Ten Immutable Truths About Coaching

"We are all a little less secure in our moral certitude."

I call parents' overarching concern with their child before team welfare the "Prime Directive" in coaching. It's not a morality play; it's DNA talking. Addressing 'truths' with open communication is part of our job. 

1. "The main thing is the main thing." What is your "main thing"? Is our coaching philosophy and brand simple, clear, and shared? We play fast. "This is what we do," to paraphrase Manu Ginobli's response to Gregg Popovich's question about his fancy passing. 

2. What is our workplace culture? We've all seen unified and dysfunctional teams. When our team looks in the mirror, what do they see? Culture is no accident.

3. "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree." What and how we practice defines how we play. Make each practice activity translate into meaningful play. 

4. "The magic is in the work." Whatever our limited practice time, make the most of it. We choose whether to invest our time or spend it. Practice at the highest tempo possible. 

5. "A good idea can come from anywhere." Nick U'Ren, a 28 year-old video assistant suggested to Coach Steve Kerr that substituting Andre Iguodala for Andrew Bogut might be a difference maker for the Cavs. Kerr and his staff adopted the idea...the rest is history. 

6. "The game honors toughness." Toughness is the sum of every action on the basketball court...full engagement, making plays, quality decision-making, overcoming adversity. However hard to define, you know it when you see it. 

7. Our primary job is helping players 'see the game'. "What is not learned has not been taught." We have to show players how to see the game through our eyes. 

8. The game isn't won or lost on the last play of the game. An average game might have sixty to eighty offensive and defensive possessions. Did each player and the team collectively 'lock in' to succeed on every possession? The best teams maximize the quality of their possessions. Failure to block out, challenge a shot, or help defensively on the first play of the game might determine the outcome. 

9. There's more to life than basketball. We create life in our basketball laboratories. What does society see in our creations? 

10.Differentiate yourself. Is our program different from our competition? If so, what distinguishes it? What do our customers and our competitors see? Change to be better, not just to make changes.