Monday, April 15, 2019

Basketball: Program Building, Find a Board of Directors

"Money is dear; human life is still dearer; but time is the dearest of all." - Alexander Suvorov (The General who never lost) 

If we had unlimited resources and imagination how would we build our program? What belongs? Create your world. 

Start with organizing WE not ME. John Calipari has his Personal Board of Directors.  Collaborate with people whose ideas you respect, trust, and want to work with. Abandon ego in search of excellence. When we think we know everything, the height of vanity, we shut out learning. 

Read, read, read...add Dean Smith, Pete Newell, Bill Russell, Charlie Munger, Pete Carril, George Raveling, and Ken Burns to our board. Or whomever you study. Add Aristotle, Lincoln, and Suvorov

"Invert, always invert." What guarantees failure? Poor communication, diffused responsibility, and inattention to detail doom organizations. 

Combine attention to detail with division of labor (roles). More input means sacrificing creative control...but better concepts. Stuff will fail. 



At the lowest levels (youth), few people own organizational tasks. Wear a bunch of hats. Input from other coaches, relentless reading and study, and watching film becomes the de facto board of directors (BOD). Twitter and blogs source ideas




Worldwide coaches get slots on our BOD. Coach Mike Allen shared this layup and finishing drill (above) with offense and defense, ball handling, and competition. 



Coach Brian Sass recommended these small guard finishing moves. 

Program strength parallels commitment from everyone involved.


Lagniappe: Like John Travolta in Swordfish, "misdirection" creates opportunity. Radius Athletics shares.