Six months ago I wrote:
The three main concepts in business are:
- Equip employees with the tools to be successful.
- Provide outstanding service to customers.
- Make a profit.
The basketball analogies are:
- Add value to your players.
- Play quality basketball.
- Reap the success of your process.
As coaches, we must continually ask the main thing, "what does my team need now?" We choose from a myriad of possibilities including:
The 'Why' of basketball establishes discipline and shared sacrifice that elevates individual and team performance. Basketball in isolation (separated from life skills) has no transformative power.
I tell the players that the first cost of success is to 'pay attention'. But players usually don't have the same experience as coaches to see the big picture AND the smaller details necessary to complete the entire tapestry. Ergo, it's critical for the coaching staff to assemble the disparate parts to complete the puzzle.
The coach is responsible for the welfare of her team. What is good for the team will not always be beneficial for every individual. Some individuals may not enhance the value of the team to the same extent that they create opportunities for themselves.
The difference between success and adversity is often incredibly slim. Finding ways to advantage our players a few possessions a game carries a lot of weight.
Although we have experienced some success this year, finding 'needs' areas isn't a challenge. We need to shoot better, to finish better around the basket, to be more consistent shooting free throws, and have better concepts around early offense.
But more than anything else, it's about the players. The teaching is more important than the teacher.