Monday, March 4, 2024

Basketball: Leave a Legacy - Leaders Grow Leaders

Legacy by James Kerr is the best leadership book I've read... three times. The seven-minute video hits some high points among the 15 lessons. 



"Champions do extra." If success is important to you, outwork the competition. That's hard, requiring time, sacrifice, sometimes blood, sweat, and tears. Every exceptional player in our program sacrificed to become her best. And yet, no guarantees exist. 

Train with purpose. Elevate your skill, strategy, physicality, and psychology. Under pressure, we fall to the level of our training. You don't need expensive equipment to jump rope, do pushups, situps, and many of the "jump training" exercises shown in the videos available here and elsewhere. 

Character matters. Employers want intelligent workers, but first they want hard workers with integrity and honesty. "Sweeping the sheds" translates to cleaning up after practice and games, leaving the gym in better condition than you found it. Empty water bottles, hair ties, and wet floors never belong in the bench area. 

Don't manage expectations. Exceptional teams don't show up looking for participation trophies. Every season you're pursuing the brass ring, not mediocrity. When facing the top programs in the state, walk in 'heads high', standing tall. You're only as good as your self-belief. Let your opponent expect a dog fight. 

Culture reigns. Like your word, your culture is your bond. As an upperclassman, you have an obligation to train young players in "this is who we are" and "that is how we play." Never 'bigfoot' young players. Underclassmen lead by preparation, punctuality, and never as a distraction. When opportunity arises, perform, whether a senior or a freshman. With ability, game understanding, and mental toughness, you get an opportunity to play and to earn the trust of coaches. 

The more of these Legacy values you adopt, the more success you will have at home, in school, in sport, and in life.

Lagniappe. Culture wins. 

Lagniappe 2. Great example of disrupting a defender. 

Lagniappe 3. Grow your game...shooting! 

 

at