Transparent implies open for inspection. Basketball harbors few technical or tactical secrets. If we get more and better shots than our opponents and make a reasonable number of plays, the results take care of themselves. With almost 2,000 posts, our program is an open book. The same applies for pre- and post-game meetings and practice. Parents are welcome to see and hear everything. But it's youth basketball.
I share everything that we apply, practice, and someday might do. It's not encyclopedic and available for friends or opponents to study. Yes, wins and losses don't define my coaching future.
Constants among quality basketball are the ability to:
- apply and withstand pressure
- take care of the basketball (turnovers crush success)
- play unselfishly and intelligently (laziness is uninspired and mindless)
- have sufficient size and toughness to compete on the glass
- make enough quality shots to be competitive while restricting the same
Advantages:
- Transparency is authenticity and truth. It's not the same as saying, "I'm throwing you a fastball; good luck."
- Be good at what you do a lot. The Red Sox minor league system once raised pitchers part-time on nothing but fastballs, forcing pitchers to focus on location as primary weapon.
- It 'forces' teams to prepare for alternatives if they choose.
- It demonstrates organization, planning, and intent. "What were they thinking?"
Disadvantages:
- "What if someone steals a play?" Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
- "We might lose a winnable game." I've got bigger fish to fry. Prepare players for their basketball future. Struggle is part of ascent.
Lagniappe 1: Have a core menu to build practice segments.
Lagniappe 2: Build great habits beginning with our morning routine.
