Definite Dozen--Loyalty

Loyalty is a word used throughout business and sports. Loyalty separates a lot of successful teams and businesses. Here are a few thoughts that we emphasize and discuss with our team and that were shared at Tennessee:

• Don't say things you wouldn't say to some one's face.
• Loyalty has disrupted a lot of teams.
• Must have respect to have loyalty.
• Negative thinkers suck the energy out of programs.
• It is a trust, a commitment to each other.
• Treat each other as family, not just saying it.
• It is essential when games start and people begin pulling at you asking, "Why are they doing this, You could do this...etc." Because people try to plant seeds of discontent.
• It is not something you can demand or enforce.
• It is not a bargain or an exchange. It's something that must be tended to daily.

Definite Dozen--Hard Work

In our recent staff meeting we were discussing work ethic and work habits. One of our keys to success is not just getting our players to work hard, but to enjoy working hard, and to understand that there is a price to pay for everything.

Here are a few notes from some team meetings discussing The Definite Dozen and Hard Work:

• Mutual respect makes you work harder.
• Commitment to your teammates makes you work harder.
• Hard work is part of our culture here, maybe not at other places.
• The Law of the Farm--"Cows don't take days off."

Coach Meyer would always remind us to, "look for work." I remember Pat telling me one time while I was still coaching high school, that a lot of people look for jobs, but not many look for work.

Definite Dozen--Responsibility

Responsibility is a key characteristic of all successful teams and leaders. It has to be emphasized and cultivated daily. We always try to emphasize the various ways responsibility manifests itself in our daily lives. Here are a few thoughts on Responsibility:

• Time management
• Accountable for your own mistakes
• Separating various aspects of our lives
• Work ethic is your own responsibility
• Be mature and communicate
• Responsible for your own improvement
• Take time to get organized.
• Prepare and plan
• Getting paperwork turned in on time. What might be small to you could have a huge effect on someone else.
• Accountable for my role on and off the court
• To be successful you must accept full responsibility
• The more successful you are, the more responsibility you must assume.
• Responsibility never ends.
• None of us start out responsible. It's something that must be taught and it can be self-taught.
• You can't pick and choose the days you want to be responsible.
• The best way to handle responsibility is to break it down into smaller parts.
• The only effective way to teach responsibility is by making them responsible for the small things, day in and day out.
• Ask yourself everyday what your responsibilities are, and be accountable for them. When you've fulfilled those, ask for more.

Posts IDW #1

Skill development is the heart of our program. We are wanting to develop new players by the time we get to post-season play in March. As the old saying goes, "Do you want two new plays in March or two new players?" Obviously, we want new players. Everything we do in our teaching is a progression.
Today, in our first workout with the posts, our emphasis was Technique and Being Comfortable With The Ball. Below is our workout for today. We end the workout with Tiger and Grooving our shot.
"Tiger" is named after Tiger Woods. Tiger ends his putting practice by making 100 nine foot putts. In our "Tiger" session, we will pick a skill for them to end the workout with and give the requirements. It's another effort to develop confidence and technique. We did our entire workout today with the reduced rim, they hate it at first, but we believe it is a great aid in our focus and concentration.


(6) Wooden Work
· V-Cut & RPA
· Partner Passing (stationary & 1/2 court)
· Dribble & Juggle
· 2 Ball dribbling

(6) Finishing (Reduced Rim)
· Mikans
· 2 ball pick-up vs Air Dummy
· Screen & Roll
· Screen & Slip

(5) Closeouts (Together)
· Technique
· Roll ball and close out on wing
· Teaching Points

(8) Scoring (Reduced rim—2 makes vs contact)
· Catch—RPA—1 Dribble finish (2 dribble)
· Catch—RPA—1 Dribble pull-up
· Sikma—Jumper
· Sikma—Power move

(3) Tiger

(2) Groove Shot

Definite Dozen--Respect Self & Others

Every successful program has a core set of values, principles that guide them in all that they do. At UCF, everything we do on and off the floor centers around our core values. Though we have a different title for our "Definite Dozen" they embody what we want in our program.

At the beginning of each season, we would sit in a circle in the team room and go through the Definite Dozen one by one. Pat would ask for input from players, coaches and staff. Here are some of the thoughts discussed:

RESPECT YOURSELF & OTHERS

• Look at the relationship that recruits have with their family.
• Body language.
• Are you happy with yourself?
• Being on time. Lots of responsibilities, our time isn't more important than others.
• Actions show more respect than words.
• Don't get hung up on titles, treat everyone how you would like to be treated.
• Can't demand respect.
• Make eye contact.
• Be your own person, decide who you are going to be.
• Ambition can transform you. The starting point of ambition is self-respect.

UCF General Defensive Philosophy

A lot of championships have been won by teams that have not been the most talented. So, how are you going to win your district, conference, etc. if you are not the most talented team? By influencing your opponent defensively. We know we are not going to “pitch” a shutout. But we can determine who scores, where they score and how they score, we are going to make it hard on them.

One of the keys to our program is to have a plan for everything. Bear Bryant (legendary Alabama football coach) said: “Have a plan for everything, an objective, you just don’t go out day to day and coach. You have a plan you believe in, and you have to be strong enough not to compromise.” We make a master practice plan prior to the start of the season to plan when we will teach each element of our system. We have a checklist for each area of our defense and each skill needed to execute that area of our program.

We want our system to be simple and efficient. Ernest Hemingway was once asked, “How did you learn to write?” Hemingway replied, “By writing every day.” That is the mentality we take to our program on a daily basis. In doing so, we plan to outwork, outprepare and outfundamental our opponents.

In the teaching of our defense, we really concentrate on developing sound defensive techniques. Regardless of your team defensive system, it is essential that players master the proper defensive techniques. It is only when your players can get into, stay in and move in the various defensive stances will your defensive system be executed to its fullest.

There are basic four ways as to why games are lost:
Turnovers
Bad shots
Failure to blockout
Lack of pressure
Our defensive system is predicated on these four variables. We know that most games are lost, not won. We simply want to get the offense to do something they don’t want to do.

Pat Summitt's Definite Dozen

I've been very fortunate in my coaching career to work with some of the greatest coaches in the game. One of the things I treasure the most are my notebooks from those coaches. This morning I began reviewing Coach Summitt's Definite Dozen. I look forward to sharing some of my notes over then next few days.

Introduction to the Definite Dozen:

• Pat always stressed the importance of having a philosophy, a system of life. How will you run your company? Your team? Your family?
• A philosophy helps you maintain and keep focus and discipline.
• Pat would start the first meeting by asking how many games do you want to miss because you violated Team Policy/ Definite Dozen. These standards apply to everyone in the program.
• The Definite Dozen is a tool to help you raise your standards.
• The Definite Dozen came from Pat's parents.
• She has a goal to teach something everyday to make the players a better person.
• Be defined as an overachiever.