The Netflix series, "The Playbook," profiles championship coaches from around the sports world. Native Englander, Jill Ellis, coached the US Women's National Soccer Team to a pair of World Cup titles.
"It's easier to be the underdog."
"It's got to be better, better, better."
"You have to have the attitude and the mindset that you've got something to prove."
"When you are on the top, the competition becomes yourself...it's how you stay the best."
"You have to push the envelope, evolve, get better."
"Mountain tops are small and the air is thin."
"Find our humility."
"There's no bigger in-your-face lesson than losing."
"Success is never resting on your laurels."
"We have to have a hard reboot...failure is now an opportunity."
"I need you to understand and buy into this process." It didn't go smoothly.
"...some of the players have concerns."
"I'm not coaching to keep my job, I'm coaching what I believe."
"Hold fast, stay true." (Navy SEALs mantra)
"You've got to have this sense of self, this is what you believe."
"Risk is opportunity."
"I loved everything about coaching, I followed passion over paycheck."
"Be true to yourself...if you come out as gay, your opponents...would hinder your recruiting."
"The best way to build a platform, to advocate for something, is to win."
"To be respectful against opponents is to play hard..."
"They're more than athletes, they're a voice for women in the world."
"You can't mute someone's voice because they wear a sports uniform."
"What I'm truly going to remember are those moments that made me feel alive."
Key points about this championship coach's struggles:
- Restructure ("hard reboot") means players will question the coach about the team and their role (especially true when a team has been successful)
- Separating your private life and authenticity can present issues
- Other coaches will use whatever they can to recruit against you; deal with it.
Lagniappe: Igor Kokoskov ATOs
Watching video stimulates new ideas. A wing ball screen rejection leads to a ball-reversal three with a screen...almost a variation of hammer action.
Lagniappe 2: Specifics. Quicker shot release drills from Drew Hanlen
Understand and refine your shot. Many youngsters have cellphone video to help.
Slow motion video of elite NBA shooters.