Keywords: Coaching, Sun Tzu, "The Art of War," John Thompson, Bill Belichick, Bear Bryant, Dean Smith, John McKay
"Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War
Great coaches are lifelong learners and teachers. Everyone has ideas about their makeup. Here are a few:
1. Coaching begins with relationships. We have a myriad of teams, from our family, to coworkers, city, and beyond. Entrepreneur Richard Branson describes them as circles. Our coaching 'circle' can extend around the globe. Relationships flourish with clear communication, respect, and empathy, the ability to understand how others feel. Coaching decisions lead to strong emotion, excitement and disappointment. Hard work doesn't guarantee a starting position or a big role on a team. Lack of hard work usually assures their absence.
My wife and I celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary in Maine with my high school coach Sonny Lane and his wife Paula. Maybe it's no accident that one of our daughters is Paula.
2. Great coaches get the most from their players. Some said of Bear Bryant, "he can take his'n and beat your'n or your'n and beat his'n."
Two men, Coach Bryant and USC Coach John McKay, literally changed history with a football game.
3. Great coaches have teams that don’t beat themselves. Pressure degrades performance. Teams that maintain performance under adversity become memorable and sometimes champions. Coach Bob Knight says, "basketball is a game of mistakes." The ability to help teams limit mistakes helps separate elite from excellent coaches.
4. Great coaches and players aren't made with cookie cutters. When players move on, I share with them, "there’s value in playing for different coaches. Learn new philosophies, substance, and style. Take what you find are the best qualities and bring them forward."
- What went well?
- What went poorly?
- What can we do better next time?
- What is the enduring lesson?
A thread on Small Sided Games for basketball
— πΎπππππ Γππ π (@snorriorn) September 3, 2022
Most "traditional" coaching methods include heavily using blocked, unopposed technical practice to work on skills. Add to that a dose of wind sprints and other conditioning for players. Can we do it differently? A thread on SSGs