How many times do we have to go over it? Blocking out is a technique that doesn't require any special talent, just the will to do it! I see it in all levels of the game and see teams lose because of it. I use the hit and turn technique and begin showing kids this in the 4th grade with hope it will sink in by the time it really matters!!! But why do some kids...just refuse to block out? It's it because they are too nice? Don't want to touch anybody? Or just plain lazy and only care one thing...the OFFENSE!!!
I implemented a new blockout drill the other night with a big price tag! You miss a blockout and it will cost you 5 laps around the gym. Guess what? Not very many laps were ran that night. Maybe I need to keep a new stat during game like I did many years ago with another team of mine to get them to block out! I assure you that after seeing how well then can do it in practice, they will be held accountable from here on out. Hopefully they will understand the value of blocking out and how that one simple thing can be the difference maker in a lot of games.
Every player on the roster has a role. But all of them share some roles. Everyone must be able to defend, blockout and rebound the ball...period! If you can't do that it will be tough for you to play the game at the next level.
23
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
Getting Through the Valleys
At some point I suspect there will always be valleys during your season. From academics to disciplinary issues a lot can happen on and off the court creating a low point in your season causing you as a coach to take immediate corrective action.
As aggrevating as it may seem, it is these types of moments that make your team better. If handled correctly, you as the coach can use this moment as a teaching point for your players in hopes they realize what they did wrong and how to prevent it from re-occuring. If you go overboard, it could backfire on you and send your season into a tailspin that you might not recover from. Use real-life examples to help players understand the value of the lesson so they will not ever forget it.
I teach my players from the very beginning core values. Respect, Responsibility, Communication, Self-Descipline to start with. When those values are corrupted then we deal with it immediately and move on. At the end of the day, the players understand the consequences of their actions, how it effects them now and in the future and they will have respect for you as a coach for keeping them in check with reality. The most important part is they know when they did something wrong which will help them make good decisions in the future. This transistions to the sport and the team which in terms makes for a great experience for everyone involved.
We reached a valley recently where my players had a mental lapse of some sort and forgot their core values. Disrepecting their coaches and their teammates, not showing responsibility, lack of communication and which all points to not maintaining discipline. Coaches addressed the issues and pointed out the mistakes made and how that effects the program moving forward. The players understood their mistakes and I believe felt disappointed in themselves. Non the less knew the consequesnces and accepted their punishment of extra conditioning. And as pointed out, at the end of the day we leave respecting one another and move on from the incident hopefully a better team. I fully expected that we will not have to deal with these types of valleys for the remaninder of the season.
In the end, valleys make your team stronger. Mistakes are made so we learn something. If we're not learning, then what are we doing? Take the valleys as a blessing in disguise sometimes, and turn that negative into a postive that will last a lifetime.
As aggrevating as it may seem, it is these types of moments that make your team better. If handled correctly, you as the coach can use this moment as a teaching point for your players in hopes they realize what they did wrong and how to prevent it from re-occuring. If you go overboard, it could backfire on you and send your season into a tailspin that you might not recover from. Use real-life examples to help players understand the value of the lesson so they will not ever forget it.
I teach my players from the very beginning core values. Respect, Responsibility, Communication, Self-Descipline to start with. When those values are corrupted then we deal with it immediately and move on. At the end of the day, the players understand the consequences of their actions, how it effects them now and in the future and they will have respect for you as a coach for keeping them in check with reality. The most important part is they know when they did something wrong which will help them make good decisions in the future. This transistions to the sport and the team which in terms makes for a great experience for everyone involved.
We reached a valley recently where my players had a mental lapse of some sort and forgot their core values. Disrepecting their coaches and their teammates, not showing responsibility, lack of communication and which all points to not maintaining discipline. Coaches addressed the issues and pointed out the mistakes made and how that effects the program moving forward. The players understood their mistakes and I believe felt disappointed in themselves. Non the less knew the consequesnces and accepted their punishment of extra conditioning. And as pointed out, at the end of the day we leave respecting one another and move on from the incident hopefully a better team. I fully expected that we will not have to deal with these types of valleys for the remaninder of the season.
In the end, valleys make your team stronger. Mistakes are made so we learn something. If we're not learning, then what are we doing? Take the valleys as a blessing in disguise sometimes, and turn that negative into a postive that will last a lifetime.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Make a Positive Impact!
It's easy for me to say "Make a Positive Impact" because I find that part a very natural part of "the process". Making a positive impact can be done with almost little to no effort if you choose or it can be a daily part of your program. Something as simple as good communication with your players, to caring about their grades, their interest, hobbies and lives makes that impact.
Aside from the everyday team stuff, positive impacts continue outside the gym doors. In today's society with social media, it's very easy to remain in contact with players lives. That fact right there can make the biggest impact in a kids life. And with that impact comes better grades, improved communication skills, enhanced respect responsibility and increased self-discipline. I have proven over the years that doing the little things makes the biggest impact. Showing that you really care about their lives and their success is something they put to memory and never forget. Having that extra person in their lives to listen to them, relate to them, help them solve problems and have fun can mean the world to some kids. A coach can just wear a coaches hat, or he can wear a lot of hats depending on the needs of his/her players. Besides a coach, players will often look to you as a friend, a big brother and/or a parent figure. With any of these hats, a coach can decide how big that positive impact can be. Get to know your players and their needs and make a positive impact for it's the most important thing you will EVER do!
Aside from the everyday team stuff, positive impacts continue outside the gym doors. In today's society with social media, it's very easy to remain in contact with players lives. That fact right there can make the biggest impact in a kids life. And with that impact comes better grades, improved communication skills, enhanced respect responsibility and increased self-discipline. I have proven over the years that doing the little things makes the biggest impact. Showing that you really care about their lives and their success is something they put to memory and never forget. Having that extra person in their lives to listen to them, relate to them, help them solve problems and have fun can mean the world to some kids. A coach can just wear a coaches hat, or he can wear a lot of hats depending on the needs of his/her players. Besides a coach, players will often look to you as a friend, a big brother and/or a parent figure. With any of these hats, a coach can decide how big that positive impact can be. Get to know your players and their needs and make a positive impact for it's the most important thing you will EVER do!
Friday, January 3, 2014
Set Reachable Goals!
So many times I have ask kids what their career goals are and their answer is "play in the NBA!" It's nice to dream big and that would be the ultimate goal but the odds and the facts are stacked against you.
According to the NCAA, 3.1% of high school seniors will play college basketball. About 1.3% of male senior in college get drafted by the NBA. And 0.03% of male college seniors will ever play in the NBA. Those are staggering numbers.
It's important to have goals in life and in sports but you must be realistic when setting your goals to avoid set backs. Set small reachable goals to keep you motivated to get better. If you set the bar too high and not reach it, it could effect you in your personal life including your relationships, your profession and your self esteem. I tell my players their are small reachable goals in basketball that are still challenging to accomplish. And some, although small never happen! A lot of things have to happen collectivly for you to reach your goals. And in basketball most of those are TEAM goals, not individual goals. Nobody is going to remember your 40 point game if you didn't win the sectional. Individual goals in a team sport are ok too as long as it relates to getting the job done. I'm big on recognition of individuals in basketball because it directly effects the team. Somebody has to pass you the ball for that assist, somebody has to grab that rebound to keep the other team from getting another possession and someone has to step up and defend the other teams best player to help their team win...I call it the Scottie Pippen assignment. Pippen guarded the other teams best players to keep Jordan fresh on offense. And MJ will be the first to tell you that without Pippen...no rings!
Sit down with your coach and discuss in detail your career goals both as an individual and as a team collectively. Your coach will help you with your list of goals and talk to you about how to reach them. It's starts with you and your work ethic that determines just how reachable your goals are and your team has to share those goals in order to be successful. While playing in the NBA is a dream, start with goals that are right in front of you first and let your career develop from there.
According to the NCAA, 3.1% of high school seniors will play college basketball. About 1.3% of male senior in college get drafted by the NBA. And 0.03% of male college seniors will ever play in the NBA. Those are staggering numbers.
It's important to have goals in life and in sports but you must be realistic when setting your goals to avoid set backs. Set small reachable goals to keep you motivated to get better. If you set the bar too high and not reach it, it could effect you in your personal life including your relationships, your profession and your self esteem. I tell my players their are small reachable goals in basketball that are still challenging to accomplish. And some, although small never happen! A lot of things have to happen collectivly for you to reach your goals. And in basketball most of those are TEAM goals, not individual goals. Nobody is going to remember your 40 point game if you didn't win the sectional. Individual goals in a team sport are ok too as long as it relates to getting the job done. I'm big on recognition of individuals in basketball because it directly effects the team. Somebody has to pass you the ball for that assist, somebody has to grab that rebound to keep the other team from getting another possession and someone has to step up and defend the other teams best player to help their team win...I call it the Scottie Pippen assignment. Pippen guarded the other teams best players to keep Jordan fresh on offense. And MJ will be the first to tell you that without Pippen...no rings!
Sit down with your coach and discuss in detail your career goals both as an individual and as a team collectively. Your coach will help you with your list of goals and talk to you about how to reach them. It's starts with you and your work ethic that determines just how reachable your goals are and your team has to share those goals in order to be successful. While playing in the NBA is a dream, start with goals that are right in front of you first and let your career develop from there.
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Hard Work vs Talent
Building a good work ethic early is extremely important to building a program. It's difficult to tell 4th graders that they need to work hard on their game and then expect them to understand that. I have worked hard on finding ways to make our youth understand it by doing two simple things: First, is to make learning the game fun. If kids are not having fun doing something they won't develop a work ethic to improve. I make them understand that we come in, work hard and then we play games, have contest etc afterwards. They leave the gym hungry for more and will go home and work on what they have learned. The second thing I like to do is give them quick wins. What that means is I have come up with some specific drills on footwork, ball-handling and shooting that will improve their game almost immediately. They have to see it for it to be effective, so with this process if they see they are getting better then they will begin to develop that work ethic. As kids advance, so do the difficulty of the drills.
I've seen schools just ride out the natural talent and then fade away until the next talent comes through instead of developing talent and having a strong program year in and year out. The development of the work ethic makes this happen. The schools that are always good year in and year out have great feeder systems in place, consistent coaching and a proven process of how to get that done. So even your lean years you should still be competitive and not starting over all the time. Hard work will build your program for the long run.
I've seen schools just ride out the natural talent and then fade away until the next talent comes through instead of developing talent and having a strong program year in and year out. The development of the work ethic makes this happen. The schools that are always good year in and year out have great feeder systems in place, consistent coaching and a proven process of how to get that done. So even your lean years you should still be competitive and not starting over all the time. Hard work will build your program for the long run.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Building Relationships
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! I hope you all have a great day!
I have always believed that half the battle in coaching is getting kids to want to play for you. In order to do that you have to build a relationship early on built on Respect, Communication and Trust.
It has always come natural for me to connect with most of my players. I always tell them based on my own life experiences that I have lived their life and probably have gone through whatever they might be going through so there starts the bond. It helps that I consider myself a BIG kid anyways so I can have fun when it's time to have fun too! We use the term Sir and we always shake hands everyday in order to strengthen that respect throughout the season. In the social media world, I'm in contact with them all the time so there is no gap in communication. It all seems to work out well as our coach-to-player-to-coach relationship builds.
Unlike a lot of coaches I presume, I get down on a personal level with my players. I know their lives, their stories, listen and talk to them on their level. They call me when they need advise or someone to listen to them. I don't talk down or degrade them for that will hurt the building process. My players remark how on the court I'm all business and off the court I'm just like them! lol! This is big part of my process. I don't clock out from the gym and disappear from their lives until the next practice. We do things outside of practice too and that is huge when building the relationships. I found over the years that it's the little things that can make the biggest difference in a kids life. Like checking on them when they are sick, visiting them in the hospital, or a simple text before or after school to see how their day went. My kids know they have someone in their lives they can come to with any problem that they might not be able to go to anyone else for. Having someone like that in your life is golden in today's world and a big part of my process of building a program.
With all that being said you might wonder how I avoid favoritism. There are certain kids I connect with more than others sure, just like your friends and co-workers in the adult world too. But my players will tell you I'm not afraid to call them out on something and pull a starter, or discipline anyone regardless of the relationship. Everyone pays the price for violation of team rules and no one slides. If I let that happen then it just creates problems and those problems you do not need when building a program.
At the end of the day we are all on the same page, we have and show respect for each other and that creates a great environment, a good work ethic and a great season!
I have always believed that half the battle in coaching is getting kids to want to play for you. In order to do that you have to build a relationship early on built on Respect, Communication and Trust.
It has always come natural for me to connect with most of my players. I always tell them based on my own life experiences that I have lived their life and probably have gone through whatever they might be going through so there starts the bond. It helps that I consider myself a BIG kid anyways so I can have fun when it's time to have fun too! We use the term Sir and we always shake hands everyday in order to strengthen that respect throughout the season. In the social media world, I'm in contact with them all the time so there is no gap in communication. It all seems to work out well as our coach-to-player-to-coach relationship builds.
Unlike a lot of coaches I presume, I get down on a personal level with my players. I know their lives, their stories, listen and talk to them on their level. They call me when they need advise or someone to listen to them. I don't talk down or degrade them for that will hurt the building process. My players remark how on the court I'm all business and off the court I'm just like them! lol! This is big part of my process. I don't clock out from the gym and disappear from their lives until the next practice. We do things outside of practice too and that is huge when building the relationships. I found over the years that it's the little things that can make the biggest difference in a kids life. Like checking on them when they are sick, visiting them in the hospital, or a simple text before or after school to see how their day went. My kids know they have someone in their lives they can come to with any problem that they might not be able to go to anyone else for. Having someone like that in your life is golden in today's world and a big part of my process of building a program.
With all that being said you might wonder how I avoid favoritism. There are certain kids I connect with more than others sure, just like your friends and co-workers in the adult world too. But my players will tell you I'm not afraid to call them out on something and pull a starter, or discipline anyone regardless of the relationship. Everyone pays the price for violation of team rules and no one slides. If I let that happen then it just creates problems and those problems you do not need when building a program.
At the end of the day we are all on the same page, we have and show respect for each other and that creates a great environment, a good work ethic and a great season!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
I Don't Like "OFF" days!
As if I needed anymore proof about this passion. It's so bad I don't like days off! Now there are two reasons for this: For one...I get bored sitting at home knowing there is a gym not being used! Two...I love spending time with my players! We have a good time on and off the court! If we go too many days in a row then I'm probably bouncing off the walls and they are falling behind and it take a few days to get back in the groove. In my next blog I will discuss half the battle of coaching...buy in and building coach-to-player and player-to-coach relationships.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)