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Thursday, February 27, 2025

Basketball - Underrated Skills

Education changes behavior. Coaches are teachers. Coaches change lives every day.

A coach posted that he yelled at the girls, trying to get their attention, and a parent complained. He was disgusted.

How do we reach, not reach out, to players? Change lives forever not for a day. 

I got too old for yelling. "Talk smarter not louder."

The girls had been pushed around physically and mentally. After a discouraging loss, the head coach said, "I can't talk to them. Say something to them." I didn't say a lot. "That was unacceptable. You cannot allow the other team to push you around. How you play reflects how you live." 

About six months later, a player said, "that 'how you play reflects how you live', really got to me." Share lessons that players can carry through life.

Seek simplicity and clarity. The great Pete Newell reminded us to explain what we want and why, "they're not cattle."  

To get more focus give more tools. Mindfulness is a proven skill to increase focus and improve behavior with students as young as first grade. Have we taken even one MINDFUL breath today? Dot b. Stop and take a breath. Use mindfulness as tactical training. 


"Always do your best." Teach "the Four Agreements." The fourth is always do your best. It won't be perfect or maybe your best ever. But it reduces regret. 

Be their advocate. Let them know you're available for recommendations. Be there for them. "I'm not your parents. But I'm your biggest fan." 

Speak greatness. Sandwich coaching between praise. "You're working smart. Your defense can improve by playing lower and by staying vertical, not swiping down to block. Keep playing hard, it's great." Dad used to say, "you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." 

Inspire. Inspire arises from the latin inspirare "to breathe." Give players something to incorporate into their ethos. Help players to believe. There is nothing more powerful than, "I believe in you." 

Summary:

  • Coaches change lives every day. 
  • Share lessons that players can carry through life.
  • "How you play reflects how you live."
  • "They're not cattle." - Pete Newell
  • Stop and take a breath. Dot b. 
  • "Always do your best."
  • Be their advocate. 
  • "Speak greatness." - Rod Olson
  • Help players to believe." 
Lagniappe. ACH. Anything can happen. The last time I checked my grip strength on the hand dynamometer, it was poor, 65. For the last seven weeks, my wife and I have gone to the YMCA almost every day. Cycling, lifting, stretching about 45 minutes. Last night the hand dynamometer reading was 90.
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Lagniappe 2. "I can't believe it works." 

Lagniappe 3. Everyone is replaceable.  

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