Add value. Excellent players add value for teammates. Outstanding coaches add value for the players, assistants, and teams. But how?
What "secret sauce" goes into the competitive cauldron that brews success? Success elements include technique, tactics, physiology, and psychology.
1. Sacrifice. What are you prepared to sacrifice? Everyone says, "I work hard." Few have the will to follow through on the routine, the monotony.
But sacrifice can mean fewer touches, fewer shots, fewer accolades...and more wins. Teams that marinate in sacrifice reap the rewards. Will Durant, Harden, and Irving sacrifice like Pierce, Garnett, and Allen and capture the flag?
Study trainers online like Drew Hanlen, Don Kelbick, and a rising cadre of others profiled on theringer.com. “If social media was prevalent around that time, the story would be not that [Jordan and Bryant] were working out, but it would be when they’re not working. Because if they would have posted when they’re working out, that would have been every single day,” Grover says.
2. Focus. The first price is paying attention. Fight distractions. Even a computer "multitasks" by imperceptibly switching between one task and another. Work or study or goof off. We can't have it both ways.
3. Technique creates advantage, wins one-on-one battles. Separate and finish. High school players won't have the same depth of skill as higher level players.
- Catch and shoot. (Add time constraints and competition in practice.)
- Catch and shoot against closeouts.
- Upfake and drive (wing series).
- Face up and score (box drills).
- Score one-on-one (against same and better competition).
- Create two-on-two.
4. Explore team tactics to create and limit advantage.
- Game understanding (video study)
- Scrimmaging/small-sided games
5. Physiology. What does my body need?
- Strength and conditioning
- Blend skills within training (e.g. free throw shooting as rest).
- Measure progress (e.g. completing 8 x 220 yds < 40 secs each with 120 second breaks between, vertical jump)
- Get adequate sleep (minimum 8 hours)
- Nutrition... fruits, vegetables, hydration (nutritionists don't agree on much - but agree on fruits and vegetables, less sugar, and fewer processed foods)
Sargent jump test
6. Psychology. The ability to play longer and harder with less performance dropoff
- Mindfulness training (UCLA scripts)
- Build and track better habits (have a winning morning routine)
- Visualizations (Ten-minute toughness)
- Find solutions
- Affirmations and visual highlight reel, "every minute of visualization is worth seven minutes of physical practice"
Lagniappe. Adam Spinella ATOs. How do actions work?
Lagniappe 2. David Hemery's Sporting Excellence captures how champions think. When discussing courage, downhill skier Ken Read said it's about doing what must be done, staying in a tuck instead of throwing an elbow out that costs you a tenth. The video emphasizes that the Canadians coached each other.