Saturday, December 17, 2022

Learn from Being Bad

Nobody's perfect... not coaches, teachers, writers, doctors, or even "Inspected by No. 8." I'm a "Monk" fan and he choose shirts by the inspector. He doesn't want the slightest button off center or pulled thread. 

Learn from mediocrity. If we ran ten practices, one will be best and one will be worst. Raise the average and reduce the variance. That "rising tide lifts all boats." 

In his MasterClass Steve Martin shares that during his comedy career, he bombed plenty. He evolved. 

"Experience is the best teacher; the tuition is high." The first "scrimmage" of the first 6th grade group I coached, we got invited to face a team that had played together for a year. They destroyed us from the opening tap. We had two practices and zero clue. They ran "Five Out" and beat us off the dribble or with give-and-go or back cuts. They pressed and we turned the ball over. But we learned. 

We got invited back the next year and beat them on a three at the buzzer. The invitations stopped. 

What's the best way to practice ball containment and defending cuts? Teach players to attack the paint with the dribble, cutting and passing. Then add hard-nosed defense committed to stop them. 

Stubbornness isn't strategic. Teach young players to play individual on- and off-ball defense. While refining technique in later seasons, it's okay to add zone and hybrid defenses. 

Beware the deep end of the talent pool. Extending our defense against superior athletes is likely to end up with tears not joy. It's okay to spar with half-court defense while sizing up the terrain. When four of the top five athletes on the floor are theirs, avoid a track meet. 

Love our losses. In the developmental setting, I'm fine with competing, being a worthy opponent, and learning what mistakes need cleaning. I'll never win any "Middle School Coach of the Year" award, which is great because it's about the players.  

Summary: 

  • Raise the average quality of practice and reduce the variance.
  • Experience is the best teacher.
  • Contain the ball and defend cuts better. 
  • Stubbornness isn't strategic. It's just stubbornness.
  • Beware the deep end of the talent pool.
  • Love our losses. 

Lagniappe. Separate with change of pace. 

Lagniappe 2. Repost...because I believe it's vital. 

 

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