Bob Hurley On Defense

In his book, "The Miracle of St. Anthony", Bob Hurley has some great thoughts on defense.

1. Defense is like your conservative savings. You know what you're going to get. Offense is like the stock market.
2. "We're going to be a defensive clinic."
3. Every game is won with defense. In baseball, it's pitching. In football, it's stopping the run.
4. Pressure ballhandlers into indecision and mistakes.
5. Never allow the ballhandler clear avenues of vision to feed.
6. It's never about winning. It's always about performance.
7. Just don't let the other team run their stuff.

Coach Meyer Camp Coaches Meeting

One of my favorite parts of Coach Meyer's basketball camps as a coach were the coaches meetings on the first day of camp. I'm not sure how many camps I have worked for Coach Meyer but no coaches orientation was ever the same. You never knew what tangent he would head off on or what topics he would cover. I just wanted to share of few of the things from one of my camp notebooks.

• Coaches with a strong value system last the longest in coaching.
• You must want to be better, you must want to work.
• Effort and Attitude are the only two things you can change about yourself.
• Look for work and chances to teach.
• Learn from other coaches.
• Move people mentally.
• You get what you inspect, expect and accept.
• The most important thing is to be a team.
• You become what you think about.
• "The Great Stone Face"--Nathaniel Hawthorne--you become what you concentrate on. What you put in your mind is what you become.
• Show kids, don't just tell them.
• Values--not religion-->friendship, thankfulness, caring, humility
• Servant attitude
  

Qualitative Differences To Produce Excellence

1. TECHNIQUE

Champions are ordinary people who do ordinary things extraordinarily well.

2. DISCIPLINE

Make the practice like games and the games like practice.

Coach's job is to replicate game situations in practice.

3. ATTITUDE OF A CHAMPION

What are they eager to do? Not willing but eager is the key.

Champions don't look at it as a sacrifice. Champions choose to live as champions.

CHAMPIONS BECOME CHAMPIONS BECAUSE THEY DO WHAT CHAMPIONS HAVE TO DO

Key Thoughts For Success

Just wanted to share a few thoughts I came across this morning from my dayplanner journal.

1. There is no happiness when what you believe is not what you are. It's impossible for people to heed your advice and ignore your example.
2. You have to study the game. When two coaches are together and one is talking and one is listening, you know the one listening is the better coach.
3. Each week evaluate your players in manners, courage and language.
4. Do you have servant goals or selfish ones?
5. Build your own army wherever you are. You can't do this by taking from people, you must give. Daily acts of kindness build an army.
6. You are the sum total of your experiences.
7. Don't make decisions because they are convenient, inexpensive or popular. Make them because they are right.
8. Have the mentality of, "Count on me."
9. It's better to be content with a little rather than discontent with a lot.
10. Take nothing for granted.

Fundamentals

3. Just a few thoughts we share with our players and campers this week:

1. Fight to get the shot we want rather than the quick shot our opponent gives us.--Newell
2. Toughest thing to do in coaching is to keep it simple--Majerus
3. Be fundamental and be tough.
4. Fundamentals are the gas that make the car run.
5. Fundamentals are there for everyone, most won't take the time to develop them.

Butkus Defining Excellence

"Excellence--Consistent superiority of performance"

Ripken's Rules

Cal Ripken's Rules:

Love The Game

Love Your Team

Play At The Highest Level

Best Things Seen In Coaching--Coach Meyer

Every few days I go through some of my old Lipscomb notebooks or some old Academy notebooks. I'm always amazed that I pick up something new each time.

Here are a few of the things that I made note of:

1. A couple of possessions off won't win a championship.
2. Eliminate the 2 mistake syndrome.
3. A great team doesn't need a coach to tell them to talk.
4. You reach the highest level with the closest teams.
5. Learn how to compete on nights when you don't have it.
6. Tough minded enough to do the necessary things--this is the epitome of what a team is.
7. We have to be at a higher standard.
8. Never take generosity for granted.
9. Appreciate hard work and effort.
10. Human nature--we all want the easy way out--but that doesn't equal a champion.
    

Ditka's Thoughts On Teaching The Game

"I still believe that execution, not innovation, is what wins games. How well do your guys execute compared with the other guys?

Some coaches stand at a blackboard and diagram plays and look very intellectual, but it means nothing if they can't get the knowledge across to their players or if they can't get their players to believe in the system."

The Makings Of A Good Coach

All through the playoffs, you hear so much about Phil Jackson. The comments at times are at extremes. Ranging from Genius to he's just sitting there while Kobe runs the team.

All of this reminds me of what Bud Grant, former Minnesota Viking Head Coach had to say about the makings of a great coach or leader. The more I think about Phil Jackson, the more I realize he fits the characteristics that Coach Grant believed in.

I think too often we only think of coaching as what is going on during the game. If the coach isn't standing up and pacing the sidelines, then he must not be coaching.

Instead, coaching is done in the preparation, in the teaching. Coach Newell and Coach Knight often said the the game is overcoached and undertaught. Too many of us get these two things confused.

Coach Grant had the following beliefs:

1. Put your ego aside.
2. The main job of a coach is to recognize and secure talent, and then to utilize that talent.
3. Don't be concerned with people writing about what a great coach you are. Make the team the focus.
4. Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu in 565 BC, discussing leadership. It is good advice for anyone in a position of command:

A leader is best

When people barely know he exists.

Not so good when people obey and acclaim him,

Worse when they despise him.

But of a good leader, who talks little,

When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,

They will say, "We did this ourselves."

Building A Champion

1. Former San Francisco coach Bill Walsh's book, "Building A Champion" is another must read. I've always marveled at his poise and composure watching him in the NFL films.

He was prepared and so were his teams. He always came across as a teacher.

Here are a few of his thoughts on building a champion that we want to apply as we prepare for the upcoming season.

• Leadership does not mean overt posturing. It's communicating under the most difficult circumstances.
• Egos cannot be a barrier in doing business.
• Work endlessly on the fundamentals of the game and how they apply to our offense.
• Isolate skills that we need and the timing necessary until we are very proficient in all phases of offense.
• Boxing parallel. Beat them to the punch. Their intensity and explosiveness would gradually wear down their opponents and bring them down late in the game.
• Everything in practice emphasized quickness, explosiveness and movement. Quick recovery is essential.
• Meticulous and long range planning.
• Four basic categories of team development
• Teaching of individual fundamental skills
• Choreographing the action of groups
• The development of team execution
• The implementation of situations
• Every logical situation that might occur in a game was isolated and strategy and tactics were accordingly devised.
• This is my personal favorite:
• Players must execute. They can't just depend on emotion to win. It doesn't matter how much we want to win the game. The bottom line is: Can we execute a series of plays almost flawlessly? It's the standard of performance that is the difference when the opponent is equally motivated.

The 5 "S's" of Offense

Here are 5 Offensive items we will emphasize for 09-10:

1. Sprint the floor
2. Spacing
3. Sureness
4. Swing the ball
5. Shot discipline

6 Things That Contribute To Losing

While watching the NBA Finals on Thursday night I was reminded of the 6 things that contribute to losing from former Washington State, Wisconsin and Wisconsin Green-Bay Coach Dick Bennett.

1. Not getting back defensively
2. Not blocking out
3. Poor decision-making
4. Dumb fouls
5. Poor shot selection
6. Turnovers

Bob Ladouceur On Motivating Teenagers

Bob Ladouceur spoke at the 2002 Schutt National High School Coach of the Year banquet, an award that he won. Here are a few of his thoughts that can apply to all of us--coaches, parents, teens....on motivation.

1. Discovered that as his age increases, his IQ decreases. The older I get the more I realize how little I know--this is OK, it's the first step of self-awareness.
2. Teenagers need trustworthy adults in their lives to help guide them--other than their parents.
3. Remember Father Flannigan from Boy's Town--He said, "There's no such thing as a bad kid." I believe he was right. There is no such thing as a bad kid, but there are kids who make bad choices, choose bad behavior and sometimes are the victims of bad parenting.
4. Teenagers are not lazy. When they have no direction, no passion or goals then the symptom is lack of motivation.
5. Whatever we (as adults) want and need--Teenagers want and need also.
6. Teenagers pay more attention to the messenger than they do the message. So if you are the messenger then live the message.
7. Believe in a higher power. Personally, I am not smart enough or good enough to shepherd myself through life's journey. And what I found out is that journey is not an outward journey but completely and absolutely an inward journey.
8. Everybody wants to be a success. I've never heard anyone say I want to be a failure. One person may have one idea of success, another person may have another idea of success may be. We measure our success by how well we have embraced the spirit and essence of those intangibles. Success to us is understanding that where preparation meets opportunity--greatness can be achieved. Preparation for us is long, tedious and difficult and the windows of opportunity are brief, short and intense. I know for a fact that nobody--at least our opponents--outwork us. We prepare well, and when ready, we welcome, not fear our opportunities. Hard work is the cornerstone upon which all achievement emanates.

Coach Meyer Pre Game Notes

I went through a notebook today looking for some of our motion teaching points. I came across a notes page from my Franklin DayPlanner from December 6, 1991.

The notes were from the Lipscomb vs. IUSE pre-game:

Here's what Coach Meyer said:

1. Can't be careless in what you do.
2. Poise with purpose.
3. It's not what you do, it's how you do it.
4. We will not tolerate things not getting done by the way we want it done.
5. It's not how many games you won and lost, it's how you won and lost them.
6. Terry Anderson (on his 6 years in captivity)--the years weren't wasted, he learned a lot. His attitude kept him alive. He wants peace of mind.
7. Get back to ATTITUDE being important.
8. You can't get into winning and losing. Commit to excellence.
9. Just play hard.
10. We stand for the best the game can be played.
11. We play against the game.
12. You must give all.
13. Be the best at what you're doing.
14. Strive to be the best you can be.
15. You can't always control winning and losing, just play hard.

Basic Principles of Coaching

"Always have a plan and believe in it. I tell my coaches not to compromise. Nothing good happens by accident."

I have recently been reading through "The Gamemakers" again. It is one of the greatest books looking into some of the lives of former NFL coaches.

Listed below are what Coach Knox called his "Basic Principles" of coaching.

1. To Inspire Learning--create within the player a desire to do what is demanded.
2. Concentration--learning the game is not a matter of intelligence, it's concentration.
3. Belief--players must understand the depth of the coach's conviction.
4. Demand it be done--Expect, inspect and accept.
5. Evaluate--Team, Self, Coaches
6. Never forget the basics
7. Sell skill--improvement comes from concentration on the basic fundamentals.
8. Teach--Most coaches know the game but they are not all able to teach the fundamentals.

Jim Valvano Daily Motivation

I love to read the following notes from the legendary Jim Valvano. They were taken from his ESPY speech. They are great thoughts to help us in our daily focus.

1. Time is precious.
2. How do you get through life? Things to do daily--Laugh/ Think/ Cry. These things make a full day.
3. Where you start, where you are, where you end up.
4. How to go from where you are to where you want to be--Enthusiastic for life, Dream, Willing To Work.
5. Give hope to others.
6. Enjoy life.
7. Cancer can take my physical ability, but it can never take my mind.
8. Be enthusiastic every day.
9. Nothing can not happen first without a dream. Goal, Dream, Belief
10. DON'T GIVE UP, DON'T EVER GIVE UP

Commitment

I wanted to share a few things from Dr. Rotella's book, "Golf Is A Game Of Confidence". As we all know, the mental to physical is 4 to 1. The mental aspect is as important as any other fundamental that we teach.

Internationally celebrated for his work in the area of applied sports psychology, Dr. Robert Rotella is consistently recognized as the Top Sports Psychologist in the world. Dr. Rotella’s golfers on the PGA Tour have won at least 25 of the 40 tournaments played for each of the last 15 years. Rotella’s book, “Golf Is Not a Game of Perfect” is the best selling sports psychology book of all time and one of the three best selling golf books in history.

1. Characteristics of a Champion--strong willed, they all have dreams and they all make a long-term commitment to pursue those dreams.
2. Your state of mind is a matter of choice.
3. People by and large become what they think about themselves.
4. Make a commitment to good thinking.
5. Confidence doesn't guarantee success. It only enhances the chance.
6. Confidence is the sum of all the thoughts you have about yourself.
7. The happiest people have a sense of commitment i everything they do, whether it's playing golf, running a restaurant or selling hardware. They approach their undertaking with passion.

Bird Watching

I just wanted to pass along a few of the notes I have from Larry Bird's book, "Bird Watching".

1. Less screaming in games.
2. Mix up how you deal with the team, can't yell all the time, it loses is effectiveness.
3. In the NBA, the 3rd quarter is the key to the game and you can't afford for the team to spend 5 minutes recovering from half-time.
4. Score after every timeout.
5. Bird expected the team to be very aggressive on the offensive glass.
6. Find three players each night who are playing well.

Maker Of My Own Fortune

We are constantly looking for different voices to share our message to our team. Responsibility and Accountability are two essential traits we are working to develop on our team.

The following quote from Tecumseh shares this thought:

I am a Shawnee. My forefathers were warriors. Their son is a warrior...From my tribe I take nothing. I am the maker of my own fortune.

Samurai Swordsmen On Technique

Samurai Swordsmen:

Determined the best way to beat one's adversary in a duel was to fight without the delay of thinking. Polished technical skill was a pre-requisite, but the actual moves were dictated by feeling rather than thought.

Figuring It Out For Yourself

One of the concepts about leadership we are emphasizing with our team is to first lead yourself. To do so, we are teaching the idea of "Figuring it our for yourself."

It doesn't mean that we are not going to help our players, but instead teach them "how". --"Feed a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

• We can't tell them everything.
• They have to become critical thinkers.
• Critical thinkers are winners.
• Teach them how to figure it out for themselves.

Lamar Hunt On Preparation

Lamar Hunt founded the Kansas City Chiefs. He lists three items to consider as you prepare and plan:

1. Determine what you want

2. Find out what it will cost you to get what you want

3. Decide if you are willing to pay the price

Motion Offense Thoughts

As we are preparing for our fall workouts and teaching points we want to emphasize for the 2009-10 season I wanted to pass along some of our points of emphasis for our motion offense.

1. We would like to force the defense to defend all the spots of the court with all of their players.
2. Spacing is offense and offense is spacing.--Chuck Daly
3. Dribble with a purpose.
4. Know what you can and can't do.
5. Pass away from the defense.
6. The most important way a player can contribute to our team is to cut.
7. Cutters and Screeners--Who, What, When, Where and How?
8. Get your eyes on your defender.
9. Let the ball find you.
10. Change of direction and change of speed.