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Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Basketball - Leverage

"Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum upon which to place it, and I shall move the world." - Archimedes

Anyone can learn the language of basketball. Finding the levers and the fulcra to move our world creates a bigger challenge. 

Study influencers, men and women who changed the world through their ability to see the world differently. 

In Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, Bossidy and Charan describe their levers - people, strategy, and operations (day-to-day running the business). 

Influencer and angel investor, Naval Ravikant emphasizes the following: 
  • Labor (people)
  • Capital (resources)
  • Code (most of us don't know how to write code)
  • Media (print, electronic, Internet)
What key levers do coaches pull to amplify both process and results?

1. Player acquisition/recruiting. Successful coaches reach out to younger students to encourage players toward their program. In our city, volleyball has become a magnet for top athletes. Volleyball surpassed basketball in interest and results with seventeen consecutive league titles and ten sectional titles since 2003. Continuity and excellence in coaching is part of the secret sauce. 


This is a familiar scene in our community. A varsity volleyball player (Liz Sheerin MVB 2005), poses with the Crovo sisters, Stephanie (left) and Victoria. Stephanie played on the 2012 State Title team. Victoria became All-State and All-Scholastic and is nearing her veterinarian degree.

Collaborative relationships with youth coaches offer paths to "recruiting, retaining, and training."  

2. Capital (resources) includes Player development (PD), Game knowledge, and Strength and Conditioning (SC). PD is the primary engine that drives results. That includes all facets of individual and team offense and defense. With Massachusetts prohibiting coaching players out of season, players need to find additional avenues for PD. A recent post addressed the high cost of training. Training at the youth level translates into dividends at higher levels. 

Game knowledge/Basketball IQ. Coaches point players toward sources for basketball education. Books, blogs, game video, clinics, and didactic videos widely available (e.g. YouTube) inform players and coaches. 

Strength and conditioning (SC). In the volleyball program mentioned above, players have an option for offseason group SC. Every great player (e.g. 19 All-State players) benefited from SC. Sport rewards explosive athletes. Ideally a program considers or acquires a "performance coach." 

3. Alternatives to Coding. Instead of coding, share via podcasts, blogs, clinics, and social media. Share knowledge and experience, both what worked and what failed. Bad decisions leading to bad outcomes weigh on our ego. They happen to all of us. 

4. Media. Say "Yes" to the press. Review your performances for clarity and content. Practice "interviews" in front of a mirror. Get someone to tape practice to get a different perspective. 

Ancillary methods. A holistic approach bears fruit. A one percent daily improvement yields over 37 fold gains over 365 days. 


  • Adequate sleep (minimum eight hours)
  • Hydration and nutrition
  • Post-training and postgame recovery (e.g. muscle rolling, contrast therapy, followup exercise
  • Mindfulness
  • Leadership training (group book reading, directed reading)
Lagniappe. Thirst for knowledge. 
Lagniappe 2. Save and review - off-ball screening. 
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