"Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier." - Colin Powell
As coaches, we're not interested in a level playing field. Create advantage. Wikipedia shares, "In military science, force multiplication or a force multiplier refers to a factor or a combination of factors that gives personnel or weapons the ability to accomplish greater feats than without it."
We want tools to raise performance, to optimize what we have in whatever way possible.
Brady Moore shares five relevant strategies for business:
1. Recruiting
2. Asynchronous information routing and sharing
3. Meetings (synchronous information sharing)
4. Group cohesion
5. Transparency and accountability
Implement Force Multipliers.
- Positive psychology.
- Education - 'see the game'
- Communication.
- Skill development (creates long-term advantage)
- Coaching.
- Tactics.
- Technology.
Positive psychology benefits in a variety of ways.
Education. Teach players what will translate on the scoreboard.
- Getting and preventing separation.
- Transition defense (set goals <= 3 transition hoops)
- Chosen pick-and-roll and switching defenses.
- Half court offense (beginning with your preferred early offense)
- The primacy of shot selection (shot quality and accountability)
Communication. Comprehensive communication starts at practice. Communication gets people on the same page. Communication intimidates.
Skill development. "Every day is skill development day." Each player, desirous of a role, needs feedback and a plan for improvement. Skill development is the best alternative to recruiting as force multiplier. Technique should never be subservient to tactics.
Coaching. Nobody knows everything. Get coaches with complementary skills. Get players involved in self-coaching. Coaching includes a variety of training - physical, technical, tactical. General Alexander Suvorov, "the General Who Never Lost" preached "train hard, fight easy."
Tactics. Tactics lie at the heart of the military force multiplier analogy, whether we consider Admiral Nelson at Trafalgar, OODA loops (Colonel John Boyd), or Lee at Chancellorsville (1863). Technical expertise completes solid tactics. All coaches need a reliable stable of solutions for man, zone, BOB, SLOB, and ATO situations, provided they have sufficient talent.
Technology. Technology is widely available. Use it for education, self-study, analysis (e.g. number and types of turnovers).
Lagniappe. Winning with less talent (Hubie Brown) Key points:
- More possessions (rebounding)
- More shots
- Free throws (get them and make them)
- Better distribution of shots to the shooter (think Harold Jensen)
Lagniappe 2. Box drills develop footwork and finishing.