--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had three rules for my players: No…" description: "\"I had three rules for my players: No profanity. Don't criticize a teammate. Never be late.\" — John Wooden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c01/john-wooden-420_criticize_i-had-three-rules-for-my-players-no-prof_1504429.png" --- # I had three rules for my players: No profanity. Don't… ![“I had three rules for my players: No profanity. Don't criticize a teammate. Never be late.” quote by John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c01/john-wooden-420_criticize_i-had-three-rules-for-my-players-no-prof_1504429.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c01/john-wooden-420_criticize_i-had-three-rules-for-my-players-no-prof_1504429.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c01/john-wooden-420_criticize_i-had-three-rules-for-my-players-no-prof_1504429.png) > “I had three rules for my players: No profanity. Don't criticize a teammate. Never be late.” [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Team success relies on respect, positivity, and punctuality. **In simple terms:** No profanity, no criticism, always on time. Key Takeaway Cultivate discipline and respect. Themes teamwork discipline respect Mood inspirational practical Type coaching leadership When to use this quote - sports practice - work meetings - classroom settings - project deadlines Key Concepts rules leadership Questions to Reflect On - How do you enforce standards? - What benefits arise from punctuality? A Different Perspective Strict rules may suppress honest feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players/) [Profanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profanity/) [Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules/) [Teammate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teammate/) ## Related quotes > [1. Be on time. 2. Never criticize a teammate. 3. Never use profanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/1-be-on-time-2-never-criticize-a-teammate-3-never-use-profanity/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Since its beginnings, baseball has been guided by an invisible hand. A set of unwritten rules that all players are expected to adhere to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-correa/since-its-beginnings-baseball-has-been-guided-by-an-invisible-hand-a/) [Carlos Correa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-correa/) > [The fewer rules a coach has, the fewer rules there are for players to break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-madden/the-fewer-rules-a-coach-has-the-fewer-rules-there-are-for-players-to/) [John Madden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-madden/) > [When you go out on a football field, you are responsible for taking care of yourself. The more rules you get, the less players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/when-you-go-out-on-a-football-field-you-are-responsible-for-taking/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [I would not tolerate profanity from anyone, anytime. I'd blow the whistle, pull you from the court and put you on the bench and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-would-not-tolerate-profanity-from-anyone-anytime-i-d-blow-the/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The way you talk to your teammates and push them and the way you treat them is important. There is a fine line between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/the-way-you-talk-to-your-teammates-and-push-them-and-the-way-you/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [If you're trying to get your point across using profanity, hurtful words, and violence, you're not getting your point across at all. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-re-trying-to-get-your-point-across-using-profanity-hurtful/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/) [David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/) > [“She hit us,” the woman shrieked. That was the gist of it anyway. There were a lot of unladylike words that began with “F,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/she-hit-us-the-woman-shrieked-that-was-the-gist-of-it-anyway-there/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [I have no desire to be hip to the latest black slang and do the stereotypical black thing. I was a Richard Pryor fan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklyn-ajaye/i-have-no-desire-to-be-hip-to-the-latest-black-slang-and-do-the/) [Franklyn Ajaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklyn-ajaye/) > [“He never once repeated himself and he never used either profanity or obscenity. (I learned later that he saved those for very special occasions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/he-never-once-repeated-himself-and-he-never-used-either-profanity-or/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Let us swear while we may, for in heaven it will not be allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/let-us-swear-while-we-may-for-in-heaven-it-will-not-be-allowed/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I prefer profound to profanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/i-prefer-profound-to-profanity/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [Rock music pays off. Rock music takes me on a joyride. Rock music keeps me off the hell city bus. Rock music will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-willis/rock-music-pays-off-rock-music-takes-me-on-a-joyride-rock-music-keeps/) [Wesley Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-willis/) > [Notoriously outspoken, his sentences always punctuated with profanities, General George S. Patton was the epitome of what a leader should be like - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-sinek/notoriously-outspoken-his-sentences-always-punctuated-with/) [Simon Sinek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-sinek/) ## More by John Wooden > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“It's not so important who starts the game but who finishes it. -John wooden”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-so-important-who-starts-the-game-but-who-finishes-it-john/) [John wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“I remain convinced to this day that compassion like that—sincerely caring for your players and maintaining an active interest in their lives, concerns, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-remain-convinced-to-this-day-that-compassion-like-that-sincerely/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [I'm not going to say I was opposed to the Vietnam War. I'm going to say I'm opposed to war. But I'm also opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/i-m-not-going-to-say-i-was-opposed-to-the-vietnam-war-i-m-going-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Being a role model is the most powerful form of educating...too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/being-a-role-model-is-the-most-powerful-form-of-educating-too-often/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Each of us has a huge capacity to learn and to achieve. Being ever alert makes the task of becoming all we are capable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/each-of-us-has-a-huge-capacity-to-learn-and-to-achieve-being-ever/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Stay the course. When thwarted try again; harder; smarter. Persevere relentlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/stay-the-course-when-thwarted-try-again-harder-smarter-persevere/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Love is the most powerful four letter word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/love-is-the-most-powerful-four-letter-word/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [It takes 10 hands to score a basket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-takes-10-hands-to-score-a-basket/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [The best competition I have is against myself to become better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/the-best-competition-i-have-is-against-myself-to-become-better/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, the habits you are developing now will be with you for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/whether-you-know-it-or-not-whether-you-like-it-or-not-the-habits-you/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Intensity makes you stronger. Emotionalism makes you weaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/intensity-makes-you-stronger-emotionalism-makes-you-weaker/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Reputation is what others perceive you as being, and their opinion may be right or wrong. Character, however, is what you really are, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/reputation-is-what-others-perceive-you-as-being-and-their-opinion-may/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) [Explore all 578 John Wooden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) ## More Criticize quotes > [When I passed the Chancellor he arose, waved his hand at me, and I waved back at him. I think the writers showed bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-owens/when-i-passed-the-chancellor-he-arose-waved-his-hand-at-me-and-i/) [Jesse Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-owens/) > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Those who lack the confidence and esteem to make the decisions that they need to make for themselves, are usually the same ones who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/those-who-lack-the-confidence-and-esteem-to-make-the-decisions-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/) [Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/) > [We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginningmay feel betrayed and criticize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/satoru-iwata/we-are-all-too-keenly-aware-that-those-of-you-who-supported-us-by/) [Satoru Iwata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/satoru-iwata/) > [Woody Allen is a genius. His films are wonderful. He's poetic, but he's also a critic. He artfully steps back from a social setting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-brooks/woody-allen-is-a-genius-his-films-are-wonderful-he-s-poetic-but-he-s/) [Mel Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-brooks/) > [Men can be divided into 2 groups: one that goes ahead and achieves something, and one that comes after and criticizes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-can-be-divided-into-2-groups-one-that-goes-ahead-and-achieves/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [If you don't allow people to contribute, to offer their point of view, or to criticize what has been put before them, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/if-you-don-t-allow-people-to-contribute-to-offer-their-point-of-view/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [There's plenty to criticize about the mass media, but they are the source of regular information about a wide range of topics. You can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-s-plenty-to-criticize-about-the-mass-media-but-they-are-the/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [When I first prepared this particular talk... I realized that my usual approach is usually critical. That is, a lot of the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-kay/when-i-first-prepared-this-particular-talk-i-realized-that-my-usual/) [Alan Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-kay/) Browse all 1,182 Criticize quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had three rules for my players: No profanity. 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