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Monday, January 20, 2020

Basketball Coaching: What Are Your Power Words?

Keywords: Power words, Kevin Eastman, Dick Bennett, Ben Franklin, Kevin Garnett


"The average players want to be left alone, the good players want to be coached, the great players want to be told the truth." - Doc Rivers

Too slow. Too short. Too young. Too inexperienced. Use language to empower your team.

 Everyone can access impactful words. In Why the Best Are the Best, Kevin Eastman pares his list to twenty-five from nearly a hundred considered. Here's a screenshot of ten:

Each day we filter a firehouse of information into action. Distill this ocean into potable purpose. 

 Dick Bennett and others share a fantastic five:
Passion 
Unity
Servant leadership 
Humility
Thankfulness
Passion drives us. Unity connects us. Servant leadership builds community. Humility frames our reality. Thankfulness brings joy. 

Ben Franklin kept a tablet of character virtues. 

 1. Temperance
Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2. Silence

Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

3. Order

Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

4. Resolution

Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality

Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e. waste nothing.

6. Industry

Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. Sincerity

Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice

Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation

Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness

Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.

11. Tranquility

Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity
Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

13. Humility

Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

 Franklin thought humility a difficult target. "If I achieved humility, surely I would be proud of it." 
Find a list that works for you and yours: 
Together
Improvement
Belief
Accountability
Sisters
The words I want our team to embrace connect them as people and players. Together and sisters bracket improvement and accountability. Belief makes growth possible. 

Lagniappe: What is hard work? Kevin Eastman calls it "unrequired work." On Kevin Garnett, "If you want to kick Kevin Garnett out of a drill, you have to kick him out of the gym." 

Lagniappe 2: Chris Oliver @BBallImmersion on 1-3-1 zone attack


 Lagniappe 3: reverse Mikan

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