Coach Bubba has once again raised the bar...enjoy!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Hardest Worker
Coach Bob Starkey of Hoop Thoughts recently posted this blog, and I thought it was worth posting as well:
Coach Don Meyer always talks about the fact that "if you best player is also your hardest worker, you have a chance to be a good team."
The following, from Pat William's book, "How To Be Like Mike," lends credibility to his statement.
"The first Bulls practice after Jordan made his comeback to basketball in 1995 ended with Michael walking to the baseline, on his own, and running windsprints. Without a word, all eleven of his teammates joined him."
Coach Don Meyer always talks about the fact that "if you best player is also your hardest worker, you have a chance to be a good team."
The following, from Pat William's book, "How To Be Like Mike," lends credibility to his statement.
"The first Bulls practice after Jordan made his comeback to basketball in 1995 ended with Michael walking to the baseline, on his own, and running windsprints. Without a word, all eleven of his teammates joined him."
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Staff Christmas Party
On the lighter side of life, Coach Cooley is shown here modeling his "White Elephant" Christmas gift- a dickie! As you can see he was the hit of the party and the center of attention!!!
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Role of Parents In Athletics by Bruce Brown
-Attend as many games as possible.
-Do everything possible to make the athletic experience positive for your child and others.
-View the game with team goals in mind.
-Attempt to relieve competitive pressure, not increase it.
-Encourage multi-sport participation.
-Release your child to the coach and the team.
-Look upon opponents as friends involved with the same experience.
-Accept the judgment of the officials and coaches; remain in control.
-Accept the results of each game; do not make excuses.
-Demonstrate winning and losing with dignity.
-Dignify mistakes made by athletes who are giving their best effort and concentration.
-Encourage athletes to keep their perspective in both victory and defeat.
-Be a good listener.
-Accept the goals, roles and achievements of your child.
By Bruce Brown
-Do everything possible to make the athletic experience positive for your child and others.
-View the game with team goals in mind.
-Attempt to relieve competitive pressure, not increase it.
-Encourage multi-sport participation.
-Release your child to the coach and the team.
-Look upon opponents as friends involved with the same experience.
-Accept the judgment of the officials and coaches; remain in control.
-Accept the results of each game; do not make excuses.
-Demonstrate winning and losing with dignity.
-Dignify mistakes made by athletes who are giving their best effort and concentration.
-Encourage athletes to keep their perspective in both victory and defeat.
-Be a good listener.
-Accept the goals, roles and achievements of your child.
By Bruce Brown
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Talking To Teammates
Talking to teammates, helping each other verbally, is one of the most obvious differences between good players and mediocre ones. Just getting in the habit of calling out your man each time on defense and getting your teammates to do the same will end up saving baskets over the course of a game and season. Talking your teammates through screens, telling them when you are in good help-position ready to pick up their men, motioning for them to clear out or cut through the lane, alerting them to cutters or players trying to sneak behind your defense – all of these and many more situations happen often in games. If you are not now in the habit of constantly talking during the action of the game, you may be surprised at how often your mere words can help your teammates make a play.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Good Coaching Focuses on Process, Not End Result
Below is an excerpt from Coach Terry Pettit's new book, "Talent and the Secret Life of Teams". I think it is very good and has many valid arguments. Enjoy:
I have a friend who tells me that in 1953 he could fix about anything on a Chevy with a combination wrench. Those days are gone.
So are the days when organized sport meant the kids in the neighborhood gathering at the end of the block, without their parents or other adults, to negotiate who would play on which team, who would be chosen last, and who would play right field.
Some people argue that in moving to a culture of spontaneous play to a culture of organized sport, we have improved the technical skills of our kids, while stunting the growth of other skills, such as negotiation, initiative, communication, and the ability to solve problems without adult intervention.
To put it bluntly, we are over-organizing our kids' play and in doing so delaying their ability to develop the skills that will help them the most as adults.
The more our culture relies on organized sport to teach our children how to play and compete, the more expectations parents have for the coaches who work with our kids.
We want the coach to teach our kid how to play.
We want our kid to play shortstop when she's not pitching.
If our kid gets really good, we want her to be on an elite team where she can travel to other places and develop at a faster pace.
And, most importantly, we want the coach to make the experience painless. We do not want our children to suffer the indignity of being a substitute, a role player, or approach any scenario that might be interpreted as failure.
We want all this for our children despite the fact that success in our adult lives is mostly about developing the skills to deal with bad hops, missed promotions, delayed gratification, and the occasional bounce of good luck.
This is a lot to ask of someone who has been trained as a history teacher, pipe fitter, surgeon or someone who is volunteering to coach because nobody else would. It would be a lot to ask of a professional coach with a master's degree in sports psychology.
Given the fact that most of the people who coach our kids are not trained in coaching, it might be helpful to identify some characteristics of great coaching that are available to everyone regardless of experience.
Here are some behaviors you might bring forth if you are asked to coach a team, and you might look for these same qualities in evaluating someone as a potential coach for your son or daughter. These characteristics are just as important if you're coaching the Little Bears as they are if you're coaching the Huskers.
• All great coaching begins with hope. Great coaching is communicating through posture, language, chalk talks, and intimate conversations the ultimate belief that good things are going to happen.
• Great coaching is being able to communicate to an athlete that she already has the "right stuff" to get the job done. We may need to improve her fundamentals. We may need to work harder. We may need to make some adjustments, but we don't need a heart transplant. We already have DNA that, combined with hard work, will allow us to be great.
• Great coaching is more concerned with the process and less concerned with the outcome (parents take note). Are we committed to behaviors that will lay the foundation for success? Are we on time? Do we look each other in the eye when we speak? Do we give great effort? Do we maintain the sacredness of the group by not voicing our frustrations outside the team? Do we encourage our teammates even when we are on the sidelines? Are we passionate about our commitment?
Committing to new behaviors is as important to a team's success as a solid foundation is to a new house. It's quiet and it doesn't get much press, but nothing else can move forward without it.
• Great coaching understands the necessity for risk and the value of failure. There is no growth without pain. The surest way to not win a championship is to try to protect your success. If you are in the presence of great coaching, the coach is going to ask you to become a little bit more uncomfortable than you want to be as you risk new roles, new techniques and new expectations.
• All performance, whether individual or team, is based on trust. Athletes have the best chance for performing well when they trust themselves. Teams have the best chance for success when coaches and parents create a climate where athletes feel the adult's care for them is not based upon performance. The support is unconditional. Athletes have the best chance to learn what trust is all about if they see it modeled by their parents and coaches.
The days of '53 Chevys and pickup games are gone and they are not likely to return unless our culture begins to place more value on neighborhood play and less dependence on mini-vans and organized sport.
In the meantime, my wish would be that everyone's son or daughter has the opportunity to play for a coach who is hopeful about the team's future, who believes your kid has the right stuff to get the job done, who encourages your son or daughter to commit to behaviors that will give her the best chance for success, and who creates an environment where kids have the opportunity to risk, rise, fall, and risk again. Then again, these characteristics would make for great parenting as well.
To purchase a copy of "Talent and the Secret Life of Teams" go to www.terrypettit.com
I have a friend who tells me that in 1953 he could fix about anything on a Chevy with a combination wrench. Those days are gone.
So are the days when organized sport meant the kids in the neighborhood gathering at the end of the block, without their parents or other adults, to negotiate who would play on which team, who would be chosen last, and who would play right field.
Some people argue that in moving to a culture of spontaneous play to a culture of organized sport, we have improved the technical skills of our kids, while stunting the growth of other skills, such as negotiation, initiative, communication, and the ability to solve problems without adult intervention.
To put it bluntly, we are over-organizing our kids' play and in doing so delaying their ability to develop the skills that will help them the most as adults.
The more our culture relies on organized sport to teach our children how to play and compete, the more expectations parents have for the coaches who work with our kids.
We want the coach to teach our kid how to play.
We want our kid to play shortstop when she's not pitching.
If our kid gets really good, we want her to be on an elite team where she can travel to other places and develop at a faster pace.
And, most importantly, we want the coach to make the experience painless. We do not want our children to suffer the indignity of being a substitute, a role player, or approach any scenario that might be interpreted as failure.
We want all this for our children despite the fact that success in our adult lives is mostly about developing the skills to deal with bad hops, missed promotions, delayed gratification, and the occasional bounce of good luck.
This is a lot to ask of someone who has been trained as a history teacher, pipe fitter, surgeon or someone who is volunteering to coach because nobody else would. It would be a lot to ask of a professional coach with a master's degree in sports psychology.
Given the fact that most of the people who coach our kids are not trained in coaching, it might be helpful to identify some characteristics of great coaching that are available to everyone regardless of experience.
Here are some behaviors you might bring forth if you are asked to coach a team, and you might look for these same qualities in evaluating someone as a potential coach for your son or daughter. These characteristics are just as important if you're coaching the Little Bears as they are if you're coaching the Huskers.
• All great coaching begins with hope. Great coaching is communicating through posture, language, chalk talks, and intimate conversations the ultimate belief that good things are going to happen.
• Great coaching is being able to communicate to an athlete that she already has the "right stuff" to get the job done. We may need to improve her fundamentals. We may need to work harder. We may need to make some adjustments, but we don't need a heart transplant. We already have DNA that, combined with hard work, will allow us to be great.
• Great coaching is more concerned with the process and less concerned with the outcome (parents take note). Are we committed to behaviors that will lay the foundation for success? Are we on time? Do we look each other in the eye when we speak? Do we give great effort? Do we maintain the sacredness of the group by not voicing our frustrations outside the team? Do we encourage our teammates even when we are on the sidelines? Are we passionate about our commitment?
Committing to new behaviors is as important to a team's success as a solid foundation is to a new house. It's quiet and it doesn't get much press, but nothing else can move forward without it.
• Great coaching understands the necessity for risk and the value of failure. There is no growth without pain. The surest way to not win a championship is to try to protect your success. If you are in the presence of great coaching, the coach is going to ask you to become a little bit more uncomfortable than you want to be as you risk new roles, new techniques and new expectations.
• All performance, whether individual or team, is based on trust. Athletes have the best chance for performing well when they trust themselves. Teams have the best chance for success when coaches and parents create a climate where athletes feel the adult's care for them is not based upon performance. The support is unconditional. Athletes have the best chance to learn what trust is all about if they see it modeled by their parents and coaches.
The days of '53 Chevys and pickup games are gone and they are not likely to return unless our culture begins to place more value on neighborhood play and less dependence on mini-vans and organized sport.
In the meantime, my wish would be that everyone's son or daughter has the opportunity to play for a coach who is hopeful about the team's future, who believes your kid has the right stuff to get the job done, who encourages your son or daughter to commit to behaviors that will give her the best chance for success, and who creates an environment where kids have the opportunity to risk, rise, fall, and risk again. Then again, these characteristics would make for great parenting as well.
To purchase a copy of "Talent and the Secret Life of Teams" go to www.terrypettit.com
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Next Play
"In basketball and in life, I have always maintained the philosophy of 'next play.' Essentially, what it means is that whatever you have just done is not nearly as important as what you are doing right now. The 'next play' philosophy emphasizes the fact that the most important play of the game or life moment on which you should always focus is the next one. It is not about the turnover I committed last time down the court, it's not even about the three-pointer I hit to tie the game, it is about what's next. To waste time lamenting a mistake or celebrating a success is distracting and can leave you and your team unprepared for what you are about to face. It robs you of the ability to do your best at that moment and to give your full concentration. It's why I love basketball. Plays happen with rapidity and there may be no stop-action. Basketball is a game that favors the quick thinker and the person who can go on to the next play the fastest."
From "Beyond Basketball: Coach K's Keywords For Success"
By Mike Krzyzewski with Jamie K. Spatola
From "Beyond Basketball: Coach K's Keywords For Success"
By Mike Krzyzewski with Jamie K. Spatola
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Great Big Men
1. Great big men can finish in traffic with at least one go-to move and one counter move.
*Tall or small, big or quick, this player simply has automated his scoring skills to the point he just knows he can score when given the ball at a moment of opportunity.
2. Great big men practice the 3 C’s.
*They make it a point to always catch, chin and check.
3. Great big men establish position with a Doleac stance.
*This stance gets as wide and low as necessary to take up as much space in the paint to create the best possible angle and target.
4. Great big men can convert from a low-wide power position to a quick, vertical jump.
*This is especially important late in the game when the legs become heavy and fatigue has set in.
5. Great big men are hard-to-guard.
*They stay active and force their defender to respect and defend each position on the court – low post and/or high post – as a possible scoring threat.
6. Great big men are neither a “black hole” nor an automatic “toss-back machine”.
*They have the ability to read the defense take a high percentage shot, but also recognize a pass back out might lead to an even better scoring play.
7. Great big men can step outside and knock down the 15’ jump shot.
*The best can even step behind the arc and make the sagging defense pay for their lack of respect.
8. Great big men have good court vision.
*Even as they begin to initiate a post move, many teams will double down; an alert post player will recognize this and pass to the open cutter.
9. Great big men are extremely active on the offensive boards.
*They are relentless in pursuit of the ball. They may have to tip the ball two, three, four times just to keep it alive – their perseverance often times dictates the outcome of the game.
10. Great big men use the glass.
*They are able to create higher percentage shots and reduce the effectiveness of a great shot blocker by using the backboard.
11. Great big men can defend.
*They stay very active and keep themselves between the basket and the ball. Rarely do they leave their feet to give up a foul or position. This positioning also allows them to defensively rebound the ball to death!
12. Great big men talk.
*They are excellent communicators. With their back to the basket most of the time, they often have the best vantage point to call out screens and/or potential scoring threats.
13. Great big run the floor.
*Possession after possession, they sprint from block to block and beat their man down the floor. Though they may not always touch the ball, they will always position themselves to do so.
14. Great big men are quick outlets.
*They know the value of making a quick outlet pass (2-seconds or less). They might also utilize a “bust-out” dribble or two.
15. Great big men contest shots.
*They have the ability to block and/or alter shots without fouling. Blocking the shot and keeping it in play is their signature rather than swatting it into the bleachers. They play smart.
So what if they’re tall, we’ll play big!
*Tall or small, big or quick, this player simply has automated his scoring skills to the point he just knows he can score when given the ball at a moment of opportunity.
2. Great big men practice the 3 C’s.
*They make it a point to always catch, chin and check.
3. Great big men establish position with a Doleac stance.
*This stance gets as wide and low as necessary to take up as much space in the paint to create the best possible angle and target.
4. Great big men can convert from a low-wide power position to a quick, vertical jump.
*This is especially important late in the game when the legs become heavy and fatigue has set in.
5. Great big men are hard-to-guard.
*They stay active and force their defender to respect and defend each position on the court – low post and/or high post – as a possible scoring threat.
6. Great big men are neither a “black hole” nor an automatic “toss-back machine”.
*They have the ability to read the defense take a high percentage shot, but also recognize a pass back out might lead to an even better scoring play.
7. Great big men can step outside and knock down the 15’ jump shot.
*The best can even step behind the arc and make the sagging defense pay for their lack of respect.
8. Great big men have good court vision.
*Even as they begin to initiate a post move, many teams will double down; an alert post player will recognize this and pass to the open cutter.
9. Great big men are extremely active on the offensive boards.
*They are relentless in pursuit of the ball. They may have to tip the ball two, three, four times just to keep it alive – their perseverance often times dictates the outcome of the game.
10. Great big men use the glass.
*They are able to create higher percentage shots and reduce the effectiveness of a great shot blocker by using the backboard.
11. Great big men can defend.
*They stay very active and keep themselves between the basket and the ball. Rarely do they leave their feet to give up a foul or position. This positioning also allows them to defensively rebound the ball to death!
12. Great big men talk.
*They are excellent communicators. With their back to the basket most of the time, they often have the best vantage point to call out screens and/or potential scoring threats.
13. Great big run the floor.
*Possession after possession, they sprint from block to block and beat their man down the floor. Though they may not always touch the ball, they will always position themselves to do so.
14. Great big men are quick outlets.
*They know the value of making a quick outlet pass (2-seconds or less). They might also utilize a “bust-out” dribble or two.
15. Great big men contest shots.
*They have the ability to block and/or alter shots without fouling. Blocking the shot and keeping it in play is their signature rather than swatting it into the bleachers. They play smart.
So what if they’re tall, we’ll play big!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Great Point Guards (Player's Handbook Chapter)
1. Great point guards know their team’s optimal tempo.
*On offense, defense, and in transition, they know when to speed up the tempo or slow it down.
2. Great point guards know who's hot and who's not.
*They know how to get the ball to the hot perimeter shooter and/or when to get the ball inside.
3. Great point guards are "energy" for their team.
*No matter what the circumstances, good or bad, they play with great enthusiasm for the game.
4. Great point guards communicate constantly.
*For 32 minutes, these guys never shut-up. They are the coach's voice on the floor.
5. Great point guards level off the ball.
*They see to it the ball is stopped and contained. Dribble penetration does not happen! Period.
6. Great point guards involve everybody.
*They know how to get their best scorers the ball on a consistent basis, but are always on the lookout for ways to create high percentage scoring opportunities for other teammates as well.
7. Great point guards can feel the team's "pulse".
*In practice and games, they know when to fire up and/or calm down certain teammates.
8. Great point guards quickly recognize "Charlies".
*They look for and find mismatches as soon as they occur.
9. Great point guards "run the show"!
*Quickly and clearly, they communicate play calls and/or changes in the open court and during dead ball situations. They also have the ability to organize a team after an offensive breakdown.
10. Great point guards "guard"!
*They keep constant pressure on the ball. Not allowing the passer adequate vision as well as forcing the dribbler away from his desired path of attack.
11. Great point guards advance the ball.
*From key to key, they are can advance the ball in 3-4 dribbles easy. They also pass ahead to a teammate who is open down the court.
12. Great point guards value the ball!
*Rarely do they turn the ball over. Likewise, when they deliver a pass it is on the money and away from the defense – allowing for their teammate to catch the ball in optimal scoring position.
13. Great point guards do not shoot every time.
*However, they can knock the open shot any time they are open. They can also create a shot for the benefit of the team.
14. Great point guards have an intense will to win!
*They absolutely refuse to lose. This is an intangible attribute developed over the many hours in the gym pursuing excellence in all phases of the game!
15. Great point guards are an extension of the coach on the floor.
*They thoroughly understand everything that's expected of them as well as their teammates. They understand it's impossible to win if all the oarsmen are not rowing in the same direction.
Champions choose to live as champions!
*On offense, defense, and in transition, they know when to speed up the tempo or slow it down.
2. Great point guards know who's hot and who's not.
*They know how to get the ball to the hot perimeter shooter and/or when to get the ball inside.
3. Great point guards are "energy" for their team.
*No matter what the circumstances, good or bad, they play with great enthusiasm for the game.
4. Great point guards communicate constantly.
*For 32 minutes, these guys never shut-up. They are the coach's voice on the floor.
5. Great point guards level off the ball.
*They see to it the ball is stopped and contained. Dribble penetration does not happen! Period.
6. Great point guards involve everybody.
*They know how to get their best scorers the ball on a consistent basis, but are always on the lookout for ways to create high percentage scoring opportunities for other teammates as well.
7. Great point guards can feel the team's "pulse".
*In practice and games, they know when to fire up and/or calm down certain teammates.
8. Great point guards quickly recognize "Charlies".
*They look for and find mismatches as soon as they occur.
9. Great point guards "run the show"!
*Quickly and clearly, they communicate play calls and/or changes in the open court and during dead ball situations. They also have the ability to organize a team after an offensive breakdown.
10. Great point guards "guard"!
*They keep constant pressure on the ball. Not allowing the passer adequate vision as well as forcing the dribbler away from his desired path of attack.
11. Great point guards advance the ball.
*From key to key, they are can advance the ball in 3-4 dribbles easy. They also pass ahead to a teammate who is open down the court.
12. Great point guards value the ball!
*Rarely do they turn the ball over. Likewise, when they deliver a pass it is on the money and away from the defense – allowing for their teammate to catch the ball in optimal scoring position.
13. Great point guards do not shoot every time.
*However, they can knock the open shot any time they are open. They can also create a shot for the benefit of the team.
14. Great point guards have an intense will to win!
*They absolutely refuse to lose. This is an intangible attribute developed over the many hours in the gym pursuing excellence in all phases of the game!
15. Great point guards are an extension of the coach on the floor.
*They thoroughly understand everything that's expected of them as well as their teammates. They understand it's impossible to win if all the oarsmen are not rowing in the same direction.
Champions choose to live as champions!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Conduit or Cul-de-sac?
There are only two types of people - conduits or cul-de-sacs. Conduits exist to pass on power to others - whether it be an encouraging word, a kind act or a bear hug. Cul-de-sacs are folks who are dead ends - no matter how much kindness you pour into them, it ends up in a black hole. So which are you? Do people feel empowered being around you or tapped out?
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