Everyone wants to be valued. Everyone wants respect. As a player, how do you get there?
- Leave an impression. I told you about the sixth grade girl at tryouts who came up to me two minutes before starting and said, "I'm really excited to be here." You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
- Play hard. Years ago, we had a girl, Shannon, who seemed impossible to screen. She was like a playing card who got around or through screens. And once she dove headlong into a pile and retrieved the ball. She wasn't big but she played big. Respect.
- Lead. On the same team we had two terrific leaders, Victoria and Lauren. They had it. Players follow leaders not because they have to but because they want to. Victoria is on a track to become a veterinarian and Lauren is a third-year at the Naval Academy.
- Pay attention with full engagement. "Be here now." Years ago Zoe made the best eye contact ever. She was always present.
- Commit. Say YES to every chance to improve. "Summer, spring, winter, or fall...all you have to do is call..." and she'll be there working to get better.
- Be a great teammate. A girl blamed herself for a loss after she had a mediocre game. She was more than accountable. Bella went and gave her a hug and said, "we win together, we lose together." Everyone won't be a great player; choose to be a great teammate.
- Energize your teammates. Model excellence in communication, support, and effort. Set the example.
- Be a sponge. Soak up the teaching. Show that you've studied, absorbed, and mastered the material. In medicine, we preach, "see one, do one, teach one."
- Share. Phil Jackson leaves the best quote, "Basketball is sharing." Share the ball. Help your teammates - communicate, move without the ball, set screens, block out, make the extra pass, take a charge, thank the assist.
- Excel in your role. At every level, most players are role players. Know your role; embrace your role while working to become more. Do what you can do. Brittany excelled at defending and rebounding. She didn't care about scoring. Make your priority the scoreboard not the scorebook.
Lagniappe: How do you defend ball screens?
Hedge (fake trap)? Switch? Blitz (trap)? Are we communicating the coverage? Do we have any protection (backside help)?
Lagniappe 2: Practice overview
To play fast, practice at a high tempo. Make the most of limited practice.