John Wooden's Coaching Philosophy

Webster tells us that, among other things, a philosopher is a person who meets all events, whether favorable of unfavorable, with calmness and composure, Furthermore, among the comments he makes in defining philosophy are such statements as: originally, love of wisdom or knowledge; a study of the processes governing thought and conduct; the general principles or laws of a field of knowledge or activity; and a study of human morals, character, and behavior.
These definitions certainly indicate the necessity of a coach being somewhat of a philosopher and having a philosophy of his own if he is to do well in his chosen profession.
Psychiatrists tell us that two of the possible symptoms of insanity are delusions of grandeur and delusions of persecution. Since all coaches are subject to delusions of grandeur when their teams on occasion may accomplish what did not seem possible and subject to delusions of persecution when every close call and every break seem to go against them, they must be philosophically inclined to accept such events with calmness and composure and continue to make decisions in the clear light of common sense.
Coaches must also be able to react in a philosophical manner to the unpredictable emotional reactions of players, fans, opponents, and all others who have, or think they have, a very personal interest in the participants, the playing, and the scores of the games.

D. Wayne Lukas On Preparation

D. Wayne Lukas is one of the leading horse trainers in the world. He shares some of thoughts on preparation and work ethic:

1. Took a yellow pad and plotted 20 hour days for 7 years.
2. He wrote down everything he wanted to accomplish.
Thoughts:
3. Take a rifle approach to life, zero in on priorities.
4. I will not fail because of my concentration level.
5. Success is a matter of luck, just ask any failure.
6. Speed is determined by the leader of the pack.
7. The intimidation of effort.

Teaching Mental Toughness

Teaching Mental Toughness

Concentration is the ability to focus on what’s important and let go of everything else.
Identify the most important thing to think about at any given time they’re on the court.
The key to effective concentration is always being in the present moment. A lot of athletes “time travel”—they think about something that happened earlier in the game or what will happen next if they miss their shot.
Everybody loses focus at one time or another, but it doesn’t’ necessarily have to hurt their performance. What hurts performance is when yo lose your focus and don’t bring it back right away. You hang on to the mistake you just made, and that gets you into trouble. Your ability to stay calm under pressure and rebound from setback is a direct result of your ability to concentrate.
One of the biggest mistakes players make is to focus on stuff they have no direct control over, like how good their opponent is, playing time, officiating, things people in the stands are saying, and so on. When you focus on those uncontrollable, three things happen: Your stress level goes up, you get tight and nervous and your confidence level drops.
The best way for coaches to combat a team’s misplaced focus is to define those uncontrollable, collect them into a list and post them in the locker room.
These thoughts apply to all of us as coaches and players.
--From “Teaching Toughness” by R.J. Anderson

How We Learn

WE LEARN............

10% of what we read
20% of what we hear
30% of what we see
50% of what we both hear and see
70% of what is discussed with others
80% of what we experience personally
95% of what we TEACH to someone else

--William Glasser

Tony Dungy on OverCoaching and UnderTeaching

Tony Dungy on the game being UnderTaught and OverCoached

“When you are a teacher, you talk when you teach. You don’t talk during the test. If you teach well enough you really don’t have to worry when the students are taking the test—they are prepared and can take care of themselves.”

Tony Dungy—most of the coaches I played for were high-energy guys who tried to control everything that happened on the court or field. They left no doubt that they were in charge, calling every play, reacting to every close call and generally coaching every minute of every game.
A coach that teaches actions are reinforced during the games. His belief that he was a teach, that he is teaching the players how to play the game and understand the game; to be able to think for themselves on the court.

Usher's Thoughts On Success

Usher’s Thoughts On Success

1. “Strivers achieve what dreamers believe”
2. “The seed planted will harvest to be great in time.”
3. Importance of positive daily habits and consistently seeking new opportunities.
4. “You’ve got to be willing to open your mouth and ask questions. A quiet baby doesn’t get fed.”
5. There is tons of information out there, you must go get it. It’s not coming to you.
6. Consistently do the right things and success will follow.
7. Create a profile in life that speaks to the individual you will grow to be, not just the current situation you’re in.
8. Don’t let fear hold you back.
9. Don’t let the fact that you don’t think you’re good enough stop you from trying something.
10. Follow your passions—chances are you may or may not succeed in everything that you want, but at least you’re trying and you’re finding your way.
11. USHER’s LIFE PLAN—persistent goal setting, which he calls his key to success…It’s a matter of being focused, diligent in my attitude about life and about what I want to accomplish. I created a plan; I deviated from it a lot, but for the better. But it always was and is gratifying.

Greg Maddux & Consistency

After watching Greg Maddux for many years, you come to appreciate the consistency in performances, the consistency I his work between games, the consistency in his thought process, the consistency in the excellence of his innings, his games. It is amazing, just amazing to watch. It just never varies.
--Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves Manager

Consistency is a habit formed by repeated acts. Consistent behavior will get you consistent performance. All of the teaching theories based on repetition indicate that the constancy, the reiteration, the over and overness of behavior allows it to become second nature.
No one was amazed by Greg Maddux’s consistency during his first stint with the Chicago Cubs. He was good, but he acquired the ability to be great. Through consistent approaches—mental and physical—to his craft. To competition.
Successful execution comes when technique becomes a habit. Habit is developed through the consistent repetition of thoughts and movements.
--Taken from Coaching The Mental Game

Success Tips From Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger’s Success By Design

BELIEVE IN YOUR VISION
1. He turned down other offers to pursue his own vision

SHOW THE WORLD YOUR CONFIDENCE
2. “I just think that if you believe in yourself, you can make things happen.”

WORK FOR IT
3. A work ethic that gave him the wherewithal to push past obstacles.

PERSEVERE. NEVER GIVE UP
4. “Believe in yourself. Always dream. Look ahead. ‘over the years I have learned to stay true to myself and be fearless about following my dreams.”

SEEK INSPIRATION AND KNOWLEDGE
5. “I think you learn from the best.”

ENJOY THE RIDE
6. Don’t get overconfident with your success. It can disappear quickly.

People Who Make Things Happen

People Who Make Things Happen:

1. Are driven for a cause
2. Do not have an easy path
3. Think outside the box
4. Do more than is required
5. Give directions and cast vision
6. Make Things Happen!!

Thoughts From The Navy Seals

Navy Seals

1 It pays to be a winner.
2. Individuals can not survive in war.
3. How am I going to trust you to cover me if you can't do the simplest of things.
4. Pay now or pay later.
5. Every man is a volunteer.
6. Attention to detail can never be taken for granted.
7. Simply showing up and paying attention isn't enough.
8. Come here to be challenged.
9. No way to prepare for a kick in the balls.
10. The reward is pain for failure. Put out or get out.
11. Up to each to prove they want to they want to be there.
12. Focus all energy and power to complete the tasks.
13. Stress and exhaustion causes a loss of self confidence.
14. Teamwork is the only solution for success.
15. Do it right the first time.
16. Cannot accept a defeatist attitude.
17. Everybody works together and everybody works equal things aren't that bad.
18. Can't hold back. Overcome the mental barriers.
19. Body language tells stories.
20. Contest of commitment and dedication.
21. Winning is a conscious decision.

Bob Ladouceur's Program Beliefs-- De La Salle

Bob Ladouceur’s Program Beliefs

To be a successful coach—be vigilant and know technique.

His program is based on the belief that if you do everything precisely right, if you make a commitment to your coaches and teammates and sweat through all the grueling hours of workouts and bond with your teammates and play for them and not yourself, winning just happens. It’s a byproduct. But in the end the byproduct isn’t as important as paying attention to the details.

Winning Is Not For The Selfish

Winning is not for the Selfish

Teams matter more than individuals
Every job is important
Treat everyone with respect
Share victories and defeats
Accept criticism
Keep the boss well informed
Focus on your work ethic, not others’
Allow for differences in lifestyle
Be more creative than predictable
Let go of bad ideas
Employ structure and order
Reward those who produce
Find different ways to motivate your employees
Keep your employees fresh
Protect your system

Thoughts from Miracle of St. Anthony's

Bob Hurley Notes From Miracle of St. Anthony's

Here are a few thoughts from one of my favorite books.


Relentless commitment separates St. Anthony’s
PrinciplesàUnselfish passing, unforgiving defense & unparalled toughness
Meticulous Offense:
Setting screens, back cutting, deferring to the open man
Full court pressing and trapping, man to man defense
Toughness and tenacity
Efficient and not wasting time
Focus on repetitive teaching
Whole mindset of St. Anthony basketball hinges on mental toughness
Poise is a constant theme in his teaching:
Never reacting to a referee
Or to an opponent
And most of all, a trying circumstance
The streets are so much tougher today, but our players are so much softer.
Always the best conditioned, the toughest mentally, and always the strongest finishers
Defense is like your conservative savings, you know what you are going to get. Offense is like the stock market.
Every big game is won with defense. In baseball it’s pitching. In football it’s stopping the run.
You never want to let the analytical part of the brain stop.
Teaches running so that it becomes instinctive, second nature discipline. Constantly attacking the rim with the ball.
Perform of the level of the program standards, not the talent of the opposition.
People marvel at the team’s discipline and desire.
Must have the ability to come to work every day.
He instills discipline and determination in the players.
It’s never about winning here. It’s about performance.
They are the best defensive team ever. They don’t let you run your stuff. They play harder than any team I’ve ever seen in my life.
Five things in basketballàRebound, Defend, Dribble, Pass, and Shoot

Stephen Covey--applying the right principles for goals

You can want to do the right thing,
And you can even want to do it for the right reasons.
But if you don’t apply the right principles,
You can still hit a wall.
--Stephen Covey

Coach Don Meyer To Speak In Orlando

I am so excited to announce that Coach Don Meyer will be speaking at an event our church here in Orlando has organized on September 29th. His wife Carmen will speak have a women's only session entitled, "Blessings Through Adversity".

If you are interested in attending the free event or would like more information please email me (gbrown@athletics.ucf.edu).

Also, Buster Olney's book, "How Luck You Can Be" will be released on November 9th.

Happiness Is A State of Mind

“Often we are inclined to blame our environment or our particular situation for our failures and unhappiness when actually we should be pointing the finger at ourselves. Chances are that we would be just as unhappy in any environment, for as has often been said, happiness is a state of mind.”

--Tex Winter

Practices Like Games & Games Like Practices

Don Meyer
Northern State University
1986 NAIA National Champions
All-Time Wins Leader in College Basketball
2009 ESPY Jimmy V Award
2010 Naismith H.O.F. Lifetime Achievement

“Make practices like games and games like practices.”

All Of Us Can Be Excellent

Steps Toward Personal Excellence

All Of Us Can Be Excellent

EXCELLENCE IS ACTUALLY MUNDANE

Excellence is accomplished through deliberate actions, ordinary in themselves, performed consistently and carefully, made into habits, compounded together, added up over time. Since it is mundane, it is within reach of everyone, all the time.
So this is your challenge:
· Through deliberate actions (the things players do in training)
· Ordinary in themselves (everyone is doing them, there are no real secrets)
· Performed consistently (done on a regular basis)
· And carefully (with high standards and consummate focus)
· Made into habits (coached into your technical, tactical, psychological and physical fabric)
· Compounded together (with an understanding of harnessing all the elements)
· Added up over time (done when appropriate on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis)

--Taken from Anson Dorrance, “The Vision of a Champion”

Pat Williams Defining Self-Control

Self-control is simply a matter of self-management. It comes down to knowing what is important in life and what goals you want to achieve, then disciplining yourself and regulating your daily behavior so you can attain those goals. It means setting aside some momentary pleasure to obtain a more lasting sense of satisfaction.