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Saturday, August 22, 2026

Basketball - "I Love Practice"

Summary: "Be your best, daily, at practice with maximum focus and attention to detail." 

Be prepared and conditioned. In December 1972, we had practice at six P.M. Normally my father gave me a ride at 5:30. No Dad. No cellphone comms. 5:40 and two miles to the gym. I grabbed my gym bag and ran to practice and arrived a few minutes early. And then practiced... 

That's the kind of conditioning we had. Nothing heroic. Show up on time. 

There's a saying that contemporary kids are "car athletes," kids arrive by car. If that's true, it's because we made it so. 

Create your practice truths:

1. Show up on time, ready to go. 

2. Make everything impact winning. 

3. EVERY SECOND COUNTS. 


4. Condition with a ball. We 'warmed up' to start practice with five minutes of jumping rope. I've never been in better shape. 

5. "Every day is player improvement day." 

6. Compete for your teammates not against your teammates. 

Every practice we had four rounds of ten free throws (tracked). At the end of the day, the winner had a shootoff with the coach to limit sprints. It usually took 38 or more to win. 

In the 1973 Sectional Finals in Boston Garden against the defending State Champion, we went 10/10 in the fourth quarter to force overtime. At least as I remember it. It's been awhile. 

7. Be a great teammate. 

8. Find opportunities to lead. Lead the drill, communicate, model excellence. 

9. The court is your laboratory - an extension of home and the classroom. Never miss an opportunity for teachable moments. 

10.Love practice and share that love with your team. 

Enjoy the ride. 

Lagniappe. BOBs worthy of study. 

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