Thoughts From The Road Recruiting

One of the things I enjoy about traveling is that it allows me some time to read and think about our program. Here are some random things that I have put in my notebook over the last few days:

1. The first step toward achieving greatness is defining greatness and committing to achieve it.
2. We need to regularly hold "NEEDS" meetings.
3. Demystify the game--it really is a simple game.
4. Emphasize the core values of our program.
5. Coaching isn't about knowing the game, it's figuring out a way to have the players do what we want.
6. Under pressure--our core personality wants to take over. Anxiety whispers different things to different people. To be effective as coaches we have to understand the anxiety monster and how to push motivational buttons.
7. Can't necessarily motivate others with what motivates us.

Four Truths About Discipline

Four Truths About Discipline:

1. Discipline Comes With A Price Tag

Discipline is costly. It demands a continual investment of time, energy and commitment at the expense of momentary pleasure and ease. It meas giving up short term benefits for the hope of future gain. It means pressing on to excellence long after everyone else has settled for average.

2. Discipline Turns Talent To Greatness

Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow shared insight when he wrote:

The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

3. Discipline Focuses On Choices, Not Conditions

In general, people approach daily discipline in one of two ways. They focus on the external or the internal. Those who focus externally allow conditions to dictate whether or not they remain disciplined. Because conditions are transitory, their discipline level changes like the wind.

In contrast, people with internal discipline focus on choices. You cannot control circumstances, nor can you control others. By focusing on your choices, and making the right ones regularly, you stay disciplined.

4. Discipline Does Not Bow Down To Feelings

As Arthur Gordon said, "Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them, day after day. What you promise today must be renewed and redecided tomorrow and each day that stretches out before you."

If you do what you should only when you really feel like it, then you won't build disciplined habits. At times, you have to act contrary to emotions. If you refuse to give into your lesser impulses, no matter how great they will make you feel in the moment, then you'll go far.

Don't Take Possesion Of Negatives In Our Lives

I am fortunate enough to teach a Bible Class on Sunday mornings at our church here in Orlando. During our discussion yesterday a cancer survivor passed this along. She said that she has studied a lot about how God has wired us and how we think, and the remarkable ways in which our minds work. She said that as she has battled the tough situations in her life she has worked to maintain a positive approach to everything. She said that she has learned not to take possession of those negatives. While she may have cancer in her body, it is not hers. While there may be negative thoughts going through her mind, they are not her negative thoughts. I haven't done justice to how she delivered that to us in class, I hope that the message gets across.

Program Basics

Listed below are just a few of the basics of our program and philosophy at UCF:

1. Successful programs consist of people working hard, working together, while never caring who gets the credit.
2. Our program must have an overriding purpose which is clearly visible and which teaches lessons beyond winning.
3. We want to take the same approach through all of our life. We want to learn through basketball to be a better person.
4. Teach, that success is living up and exceeding your potential.
5. Each week we look to elevate our players manners, effort and language.
   

Leadership Thoughts

1. Check, Check & Re-Check
2. Retrieve, Review, & Reinforce
3. Expect, Inspect, Accept
4. Adapt, Improvise, Overcome
5. Sit and think 10 minutes a day
6. Don't bail their butts out.
7. Keep a daily record of what I learned about people, relationships, basketball and life.
8. Do less and do it better.
9. Build a philosophy of life.
10. No shortcuts for anything are worthwhile.
11. Be true to yourself--do the things you know you should do.
12. We get what we tolerate.
13. Always try to learn.
14. Security is bad. It makes you complacent and dull.
15. Coaching is: Organization, Discipline and Communication.
    

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