--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Michael, if you can't pass, you can't…" description: "\"Michael, if you can't pass, you can't play. - Coach Dean Smith to Michael Jordan in his freshman year We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/jason-kidd-17087_best-team_michael-if-you-can-t-pass-you-can-t-play_2130277.png" --- # Michael, if you can't pass, you can't play. - Coach Dean… ![“Michael, if you can't pass, you can't play. - Coach Dean Smith to Michael Jordan in his freshman year We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees.” quote by Jason Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/jason-kidd-17087_best-team_michael-if-you-can-t-pass-you-can-t-play_2130277.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/jason-kidd-17087_best-team_michael-if-you-can-t-pass-you-can-t-play_2130277.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a1e/jason-kidd-17087_best-team_michael-if-you-can-t-pass-you-can-t-play_2130277.png) > “Michael, if you can't pass, you can't play. - Coach Dean Smith to Michael Jordan in his freshman year We're going to turn this team around 360 degrees.” [Jason Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kidd/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A coach tells a player that failure to meet standards excludes them from participation, emphasizing accountability and the need for improvement. **In simple terms:** Fail to meet standards, you can't play. Key Takeaway Accept standards, improve performance. Themes sports accountability motivation Mood direct motivational Type coaching leadership When to use this quote - team selection - player development - training programs - competitive sports Key Concepts performance standards team dynamics coaching philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you motivate without excluding? - What support helps meet standards? A Different Perspective The harsh message may demotivate rather than inspire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Building a team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building-a-team/) [Coach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coach/) [Cooperation and teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperation-and-teamwork/) [Cooperation teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cooperation-teamwork/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Freshman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freshman/) [Freshman year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freshman-year/) [Great team building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-team-building/) [Inspirational team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-team/) [Inspirational team building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-team-building/) [Inspirational teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational-teamwork/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Team building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-building/) [Team winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-winning/) [Team work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-work/) [Team work inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-work-inspirational/) [Team working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team-working/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) [Teamwork in education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork-in-education/) [Winning team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning-team/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Dean Martin\] is an absolute, unqualified drunk. 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