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Friday, August 12, 2022

Basketball Reality: Picking Up the Poops

Coaches make points with analogies. I ask the girls, "do any of you have dogs?" Hands fly. "Is it great to have a dog?" "Sure." "Is there anything not fun about having a dog?" "Picking up the poops."

Every job has poops. Don't like intense conditioning, blocking out, ball containment drills? It's the poops. 

Athletes have discipline to do what they don't like so they can enjoy the things they do. Sometimes it's delayed gratification and sometimes none. 

Winners embrace hard lessons. Sacrifice in "unseen hours" translates to results. 

Winners get past hardget past mad, get past sad. If it's easy, it probably doesn't help. 

Toughness is a skill. Fighting through screens, first to the floor, and owning 50-50 balls might be the poops for some. 

Make your attitude "get to" not "have to." 

A few drills where players "see" improvement. 


3 x 3 x 3 shooting conditions and tests skill and will.


Hoiberg 'speed drill' conditions and works transition.


Tufts' reverse layup drill practices alternative finishes off hard cuts. 

Coaches have our own battles, including but not limited to:
  • Fighting battles for resources including practice time
  • Offseason development participation
  • Distributing limited resources such as playing time, roles
  • Maintaining full engagement over time
  • Fostering productive relationships with parents 
Key points: 
  • Every job has 'the poops'. 
  • Discipline yourself to do whatever it takes. 
  • "Unseen hours" define you. 
  • "Easy" usually won't play. 
  • Embrace the tough stuff. 
  • Combine skill and conditioning drills. 

Lagniappe (something extra). BOB with screen-the-screener action. 

Lagniappe 2. What footwork works for you? Worth discovery. 


Lagniappe 3. From the formidable James Clear: 

Insurance executive and entrepreneur Art Williams on motivation: 

"Almost everybody can stay excited for 2 or 3 months. A few people can stay excited for 2 or 3 years. But a winner will stay excited for 30 years or however long it takes to win."

Source: "Just Do It"