"Well done is better than well said." -Ben Franklin
As coaches, we live the twin opportunities to develop basketball players and to grow well-adjusted citizens. What we say matters but less than what we do. Model excellence.
But we need organizational priorities and teaching emphasis. We must stay "on point" and maintain "message discipline." Clarity and simplicity underpin the best messages as we pursue our desired "end state". What can give you chills more than a steal followed by two great passes and no dribbles converting a 2-on-1 into a layup?
What messages deserve your inclusion? I'm sure that you have plenty to share with your teams. I'll argue for a few. I'm sure that my players can recite many of them.
"Everyone will not be a great player, but everyone can be a great teammate." A great teammate is as excited for the success of a teammate as individual recognition. A great teammate feels joy in the success of her team.
"Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson Basketball builds shared experience, shared sacrifice, and shared memories. In our system, everyone plays with everyone and is expected to compete with and against teammates in every drill.
"No easy baskets." Force the "Hard 2". We can't allow transition baskets, layups, putbacks, and we have to contain the overfouling with far better hand discipline.
"Do more to become more; become more to do more." Players need roles. If you don't fulfill yours, then someone else will. If you are dissatisfied with your role, you need to find ways to expand it.
"Basketball is a game of cutting and passing." Movement kills defenses. The offensive game is about getting separation and finishing. And defense is the symmetry of preventing that.
"The game honors toughness." Players show toughness in a thousand ways. Getting great position, fighting for rebounds, and winning the 50-50 balls is infectious.
"Play hard, play smart, play together." We can complicate a simple game. Play the right way.
"The ball is gold." (Take care of the basketball.) Turnovers liquidate success. Players who habitually turn the ball over are 'coach killers'. Value the ball. It's a math game.
"Do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda Two words not in our basketball vocabulary are "can't" and "try".
"Layups and free throws win games." The corollary to allowing no easy baskets is making easy baskets.
"You either suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret." - Jim Rohn It's far easier to explain why your best was not good enough than why you became something less.
"How you play reflects how you live your life." You don't get to go back and relive how you approached the game or your life.
