Sport is not war and war is anything but sport. Studying military leaders provides a chance to become better coaches and better leaders. War is about preserving nations and societies.
I didn't teach basketball to young women to glorify war. Ten years in the military expunged those thoughts.
Here are old and newer concepts that cross domains.
Alexander Suvorov was 'the general who never lost'. Here are a few excerpts that apply to basketball.
- "We are here to fight, not to count." This was Suvorov's version of "control what you can control."
- "Train hard, fight easy." The modern basketball version is, "make practice hard so games are easier."
- "If a peasant doesn't know how to plough, he cannot grow bread." If you don't know your job, you cannot perform it.
- "All the secret of maneuvers lies in the legs." Condition players.
- "Formation and tactics always depended on the nature of the terrain and the anticipated enemy." Know your opponent.
- "All warfare is based on deception." Having superior talent matters. In the documentary, "Against the Tide," producers showed how superior USC footballers overwhelmed Alabama. In the rematch the next season, Alabama held closed practices, deployed the wishbone and won in Los Angeles.
- Bait bad passes by appearing passive but springing into passing lanes.
- Show a zone formation and shift to man. LSU's Dale Brown used "The Freak" where initial defenses morphed into others.
- “To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.” Practice the defenses that you will encounter.
- "He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces." You won't automatically win with more talent or lose with less. Competing as an underdog requires different approaches.
- New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof warned that it “should teach us one clear lesson relating to Iraq: Hubris kills.” Overconfidence and a crafty enemy can cause defeat.
- "Retired Marine Corps three-star Paul Van Riper was praised for having “created the conditions for successful spontaneity” with a decision-making style that “enables rapid cognition.”" Superior leadership, imagination, and execution can produce surprising results.
- “MC ’02 is the key to military transformation.” Innovation, while welcomed and valuable, doesn't always prevail.
- "Van Riper decided that as soon as a U.S. Navy carrier battle group steamed into the Gulf, he would “preempt the preemptors” and strike first." As a heavy underdog, the unexpected may have strategic, unexpected advantage.
- "Van Riper’s forces unleashed a barrage of missiles from ground-based launchers, commercial ships, and planes flying low and without radio communications to reduce their radar signature." Maybe this was analogous to UMBC's three-point barrage that took down Virginia in a 1-16 mismatch.
- "Van Riper believed that MC ’02 was both scripted and carried out in a way that did not realistically reflect likely future U.S. military capabilities or the threats posed by a thinking, motivated adversary." As coaches, use our imagination in training, preparation, and execution. Think out of the box.
With the game on the line, few coaches in the country I would rather have than Andy Toole
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) October 15, 2023
This ridiculous set was to seal the game
(Via @C_Cappella 🎥)
pic.twitter.com/mvlUR8StY1
Lagniappe. A veteran 'real' coach shares his thoughts. Many reflect all of our experiences.
I have been a coach for 30+ years.
— Greg Berge (@gb1121) October 6, 2023
We have had a lot of success, and I have learned a lot.
What advice would I give young coaches?
Here are 30 pieces of coaching advice after 30 years in coaching 🏆.
1. Coaching is all about relationships. Work to build relationships with…