Total Pageviews

Monday, December 9, 2024

So You Want to Coach Girls' Basketball?

Become a storyteller. Consider the Heath Brothers' (Made to Stick) model of SUCCESs - simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional, stories. Memorable stories may contain humor, pathos, or lessons. 

'Good kids' make bad mistakes like bullying. One had it in for a teammate and the coaches would have none of it. One cited classic Maya Angelou: 


The girls had taken a pounding without physical or mental toughness. The head coach was too upset to address the team. He asked me. "That was an unacceptable failure to respond. How you play reflects how you live." Almost a year later a player told me, "that how you play is how you live stuff really got to me." Sometimes they listen. 

Before tryouts, I'd sit each group on the baseline and ask for a volunteer. Some hands would fly. Then, I'd say, "That's not good enough. When a coach says, I need a volunteer, be up when you hear 'vol'." Be memorable.

The 7th graders had made the playoffs and got seeded up into the top group against a top seed. The opponents had a trio of near six-foot players. "It's cute how the moms are wearing the uniforms." The kids played hard, losing by nine against the 'triple towers'. I couldn't have been prouder because of their effort and resilience. Playing the right way won't always win.  

The 6th grader girls had a couple of practices and we got an invitation to scrimmage against another team. They croaked us with give-and-go, backdoor cuts, and better finishing, fifty-something to fifteen. The next year we had a few new players, a lot more experience, and got invited back. The girls played tougher, never quit and hit a three at the buzzer to win 45-42. We didn't get invited back. Losses bring lessons.

We won a Saturday road game by three over a bitter rival and had a rematch at home the next day. Our best player was absent at a family event. Before the game, I asked the girls for "one more." "Get one more rebound, one more defensive stop each and we'll be fine." We won another close game because they delivered. When you want more, ask for more.

Our top player got hurt preseason with season-ending knee surgery. She came to almost every practice with her composition notebook, taking copious notes, learning the game. In high school, she transferred to a private school, winning a pair of state titles and earned a D1 scholarship. Get the most out of practice and get in your notebook. 

On the road, I wanted to start aggressively with a full court defense. The opponents were quicker and better and went up 6-0 within a minute. An official looked to me and yes, I took a timeout. We trailed by twelve early and although we closed to within six late, we lost. I apologized to the team after the game. "The loss is on me. I put us in a hole. I'm sorry." Don't be in a rush when you don't know the landscape. Be accountable and take ownership. 

Love our losses; losses bring lessons. 

Lagniappe. "What did we learn?" 

Lagniappe 2. Watch video and learn.  

Lagniappe 3. Practice your handles with purpose...from Drew Hanlen. 

 

Posted by at