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Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Basketball - "Ernie Cards"

"Trust but verify," said President Reagan. Former Patriots' consultant Ernie Adams broke out "Ernie Cards" each Friday in preparation for NFL game day. Some called Adams "Belichick's Belichick," a man with an encyclopedic football knowledge and memory. Challenging players is never optional.

As coaches, we put players in position to succeed by learning, teaching, and finding ways to seek technical, tactical, and psychological edges. Curiosity helps. 

"Ernie Cards" posed situations to challenge players and help "get them on the same page." All of us have lost games because players made mental mistakes or got "brain lock" in critical situations. 

Tailor to high school, college, or professional level. Here's a sample selection via ChatGPT Plus. Every coach will generate their preferred answers. 

🏀 High School Basketball Ernie Cards

End-of-Game

  • We’re down 2 with 10 seconds left, no timeout. What do we run?

  • We’re up 3 with 7 seconds left. Do we foul or defend the 3?

  • Tie game, 1 shot left. Who gets the ball and why?

Defense

  • Your man sets a ball screen. Do you fight over, go under, or switch?

  • Shooter hits 3 in a row. What’s your adjustment?

  • Star player has 4 fouls. How do you attack him?

Offense

  • You’re double-teamed. Where’s the open teammate?

  • 2-on-1 fast break. Do you pass or finish?

  • Shot clock (or game clock) at 5 seconds. What’s your move?

Special Situations

  • Baseline inbound, 3 seconds left. What’s our go-to play?

  • We need a stop. What defense do we call?

  • Opponent switches to zone. What’s our first action?

Mindset & Team Play

  • You just made a turnover. What’s next play?

  • Teammate misses a rotation. How do you respond?

  • Opponent goes on a 10–0 run. How do we get back under control?

How to Use

  • Practice: Coach pulls a random card mid-drill → players execute scenario.

  • Huddles/Film: Quiz players, rapid-fire style.

  • Gamified: Split into squads—correct answers = points. Wrong answers → quick sprint or pushups.

The Patriots had a relatively secretive process, so no images are available off the Internet. There's a legend about a phrase, "Pink Stripes," on Adams' white board. Adams said he would take that to his grave. It might mean laundry pickup or indictment of NFL officials. We'll never know. 

Lagniappe. Measure it to improve it. "Objectives and key results were embedded in the management system at Intel, but they were also a philosophy, a seminal teaching system. We were all taught that if you measured it, things got better."- John Doerr, "Measure What Matters"

Lagniappe 2. Off-ball stagger for 3. Ryan Pannone always a great sharer.

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