Instructor Jessie Krebs shares in her MasterClass that at SERE training they kept a threaded needle in their hats. When you're trying to survive, keeping the integrity of clothing is vital to keep small tears from becoming large. Large tears in clothing let in wind and water and critically let out heat, costing comfort and calories.
Teams usually get small tears before big ones. They're physical and mental and it matters for both players and coaching staff. Yes, inability to contain the ball, defend ball screens and transition, and get quality shots frustrate coaches. But off-the-court woes bring headaches of another degree.
"Oh, the pain." Coaches often distinguish playing hurt (nicks) from injured. Both degrade performance but injuries risk both performance and careers. We all know the Kerri Strug Olympic story...or do we? "Later, we would find out that because Russia’s Roza Galieva biffed her double layout on floor, the U.S. hadn’t needed Strug’s second vault at all to win gold. But by then it was too late: she was—of course!—out for the rest of the Olympics. And she never competed again." Is it a story of triumph or horror?
Many players hide injuries and illness. They want to play and may fear that opting out will cost them minutes or roles. It's a balancing act to have players' confidence to disclose their status - migraines, asthma, sprains, cramps.
First, every metaphorical tear won't be small. Relationship tears fracture teams faster than you can say Jack Robinson. College basketball has a different dynamic than high school and youth. Especially in the women's game, gender and sexuality identity can create conflict among players and coaches. But I know a high school team where a player "stole" another player's boyfriend. A highly regarded team melted down in the opening round of the postseason.
Rivalries cost teams chances for titles. Journalism professor Madeleine Blais chronicles the true life story of a high school team (Amherst Hurricanes) where a pair of future D1 women bury the hatchet. Sports Illustrated named In These Girls Hope Is a Muscle one of the top 100 sports books of all time. If you've coached girls for long, you've lived parts of this story.
"Just say no." Athletes may not know the powerful impairments of alcohol and drugs. I've shared the impact of Alcohol and the Adolescent Brain. " A single night’s alcohol use impairs hydration (alcohol is a diuretic), muscle recovery, healing, and can cause memory deficits for three days. Alcohol damages sleep. It limits absorption of key vitamins. It decreases endurance." Is your allegiance to your team or to a substance? I won't share stories because we all have them.
Read my lips. Many women college players have trust issues with their coaching staffs. "Survey of almost 20,000 college athletes reported that only 39% of women’s basketball players “strongly agreed” that “my head coach can be trusted.” A parent told me that when his daughter was a D1 recruit, he learned that she was being recruited as a backup. End of story.
More than hurt feelings. Ugliness of racist accusations or actions arises. An assistant coach reminded the team of Maya Angelou's famous quote:
Four Corners. Teams need 'standards of conduct' and most of us know of Dean Smith's famous Four Corners. But fewer know of Pat Summitt's. Coach Summitt learned that players were staying out late and partying hard. She brought them in early in the morning and set up trash cans at each corner of the court. Then, she ran them...and ran them. The trash cans captured the players vomitus.
"Do as I do." In Monte Burke's unauthorized biography, Saban, he shares Saban's off-color remarks about players and coaches representing Alabama. He has zero tolerance for misbehavior. Allegedly he said, "Ultimately, you never want to sleep with anybody who has less to lose than you do,’ he said, ‘So, ultimately, if I’m ever going to sleep around on Miss Terry, it’s going to be with Hillary F***ing Rodham Clinton.” Players were falling out of their chairs.
If something can go awry, it will. We can't anticipate everything (Hank Gathers, Reggie Lewis) but let players know that behavior and teamwork matter. And remember, "the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior."
Summary:
- Stop the small tears early.
- Injured or hurt?
- Relationship dynamics know few boundaries.
- Just say no (substances).
- Read my lips (trust).
- Four corners (payback)
- Do as I do (Saban).
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Lagniappe 2. Outstanding video of moving without the ball.
Fantastic video (old and new) from Havlicek and Barry through Jordan, Miller, Allen, and Curry.