Build a philosophical fortress. Coaches build teams with technique, tactics, physicality, and psychological strength and resilience. Today's blog focuses on the latter.
Examining The Four Agreements is one place to start. The author transitioned from Neurosurgeon to philosopher-author after a serious accident.
The first agreement is, "Be impeccable with your word." Practicing number one helps us stick to the others. The four agreements intersect.
From Blinkist
Ruiz calls it the most important and hardest to follow. Words cure, change behavior, cut, and kill.
Self-talk imposes tens of thousands of ideas daily. It matters when we say, "I'm stupid" or "I'm worthless." Don't hurt yourself. Tennyson recognized, "That which we are, we are, and if we are to be any better, now is the time to begin." We inhabit the world that we own. Ergo, Dr. Pangloss was partly right in Candide, "all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds."
Coaches create. If we tell our team they are lazy or unfocused, they believe us. Our job isn't to demean but to elevate, to take teams where they can't go alone.
Be cautious in our speech, especially when sharing praise and criticism. Words carry context and tone. "You're great" can boost ego or as sarcasm can cut deeply, undermining confidence.
As player or coach, "obsess the product" and our first product is ourself.
Lagniappe. Kevin Eastman is one of the best teachers in the game.
Lagniappe 2. Core move, "rip through."
- Key point - get early advantage
- Keep the ball out of the defender strike zone
- Practice a variety of finishes
- Caution - I don't teach the high rip without elbows close to the body. Some players use the elbow to contact the defender's head. If you choose to do that, you are inviting payback and it won't be pretty.
