John Wooden's Teaching

In a study of John Wooden's teaching the researchers noted that there were no lectures and no extended harangues. None. Not one in all they months they observed. Although frequent and often in rapid-fire order, his comments were so distinct that the researchers were able to code and count each one as a separate event.

Most of Coach Wooden's statements in practice were short corrections or statements of how to play basketball. In fact, 75% of everything he said carried information intended for learning.

Of the 2,500 comments the researchers recorded most were just plain information about how to play basketball. Information about the proper way to do something in a particular context. They didn't observe praising or criticizing that much.

Coach Wooden focused on delivering information players could use to remedy errors and correctly perform what he had previously explained and demonstrated.

It was information that promoted change.

Players learned to expect correction for every error, at the time it occurred, no exception. Perfection was the goal and perfection could not be reached unless every error was addressed and rectified.

You Haven't Taught Until They Have Learned

Wooden's Laws of Teaching and Learning

A key goal of Coach Wooden was the development of players who were creative, confident problem-solvers.

A basketball player who had learned to automatically execute a specific offfensive maneuver might be successful as long as the opponent fails to adjust. But once the other team makes defensive adjustments, the offensive player's success depends on the ability to develop solution methods in response. Coach Wooden's goal was to teach the underlying concepts of offensive and defensive basketball.

The laws of learning:

1. Explanation/ Demonstration

2. Imitation/ Correction

3. Repetition

Wooden's Advice To His Leaders

Coach Wooden's Advice To His Leaders:

1. Be our hardest workers

2. Take care of the stuff off the floor

3. Leave everything else to the coaches

John Wooden On Choices You Make

"The choices you make in life make you."

Essential Wooden--10 Team Tips

10 TEAM TIPS

1. Be thinking at all times.
2. If you do your best, never lose your temper and never be out-fought or out-hustled, you'll have nothing to worry about.
3. Without faith and courage, you are lost.
4. Have respect for, without fear of, every opponent, and confidence without cockiness in regard to yourself.
5. Never be a spectator. Be in the fight at all times.
6. Unselfish team play and team spirit are two of the foremost essentials for our success.
7. We have tough battles ahead. Enjoy the thrill of being a hard fight.
8. Never stoop to playing dirty--play hard and don't complain.
9. Be sure to acknowledge and give credit to a teammate who hits you with a scoring pass or for any fine play he can make.
10. Be a competitor. When the going gets tough, really get going.
    
    

Coach Wooden on Developing Leadership

I am continually amazed when I read from John Wooden's books. I have read and re-read them all. But, each time I find that something hits me a little differently. Just today, I was going through some notes from Coach Wooden's book, "Wooden On Leadership". Several things just jumped out at me. I'll share some over the next few days. Here's the first:

"I believe leadership itself is largely learned.

Certainly not everyone can lead

nor is everyone a leader destined for glory,

but most of us have a potential far beyond

what we think possible."

Coach Wooden goes on to say that whatever coaching and leadership skills he possesses he learned through listening, observation, study, and then trial and error along the way.