Thoughts on Better Practice

"If you let any day go by that you don't try to affect your success, you've missed a day. You can never get it back." - Colleen Moorehead, President E*TRADE Canada

Practice is the crucible where our teams become molded into better units. Practice presents an opportunity to build connections, develop skills, encourage creativity, correct bad habits, and instill better ones. 

Last night we were running "3 pass transition, everyone shoots" and I had the chance to give a message to girls waiting in line to go, including two of my scorers. "Every repetition has to be meaningful to you. You have to care about everything you do. By the time you're seniors, you should each be scoring a lot." And to my best defender (also in the line), I said, "And you will find a way to stop players like them from getting 'theirs'.  There are a lot of ways to help a team." 

There's nothing more valuable than time. We never get time back. There's no do-over for time. "Tomorrow is promised to no man." 

1. The coach never gets an off day. We have to bring energy every second of every practice. We must constantly add value. 
2. Run practice at as high a tempo as possible. I'm sure that I get at least fifty percent more done just by pushing the pace. 
3. Control the message. "We have to play fast and hard to be successful." 
4. Prepare thoroughly. Last night's practice schedule. 
   
5. Make as much as you can competitive. 
6. Keep it moving. Don't give them time for attention to wander. 
7. More quick teaching, don't overcoach. 
8. Take them out of their comfort zone. Forcing them to score off the window shows them it's a better way and expands their game. 
9. Include time and score-based situations. 
10. Something old, something new. During these 'situations', show them something different. 

Ask them what they see. What do they expect? If you have "the big girl", then 1 hits 5 and it's tough for X5 to get at her. It's often a short bank shot or a foul.