Herb Welling shared something profound, "When you get that once in a lifetime player, you have to take care of her." When players separate themselves with commitment, size, athleticism, skill, and emerging instincts, they need extra training and minutes.
Sophomore Year Highlights (2021-2022) 18.2 PPG 12.0 RPG 3.7 BPG @MAHuskies https://t.co/Xs9CRT5rXi #hudl
— Cecilia Kay (@cecilia_kay5) March 18, 2022
I've had few players that met that description - Cecilia, and Samantha Dewey who begins her D1 career at Illinois this summer.
Be specific. Telling players to play hard or to watch video means well but isn't enough. Explain concretely what playing hard is - setting tough screens, finishing through contact, taking charges, first to the floor. Share video highlights, teaching film, and an occasional 'negative' clip. Inform the 'why' actions excelled or could improve.
Keep it in perspective. The 'special player' is still a child or adolescent. Family and school still take priority. I'm the coach, not the parents and what they say, goes.
Keep two commandments. Superior players make teammates better and impact winning. Although a player has skill, if she doesn't pass, set screens, get back in transition, talk on defense, help, block out, and do the little things, people won't want to play with her.
Promote a winning culture. Skilled players attract attention and media. Stay humble and credit teammates. Share the spotlight to help others feel better about themselves and avoid the sin of envy.
Never leave the fundamentals. Footwork. Balance. Maneuvering speed. When great minds like Pete Newell teach you something, listen. Master the microskills.
Execute your plan. I'm all in on Dr. Fergus Connolly's (Game Changer) T-T-P-P (technical, tactical, physical, psychological) training framework. For example, work on attacking off the catch (Stampede), negative step drives, float dribble options, side step threes, and combination moves like hard crossovers with hesitation. Five minutes with twenty reps won't get you there.
Balance structure and creativity. Get input from players and don't build robots. Elite players create, separate, and draw help to which they must respond. Players must practice against defense and ideally play competitively, especially two-on-two and three-on-three. Play better competition and offer to mentor younger teammates.
Elevate vision, decisions, and execution. Solo practice won't reproduce game conditions. Plan both individual and group practice. Make Small-sided-games the scaffold for growth.
Avoid the dreaded S's. Don't be labeled SELFISH, SOFT, or SLOTH (lazy). Feel free to disagree with my coaching but recognize the time, effort, and resources.
Keep learning. More than one way often exists. Draw from different sources... I discussed Coach Obradovic's suggestion to set some screens with the backside (for better vision); I saw my protege' apply that in a game.
Lagniappe. Play with deception, force, and creativity.
