Principles. Improve feedback.
Two ball layups. "Basketball is a game of cutting, passing, and finishing."
1-4 high, DHO elbow PnR
1. Self assess. Coach Wooden said that teaching is the difference between what is taught and what is learned. Write down 'the worst things you've seen in coaching' and share them so it doesn't happen again. Those run the gamut from behavioral (abuse of players) to tactical decision-making.
2. Stay on task. If we're emphasizing ball movement and the players start to 'get it' and we interrupt play to talk about screening or helpside defense, we're sabotaging ourselves. Focus on focus.
3. Watch accurately. If we give feedback and the player ignores the advice (e.g. shot selection), did we not see it or not reinforce it? Lemov says, "perceptive challenges are for coaches, too."
We have the capacity not to see what is in front of us.
Anticipate what can go right or wrong and how that will look.
4. Asking questions per se doesn't fix anything. Ask better questions like "what could we do differently to improve our process and chance of success?"
5. Write down observations during practice/games to give accurate feedback (the Belichick pencil behind the ear). We forget mental notes.
- Do your job.
- Be attentive.
- Pay attention to details.
- The team comes first.
Love him or hate him. Steal his best.
6. Be specific. "That's awful" isn't coaching. "ROB shots" (range, open, balanced), "get 7s" (quality of shot 7/10 or higher), or "it's not your shot, it's our shot."
7. Don't take it personally. Players will struggle. Our job is helping them to overcome mistakes. But my coach always told us, "if I stop yelling, it's because I've lost you."
8. Create safe spaces. "Making a mistake here at practice doesn't cost us anything AND let's fix it by doing this."
9. "Roger Bannister" it. Emphasize what is possible. Nobody had broken the 4 minute mile until Roger Bannister shattered the psychological barrier. Within weeks, another runner ran a sub-four minute mile.
10. Shared vision. Actions align or don't with shared vision. Poor shot selection or lack of effort in transition defense clearly don't align with excellence. Build consensus on shared vision and identity. Inform players how teamwork, effort, and choices reflect those ideals.
Drill.
One on one dribble and closeout.
Two ball layups. "Basketball is a game of cutting, passing, and finishing."
Set play.
1-4 high, DHO elbow PnR
Lagniappe. Select and master a few core moves. Repeat and repeat. Get phone video to assess progress. Add a defender and repeat. (There's an excess of traveling in the video but the concepts apply.)
Lagniappe 2. Make better decisions by analyzing process and by looking for mistakes.
