fantastic stat sheet, but the poison they’d bring to the core of your team would cancel out their skills.

Take Roy Williams, the former head men’s basketball coach at the University of North Carolina. He had his pick of talent. But, he’d often overlook the nation’s best players because of their “me first” mentality. 

Keep your Roster Size Manageable. 

There are times when coaches are encouraged or even forced to keep a large roster. While it may seem nice not to cut anyone, keeping a large roster can hurt the team’s chemistry. 

“Addition by subtraction” applies to this scenario as reducing the roster size can improve morale and results. 

Check Your Priorities. 

Use the 80/20 principle here. This means that you focus your time and attention on the 20% of things that determine 80% of your results. How are you using your time? Are you delegating or eliminating tasks that aren’t moving your program forward?

What’s Your Team’s Focus?

Think about the times when you’ve spread yourself too thin and overcommitted. The odds are that your performance across the board took a hit. That’s what happens when you try and cover too much in practice. 

Focus on a limited number of key skills to build a strong foundation of fundamentals. 

A Coaching Disconnect. 

While much of your attention is on your athletes and how they perform, don’t overlook the coaching staff. If you have someone who undermines your authority and hurts your credibility, make a serious and swift decision to remove them. 

Abraham Lincoln once said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Trim the Fat. 

Athletic Administrators have the difficult job of letting people go. If coaches and their staff aren’t performing, treating their athletes poorly, or upholding the standard, subtracting those people can be the catalyst for positive change. 

Yes, the decisions are hard, but they’re necessary.

If you found this interesting, you might be the perfect person for my Coaches & Culture program. 

I designed this program to help you improve your leadership skills by addressing your mental skills, stress management, self-growth, self-care and combatting burnout. 

The seasons are long, but the mark you leave on your athletes are forever. 

These sessions provide action steps, detailed outlines, scripts, and worksheets to help you build a winning culture. 

If you want to learn more, click the button below.