SWEEP THE SHEDS: The Mentality That Builds Championship Culture

There’s a saying from the legendary New Zealand All Blacks rugby team: “Sweep the sheds.” It means no one is too important to do the little things — like cleaning up after practice. Even the captains grab a broom. Even the stars take care of the locker room.

That mentality shaped the culture on my college baseball team — and it became one of the cornerstones of our success.

“Sweep the sheds” wasn’t about literal sweeping (though sometimes, yeah, that was part of it). It was about taking ownership. It meant being the kind of player who handled business — not for recognition, not when coaches were watching, but especially when nobody else was around.

We all knew the guy who stayed behind after everyone else left. He made sure the balls were put away, the locker room was clean, the field was left better than we found it. He didn’t do it for credit. He did it because it mattered — because those small acts reflected something bigger.

That player — the one who swept the sheds — set the tone.

It wasn't just about responsibility. It was about respect. Respect for the game, for your teammates, for the program, and for yourself. When that mentality spread through the roster, it created a culture of accountability. We weren’t just showing up to play — we were showing up to own everything we did.

And that’s what winning teams are built on.

Talent matters, sure. But habits, discipline, and attention to detail — those are what carry a team through the long haul. The unglamorous stuff becomes the backbone of something great. When everyone takes pride in doing the little things right, the big things take care of themselves.

“Sweep the sheds” became more than a saying for us. It was a mindset. And I truly believe it's part of what helped us compete at the national level.

Anyone can play hard under the lights. Champions do the work in the shadows.