AUTHENTIC & FABRICATED CULTURE

A BRIEF REMINDER LESSON ON THE MOST OVERUSED AND OFTEN ABUSED TERM IN SPORTS: CULTURE
A BRIEF REMINDER LESSON ON THE MOST OVERUSED AND OFTEN ABUSED TERM IN SPORTS:  "CULTURE"

Developing culture is generally achieved through 2 methodologies:  AUTHENTIC CULTURE DEVELOPMENT & FABRICATED CULTURE DEVELOPMENT.

1. Authentic Culture is the actual belief system, mindset and attitude of the community members, that shapes decisions, words, responses, and interactions.  It is birthed of the people of the community.  It is a slow gradual process of imperceptible changes.  Every word, body language, and thought matters. 

2. Fabricated Culture is the method of implementing phraseology, core values, signage, chants, and other rituals.  It is usually fabricated, meaning made up, and enforced by leadership.  It is meant to remind, and/or to create a quick and fast development of the understanding of the desired culture. 

Both methods: Authentic Culture & Fabricated Culture have their place in the space of developing culture. Obviously, the sustainability and longevity of the impact on the transformation of those people that are a part of it, is reliant on how the culture was developed.  

Fabricated culture, or WSA's "culture builders" are just that - fabricated.  These are essentially "reminders" of "who we are" and what our "collective why" is.  The real and genuine culture of WSA will always be bred, protected, and advanced by the people, the players, the coaches, the parents, the supporters, the referees, the leaders of the club. 

Below are some of WSA's club-wide culture builders, and the meaning or symbolism behind them. 
WSA CLUB CULTURE BUILDERS

THE BREAK OUT CIRCLE

CORE VALUE #1: FAMILY
When a WSA Team "breaks it out" before or after a game, there are poignant reminders in the ritual:
  • The Circle = Wholeness, Community, Strength in Unity 
  • Gathering = Reminder "where we go one, we go ALL", I will wait for you 
  • Arms Wrapped = Sense of Belonging, "I got you" 
  • Shape forms the Vision = Each helps form the circle from equidistance at the epicenter, each has an equally valuable role, from the circle each teammate can see each teammate 
  • The Chant "1-2-3 West Side" = Historic & Legendary.  WSA teams since the early 1990's began this tradition. By 2025 many of those players now have children of their own participating in the same chant.
  • The "West" Reminder = West is a reminder of the history, of a club developed on the "west side" of the big city club's.  "West" is also symbolic of
        1) Challengers to the Status Quo (part of the club mission) bc west is the "opposite direction" of the earth's rotation. 
        2) Enlightenment, the philosophical concept of West in line with the lasting personal development goal of WSA.         3) Trailblazers, or transformers of the environment, in line with the club's mission to Transform

BY YOUR SIDE

CORE VALUE #1: FAMILY 
GAME DAY SUPPORT: WSA players will attend other WSA team’s games on game day to demonstrate support and provide encouragement while club-mates compete and participate.

ACTION REVIEW

CORE VALUE #2: ALWAYS BECOMING
PLAYER LED FEEDBACK:  Following each game, and following some training sessions, player-led “action reviews” in which players will communicate with each other on the most recent effort at achieving the team’s shared vision. 

MY GIFT IS YOURS

CORE VALUE #3: SERVE
COMMUNITY ACTION: WSA players will create their own player-led community action project. Teams will propose the community action project to their coach, and once approved, will execute. This will occur twice per season.

HEART POUND

CORE VALUE #4: HARD WORK
MAXIMIZE MY EFFORT: Body language is real. The club badge is red to symbolize the heart. A heart pound, fist to chest, near the club badge, at any time reminds all that we are collectively willing workers.

LAST HAND ON THE FIELD

CORE VALUE #5: BE THANKFUL
WIN, LOSE, DRAW: WSA players are asked to acknowledge and thank the opponent for the competition, the referee for the work, and lastly the parents and fans for support,at the conclusion of every match. And WSA Players will appear at EVERY “Finals” presentation win or lose and stay to acknowledge their opponent’s trophy presentation, offering personal congrats & thanks to opponent players. 

TEAM MANIFESTO

CORE VALUE #6: LIVE YOUR WHY
TEAM VISION, MISSION: During preseason generate a team manifesto that includes shared team goals, objectives, commitments, and vision. Most important establish a team mission statement, and purpose. 

PLAYER'S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

CORE VALUE #7: LEGACY
PLAYER DIRECTIVES: Participate in WSA’s Player Leadership Council, providing club leadership feedback on directives to evolve and fail the club forward, helping create a better place for future generations. 
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