Go Hard with Roy Helu

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Goals (Player's Handbook Chapter)

“A goal not written down is just a wish.”
~Author Unknown

If we were to run on to the floor for our season opener and find that the baskets were gone, I'm quite sure we wouldn't even attempt to play the game. We know without goals we cannot score. The same is true for us individually and as a team. We need to set goals.

As an individual, you must set short-term and long-term goals. These short-term goals should be easily attainable, because your long-term success is the result of small victories you accumulate every day. They add up and help you to form good habits. For example, if one of your goals this year is to set the school rebounding record, you'll need to establish a goal of so many rebounds per game. Furthermore, you'll also need to set specific practice goals and goals in the weight room (i.e. blocking out your man on every shot, pursuing every missed shot, perfect weight room attendance, etc). When you accomplish these daily successes, day in and day out, eventually you'll develop very positive habits pertaining to your long-term goals. One day, you just might be the rebound record holder. Just make sure your personal goals build up the team, and do not tear it down. Always remember: This team is not about you!

As a team, we too need to establish goals. Rick Pitino summed it up best when he said dreams are where we want to end up and goals are how we get there. If our dream is to win the state championship, then we need to build within us championship principles. A wise teacher once said your thoughts overflow into action…action develops habits…habits produce character…and your character reveals your destiny. Therefore, if it is our destiny to play at the championship level, we must govern our thoughts and training habits accordingly.

People are divided into three groups: 1) Those that make things happen. These people dream, set goals and work hard to attain their goals. 2) Those who watch things happen. Often these people are dreamers, but fail to make a plan and stick to it. 3) And those who wonder what happened. Obviously, these people lack the industriousness to even dream. Which one are you?

Self-Confidence (Player's Handbook Chapter)

“Confidence comes from being prepared and demonstrated ability.”
~John Wooden

You are who you are for a reason. You have value and purpose. We believe this and you should too. It is always our goal to discipline and demand without being demeaning. With that said, you also have a responsibility to yourself and this team to be coachable and establish a solid work ethic. It’s impossible to “coach” confidence without these two cornerstones. Self-confidence begins only when you objectively identify your talents, become organized, have discipline in your life, and take action. It’s not just about the coaching staff blurting out positive affirmations each time down the court. If we “chew you out”, consider it a compliment because we believe you have the ability to overcome and correct your mistake. The following Vince Lombardi story exemplifies this point perfectly:

During a practice session for the Green Bay Packers, things were not going well for Lombardi's team. Lombardi singled out one big guard for not going hard, “Son, you are a lousy football player. You're not blocking, you're not tackling, and you’re not going hard. As a matter of fact, it's all over for you today, go take a shower.” The big guard dropped his head and walked into the locker room. Forty-five minutes later, when Lombardi walked in, he saw the big guard bowed and he was sobbing quietly. He walked over to his football player and put his arm around his shoulder. “Son,” he said, “I told you the truth. You are a lousy football player. You're not doing what we ask of you. However, in all fairness to you, I should have finished the story. Inside of you, son, there is a great football player and I'm going to stick by your side until the great football player inside of you has a chance to come out and assert himself.” With these words, Jerry Kramer straightened up and felt a great deal better. He felt so much better he went on to become one of the all-time greats in football and was voted the all-time best guard in the first 50 years of professional football.

We often see things in you that you seldom see in yourself. It is our job to inspire you to maximize your God-given abilities. How this is done is often a reflection of the coach, player and situation. It is your job to rise up and answer the challenge. And when we get tough on a player, we are looking for a positive response complimented by hard work and great enthusiasm. Good players will always recognize their mistakes, admit their mistakes, learn from their mistakes, and forget their mistakes. We refer to these four action steps as “Next Play!” mentality.

Hard Work (Player's Handbook Chapter)

I am the most desirable thing in life. Without me no one can be healthy, happy, or useful...without me, the hidden wealth and vast resources of this earth would have no value. Men and women who try to get along without me are characterless, selfish, undeveloped, useless, and unprofitable members of society. I am behind every fortune, every art and science, every achievement, every triumph of man. Rich men and poor men alike often try to find substitutes for me, hoping thereby to secure a larger measure of happiness, peace and satisfaction, but they are always bitterly disappointed. Instead of gain, every substitute for me brings them loss. As the creator is greater than the created, so I am greater than wealth, power, fame, learning, or any other acquired possession or quality of man, because I am the source from which he acquired them. I am work.

John Wooden also believes in work. He says hard work is the cornerstone of success. There is no substitute for hard work. Furthermore, author Zig Ziglar illustrates this with a humorous story:

Many years ago a wise king called all his wise men together and gave them a commission. He asked them to compile the “Wisdom of the Ages”. The wise men went to work and came back with twelve volumes of wisdom. The king said he was sure this would not be read because it was too long. They went back to work and condensed it to one volume. Again he said it was too long. Finally they returned with one sentence that read, “There ain't no free lunch”. The wise old king said this is truly the “Wisdom of the Ages”.

It is true. There is no substitute for hard work. However, I see too many young players mistake activity for achievement. Hard work is a daily journey throughout your entire life that requires tremendous self-discipline. Mentally you need to develop confidence in yourself, coaches, and teammates. Physically you need to be in shape, eat right, and treat your body in a manner that prepares you to release your maximum potential.

The hard worker stands up and stands out from the crowd. He's a cut above the rest. He's the first one in the gym and the last one to leave. Once you've created this work ethic, second to none, you begin to feel good about yourself. Your confidence soars and success is just around the corner. However, many high school athletes succumb to peer pressure and settle for mediocre effort. They end up making excuses and passing the buck. You are called to be different!

Attitude (Player's Handbook Chapter)

I am sure you have heard a coach say, “He has a bad attitude.” So what is a good attitude? Most of us find it easy to have a good attitude when everything is going our way, but what happens when the chips are down? It’s a known fact you will face adversity at least three times this season. What will be your attitude when you do not get in the game, when the official makes a poor call, when you can hardly walk you are so run down, or when you are getting chewed out for something you don't think you did?

A good attitude is doing your best at all times, respecting your coach's decisions, respecting your teammates, reaching down and going a little bit harder, accepting criticism, and not blaming someone else. Are you prepared to have such an attitude? David did…

Goliath, the nine-foot 400-lb. giant, challenged the soldiers of Israel. David, a 17-year-old shepherd, demanded to know why they were not accepting his challenge. They explained to David that Goliath would destroy them. David did not agree because he compared the size of Goliath to the size of God. As you know, David won. He did not allow the conditions to control his attitude; his attitude controlled the conditions.

I hope you can step onto the basketball court with the same attitude David had when he stepped onto the battlefield with Goliath. Be positive and do not let your mistakes handle you; rather, you handle your mistakes.

In closing, Chuck Swindoll echoes these sentiments by saying:

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a team. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”

Team Spirit (Player's Handbook Chapter)

This team is not about you. The late Jim Valvano, former North Carolina State coach said, “A person really doesn’t become whole until he becomes a part of something that’s bigger than himself.” Thus, being a part of this team is about being a great teammate and losing your “me attitude” in our “team attitude”! I have a good story that illustrates this team concept, and I hope it means as much to you as it does to me:

A man was given a tour of both Heaven and Hell so he could select his final destination. In Hell, all the occupants were seated at a banquet table loaded with every food imaginable, but the people were skin and bones. Each person had a four-foot fork and knife strapped to each hand that made it impossible to eat. Next he entered Heaven. The scene was almost identical, except all the people sitting around the banquet table were healthy and happy. The man was bewildered. Then he saw the answer. Each person in Hell had been trying to feed himself. Four-foot forks and knives made this impossible. Each person in Heaven was feeding the one across the table.

Life is like an echo. We must treat people the way we would want to be treated. Your teammates' and coaches' welfare should be very important to you on and off the court. On the court you will often hear me say if you get someone else open, you will get open. The same principle applies to life. Great teammates make themselves available to serve. They pay attention to the needs of others. Great teammates do the best with what they have. They don’t make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances. Great teammates do every task with equal dedication. Great opportunities often disguise themselves in small tasks. Great teammates are faithful. They don’t leave a job half undone, and they don’t quit when they get discouraged. And great teammates maintain a low profile. Self-promotion and being a great teammate just don’t mix.

With all this said, everything we do is team. That is why we do not ever want one-on-one spectacles, but moments when individual skills contribute to the team as a whole. We value the man who makes the pass that leads to an assist. We appreciate the man who busts himself to get another teammate open. We value the man who takes pride in defensive help and takes a charge. We appreciate the practice player who does not see much playing time, but pushes his teammates day in and day out. This team attitude applies off the court as well. That is why we emphasize not to do anything that will bring unusual attention to yourself; such as your hair, language, dress, and actions.

More on Wooden by Maxwell

The following comes from the email newsletter put out by John Maxwell and Invoy.com each month.

Lessons from Basketball's Greatest Coach by Dr. John C. Maxwell

At 97 years of age, John Wooden is a legend in the coaching profession. In 1999, ESPN named him The Greatest Coach of the 20th Century.

The list of honors garnered by Coach Wooden during his coaching career is unrivaled. Over the course of twelve years, his UCLA Bruins basketball teams won ten NCAA Championships, including an astonishing seven in a row from 1967 to 1973. For comparison's sake, no other men's coach has won more than 4 NCAA titles. He led his teams to four undefeated seasons; no other coach has had more than one undefeated season. His teams set a record by winning 88 games in a row, including 38 in a row in the NCAA Tournament.

Winning: More than the score

After glancing at Coach Wooden's record, a person may be misled into thinking Coach Wooden was a man preoccupied with winning. However, nothing could be further from the truth. For Coach Wooden, competition was never about comparing his team to the opposing squad. Despite all of the victories, trophies, and championships, Coach Wooden never spoke to his team about winning.

John Wooden was college basketball's greatest coach because he kept score differently than any other coach. Rather than measuring success in terms of wins and losses, he focused relentlessly on potential and improvement. Coach Wooden would grow livid if his players loafed when the team was ahead by 20 points, and he could be thrilled with his team's performance - even when they lost by 20 points.

Leadership Application: When businesses focus exclusively on market share or the bottom line, they run the risk of overlooking or undervaluing the people, processes, and systems that drive results.

Practice: Not perfection, but preparation

When questioned by reporters about missing team practices, current NBA star Allen Iverson gave a disdainful tirade on the pettiness of practice. "We're sitting here, and I'm supposed to be the franchise player, and we're talking about practice. I mean, listen, we're sitting here talking about practice, not a game... how silly is that?"

For many sports fans, Iverson's comments were emblematic of the arrogance and me-first attitude of an athlete in the National Basketball Association. If nothing else, his words revealed his underlying attitude: I'm an NBA superstar; I've arrived; I'm good enough to skip practice; practice doesn't matter, it's my performance on game day that counts.

To John Wooden, such an attitude would have been reprehensible. Coach Wooden's style was best noted for his keen attention to detail and the rigors of his practice regimen. In his words, "If you prepare properly, you may be outscored but you will never lose. You always win when you make the full effort to do the best of which you're capable."

For Coach Wooden, winning happened when the stands were empty and the spectators absent. He loved the day-by-day discipline of practice. By convincing his team to give their best effort at practice, he coached them to perform at a higher level than opponents. As a result, he enjoyed unprecedented success when games were played and championships were on the line.

Leadership Application: Challenge your people to give top effort every day, and prepare to the point of excess. If you don't tolerate sloppiness when the team prepares, then they will perform better in pressure situations.

Peak Performers: More than Talent

John Wooden gained an advantage over other coaches because he had a superior method of selecting players. While most recruiters scoured high school gyms solely in search of talent and athleticism, Coach Wooden began his search from a different vantage point.

When selecting players, Coach Wooden's primary consideration was the student's transcript. For him, a student's discipline in the classroom spoke volumes about the young man's priorities. Coach Wooden wanted players who recognized their primary responsibility was to earn a college degree rather than excel on the court.

When evaluating potential recruits, John Wooden's second criterion was the student's family life. Did the student respect his parents or guardians? Did the student treat his siblings kindly? By looking into a potential player's family life, Coach Wooden measured the player's ability to build healthy relationships. He knew relational skills were essential for establishing teamwork and camaraderie.

John Wooden's third consideration when selecting talent was the composite evaluation of six coaches. He was leery of basing his analysis on a single performance. By diligently consulting the opinion of six coaches, Coach Wooden measured consistency. He wanted to avoid selecting players who gave top effort one night only to withhold it on another evening.

Coach Wooden's final criteria for selecting players were quickness and talent. He wasn't naïve. He knew speed and natural ability were uncoachable and irreplaceable. Even so, he refused to select a player until he felt comfortable with the young man's priorities, relationships, and track record of consistent performance.

Leadership Application: By looking blindly at talent, leaders end up with malcontents who place personal gain above team spirit or talent-rich sluggards who rarely give their best effort. When hiring, consider an interviewee's life priorities, relational history, and career accomplishments. Don't discount talent, but never elevate it as the sole quality in a prospective teammate.