Insulate, protect, carve out time. That's usually 6:00 - 7:00 A.M. for me. That's MasterClass.com time...everything from Stephen Curry to Ken Burns to Jane Goodall. It's writing time, reading time. Jane Goodall talks about a young chimp who dies of sadness...it happens with people, too (link to broken-heart syndrome).
Encourage player creativity. When I'd practice shooting as a kid, I'd spend maybe five percent of the time taking "emergency shots." A crazy shot meant tossing the ball in the air, jumping, catching and shooting. Double pump jump shots...Flyaways...Tip ins of intentional misses. Because once in a blue moon, that's what you're left with. And making that shot might mean the difference between winning and losing.
Celebrate small victories. At the end of practice last night, every player shoots two free throws (encouraged by teammates). The last two shooters both made two. Nice.
Study creative people. That doesn't mean just basketball. Walter Isaacson's books on Da Vinci and Ben Franklin are tremendous. How did they see the world differently. Leonardo was left-handed, illegitimate, uneducated, and gay...not fashionable during his time. But he was a genius of multiple media of art (painting, sculpture), math, science, music (invented instruments), weaponry, and more.
Leonardo's Ginevra de' Benci oil was unique for its time...a three-dimensional quality, three- quarter pose, distinctive sharpness of foreground versus background based on his studies of light.
Never say no. This is hard. I've violated that rule (and look where I am not). We were offered additional practice tonight. I'll be there.
Learn the language. When we hear something we don't know, check it out.
Find something to say. Everything won't resonate with readers, friends, or students. But something will. To become a writer, write. To become a coach, teach.
Lagniappe: last night we spent almost half of voluntary (school vacation) practice on two-on-two and three-on-three actions. But we need to devote some time to "zone zones" practice.
Work against the "front" of zones demonstrating critical spacing.
Practice 3-on-3 versus the front or the side of a zone. Challenge players to get the best possible shot or add constraints - insist on getting shots in the paint or demand a screen before a shot.
