Breadcrumbs on the Excellence Trail (Athleticism, Skill, Intellectual Growth)

Everyone knows the story of Hansel and Gretel leaving a trail of evidence. As coaches and educators, leave breadcrumbs for our students. 

What breadcrumbs belong? Physical and intellectual qualities? Superior players have at least two of three of size, athleticism, and skill. Control what we can.

Players should ask, "how can I contribute more to the team and earn a bigger role?" And they should remember coach Saban's advice, "Invest your time don't spend it."

"Become stronger, more explosive, and more skilled." Hard work doesn't guarantee success, but no work guarantees failure. 

Athleticism. Invest in becoming bigger (muscular), faster, and stronger. 

Consider baseline testing.

• 20 yard shuttle (baseline and post-training values)
• 3 cone shooting drill (measure efficiency) 
• Basketball upper body strength (Alan Stein) 
• Speed and conditioning. 8 x 220 yard sprints (goal < 36-38 seconds each) with 1:20 rest in-between. Complete the entire sequence in 16 minutes.

Skill. Ask what players are doing to grow skill (specifics - how often, what activities, tracking?). Think about the MULTITOOL.  

• Warmups "how are you warming up?" (Suggest alternatives, e.g. Get 50)
• Finishing around the basket (Mikan, reverse Mikan)
• Basket attack off the dribble (Box drills, wing attack) - use box drills to finish better with reverse, two-footed, and wrong-footed finishes.
• Three-point shooting drills (catch-and-shoot, sidestep one dribble, transition)
• Combined shooting/conditioning drills (one example)

Intellectual. "See the game." 

• Choose topics to study and self-test (e.g. rebounding, transition defense, etc.).
• Watch FIBA educational videos. 
• Study game video with focus on individual or team actions to separate and finish

Lagniappe. Attack and control the defender (Trae Young demonstrates) 

Lagniappe 2. Don Meyer pearls (from an unearthed notebook)

• Have notes on everything.
• What's important to you as a coach?
• Find out what works for you (you can't use everything).
• You can't want something more than a player wants it.
• LOSERS CUT CORNERS
• Shared responsibility = shared suffering
• No coach has ever said, "we were just too tough this year"
• Get four layups per half
• For every 100 that can handle failure there is but 1 who handles success.

Lagniappe 3. (From Jerry Krause) - "Passing is a team skill, the #1 skill conducive to success! Probably the least practiced offensive skill. 

Lagniappe 4. (Drill) "Pass and chase layup" - hard pass

Lagniappe 5. An ATO.