Friday, July 1, 2022

What's in Our Coaching Philosophy? Items to Consider


"I attack ideas. I don't attack people. Some very good people have some very bad ideas." - Judge Antonin Scalia in My Own Words, by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Coaches need a clear, consistent, coherent philosophy. When parents ask our philosophy, respond with core values (e.g. teamwork, improvement, accountability). Simplify our absolutes, such as making the team better and making our teammates better on and off the court. In an era where parent authority over coaching selection has grown, the best philosophy, intent, and even execution won't assure retention. 

Our philosophy grows and reshapes with time. Challenge our own ideas. Coaches evolve with our experience as players, assistants, and head coaches. Consider these ideas. Find out what works for you.

Coaches build difference-making relationships. Authenticity and originality are parts of our brand, authoring success and failure in varying measures over time. When people regale 'Bill Belichick the genius' he replies, "I heard 'Bill Belichick the idiot' in Cleveland."

Apply the TTPP framework of Dr. Fergus Connolly. Some possibilities appear in the template below. 


No shortcut exists. Each step creates formidable obstacles, but excellence recognizes "the obstacle is the way." 

Coaches are educators. Do you need a teaching degree to be an educator? Bob Knight had a degree in history and government from Ohio State. Dean Smith had a degree in Mathematics from Kansas. Bill Belichick has an economics degree from Wesleyan. 

Basketball Philosophy has many subdirectories. 
  • "See the game" was Pete Newell's mandate for coaches. 
  • "Every day is player development day," says Dave Smart.
  • Impact winning.
  • "Do more of what works and less of what doesn't."
  • "Kill your darlings." But I love that drill. If it's helping you win...
Within tactical choices, coaches find oceans of choices.
  • Man, zone, hybrid, and multiple defenses
  • Transition, sets, motion, freelance, and other offense
  • Dribble drive versus more screening-oriented offense
  • Extended, partially extended, and packed in defenses
  • Trapping defenses - whom to trap, where, when?
  • Analytics based. Win the Four Factors.
Even coaches described as "task-oriented" (hard guys), mold close relationships with players. Successful "relationship-oriented" coaches still impose discipline and set high standards. 

Nobody stamps out coaches with cookie cutters. And every coaching tree doesn't bear fruit. The Popovich tree vastly outperforms the Belichick tree. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery but doesn't guarantee success. 

Takeaways:
  • Have a clear, coherent, explainable written philosophy.
  • Challenge our own ideas.
  • Build relationships, trust, and buy-in.
  • Consider a framework built on strategy, skill, body, and mind. TTPP
  • Know and teach your system well. Don't assume anything. Verify.
  • "See the game."
  • "Every day is player development day." 
Lagniappe. 


I like the concept but I think it could be even better if run at both ends simultaneously. More passes, more shots, less standing in line. 

Lagniappe 2. Long-time readers know the expression, "movement kills defense." Defense can also kill movement. Five decades ago, on the dead dribble, we called "pinch" and the on-ball defender surrounded the pivot foot and teammates played denial defense. It would work even better with the shot clock. 

Lagniappe 3. Stay connected with players. Help make memories. I got this picture and note in the mail this week from my 1973 Coach, Sonny Lane. 






















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