Saturday, December 16, 2023

Basketball: What Makes a Great Coach?

Coaches cannot award ourselves greatness. Other judge us. We can award ourselves commitment, discipline, energy, integrity.

Great coaches prioritize. Sonny Lane explained: 

  • Family comes first. 
  • Academics are second. 
  • Basketball is third. 
A coach is not great because she 'awards' you part of the Holy Triad - minutes, role, recognition. 

Great coaches get the best from the players and team available. 

Great coaches teach the game, help players to "see the game."

Great coaches master improvement. "Every day is player development day." 

Great coaches shape winning culture. The ecosystem we build supports success or failure. 

Great coaches are resilient. Sport often does not go our way. Life serves up the "stock trader's breakfast," egg on the face. 

Great coaches self-assess, learn, and make course corrections. Director Ron Howard notes, "the director is the keeper of the story" and "the movie is made in the editing room." 

Want what you have.

Lagniappe. Once...in a game all five guys blocked out and the ball landed in the middle of the lane where somebody grabbed it. It was the drilled perfection that you never see.