Basketball: Don Meyer Notes

Source: 2009 Annotated Don Meyer Coaching Notes 

1. What's important to you as a coach? This would be a logical introductory question in a job interview or an initial meeting with players and/or families. What's your WHY? 

• Coaching is about relationships. 
• Pete Newell says a coach's primary obligation is helping players to "see the game."
• Develop skill. "Every day is player development day." 

I got a letter from my high school coach this week as a local HoF committee member recommending a former competitor for the local Hall of Fame. 

2. Plan. "Have a system that works for you." 

• Clearly explain your system. 
• Be able to teach your system.
• Get everyone on the same page. Give and get feedback. "Trust but verify."

3. Honor your team by hard work (Players & Coaches).

• Model excellence. 
• Hard work is a skill. 
• Aspiration and inspiration lead to preparation and perspiration. 

  4. PRACTICE WITH SPEED.

• "Make practice hard so games are easier."
• "Basketball is a game meant to be played fast." - Wooden
• Defense, competition, and decision-making make it real. It also conditions efficiently. 

5. Maximize your abilities on and off the floor. LOSERS CUT CORNERS.

• It's impossible to improve without hard work.
• Evaluate your efficiency. "Investing versus spending time."
• As a player commit to basketball and academic achievement. 

6. Compete versus yourself.

• "Winners are trackers." - Darren Hardy. Seek your personal best.
• Do Five More. - Dan Pink
• "I'm pleased but I'm not satisfied. - Coach Sonny Lane

The Ship of Theseus story - "After several centuries of maintenance, if each individual part of the Ship of Theseus was replaced, one at a time, was it still the same ship?" Evolve as people and as coaches. We change little by little on our coaching journey. We're not the same coach at the end of the journey as at the beginning. 

Lagniappe. Finishing skills add value. 

Being able to finish away from your body is one of the most under-taught skills at the youth and HS levels.

Whether it's off of 1 foot or 2 feet, players need to be comfortable extending away. pic.twitter.com/MKDHv4yvCO

— Reid Ouse (@reidouse) June 8, 2023

Lagniappe 2. This weekend we have our fifty year high school reunion. Tonight some of our basketball team members are getting together to reminisce. An overtime win in Boston Garden was the March Madness highlight.