Life of an Athlete: From Taking to Giving

The life of an athlete has a lot taking:

• Taking advice
• Taking motivation
• Taking inspiration
• Taking motivation
• Taking rides to and from games
• Taking every lesson that you can think of

The 2nd they stop playing, they go from taking to giving:

• Giving advice
• Giving motivation 
• Giving inspiration
• Giving motivation
• Giving rides to and from games
• Giving every lesson that you can think of

The transition to life after playing is hard for many.  Learning how to give back what can make it easier by providing purpose in your life.  Learn how to give back what you have taken.

The Great Ones Fight

Sometimes you just need a little more GRIT.

Sometimes you just need a little more TOUGHNESS.

Sometimes you just need a little more FIGHT.

It's not going to be easy.  It is not supposed to.  And the better you get, the harder it will be to find an advantage.  The better you get, the tougher your competition will be.

Your advantage has to be that you just won't quit.  That you will just keep fighting.  That you will just keep working to get better.

The best ones know that it will be tough.  The tough ones don't quit.  The tough ones find a way.

The great ones fight.  It's only a matter of time before the great ones fight through the challenges.

Do What You Do With EXCELLENCE

Do whatever you do with excellence and do it ESPECIALLY when no one is looking because who you are when nobody is looking is who you really are.

Being excellent means going the extra mile every day.  You don't just stop at mediocre - you go beyond that.

You don't show up late, you don't come back from the water-break late, and you don't miss that line in sprints or stop early.

You want to make the team?  You want to start? You want to be all-district? You want a scholarship?

Then show up early, get extra shots up, touch every line and do every set, and inspire and encourage your teammates to do the same.

Go above and beyond to get what you want beyond what you already have.

Do whatever you do with excellence and do it ESPECIALLY when no one is looking because who you are when nobody is looking is who you really are.

What we do to impress other people doesn't say that much about us.  When we are faithful in the small things when nobody is looking, we will become ruler over great things.

Be a person of integrity.  Do what you say you are going to do, and hold yourself accountable for your words and your actions.

To be great, to be excellent, you don't have the privilege to be like others.  You have to be more.

Comeback Specialists

All great players take pride in being comeback specialists.  When the best players have a bad moment, or bad half, or a bad game, they love having the opportunity to fix it.  

According to Dr. Afremow in A Champions Mind, instead of dwelling on the negative, become a resilient performer by staying positive and believe that something good is about to happen.  Keep momentum on your side by sticking with it, by staying positive, and by having hope.

Plan to celebrate your successes and to learn from your failures going into all competition.  

Next play, turn the page, learn from your mistakes, leave the past in the past, and stay in the moment are all common sayings to help us move forward when things aren't going out way.  Find one saying or affirmation that works for you and use it the next time that you are struggling.

Minor setbacks are opportunities for major comebacks.  No matter how you start and no matter how bad things get in the middle of the journey, commit to finishing the race, finishing the game, and finishing the season the right way.  Commit to celebrating all success, and commit to learning from your mistakes so that you are able to get better.

Film Study | DEVINTHELAB LEARNS BASKETBALL IQ IN ATHENS

Dev at In the Lab has been making really cool YouTube videos for years.  He is a basketball coach and skills trainer who brings a different view of the game to life.  He has videos covering many different aspects of the game, including ball-handling, one-on-one moves, shooting and more.

In this video, Dev travels to Europe with Adidas to learn from some of the best basketball clubs in Europe.

Here are some of my notes from Dev's video:

Correct Spacing (3:22)
When your teammates are attacking from the top towards you, you have to relocate to the corner to create space. If you don't, your defender can guard both of you.

The Hockey Assist (3:45)
The most open shot is not usually the first kick-out pass after the drive. The open shot is usually the extra pass. They often call this the 'Hockey Assist.' If the person drives the gap away from you, you usually have to fill the top of the key spot that the driver left.

Drive With a Purpose

(4:22)

The ball-handler must drive with the intent to score to keep the help-side defense honest or they will try to get steals. We always say, "Make two people guard you,' or 'engage a second defender.' When you do make a pass, don't just stand there; always fill an open spot on the defender and it is usually opposite of where you passed. If you don't, you will probably get in the way of the next drive or pass or the ball will stop because there won't be the extra pass to catch when it should be to you.

Keith Langford Step-Back

(5:30)

He already knows that he is going to do it before he does it. He sets it up by attacking the defenders should as hard as he can and gets into their body. When he gets into their body, he gives them a little nudge but not a push-off. He then says that he tries to jump back on his step-back to get more balance for his shot.

Georgios Printezis - Mid Post Work

(7:30)

Even shorter players should learn how to operate in the mid-post and taller players should learn perimeter skills. The basics are all you really need to have sustained success in this game - even at the highest levels. Europeans do a good job of disguising screens.

At 9:00, they talk about the European spin moves. A lot of people think that they call travel often on spin moves, but Georgios said that if you do it fast, they don't usually call it. It is a common move that when done correctly doesn't usually get called.

Hailey Van Lith

Hailey Van Lith is one of the best basketball players in the country.  She burst on the scenes with a highlight video last summer where she was killing a group of guys in one-on-ones and she has since become one of the more popular high school players.

She is a strong point guard who can shoot from deep and has a really good handle.  In her words, her game is saucy and the girls game is getting more style as a whole.

I really enjoy her videos because of her style and ability.  She also has a very competitive mindset.  The video above is a really good video for all young players, but especially for girls who play basketball.  It shows that girls are tough, competitive, saucy and how much the girls game continues to grow and evolve.

In the video above, she is mic'd up for practice.  The start of practices starts light and she helps to keep it light.  It seems like an inviting environment. 

As the intensity starts to pick up, so does her communication.  She doesn't stop talking which is something every coach wants from their players, especially their best players and leaders.  Players have to bring energy and enthusiasm and they can't rely on the coach for it.

I also like how she works hard to remember the quote that her coach gave her.  The little things matter to her (or at least consequences of he not knowing it at the end of practice matters to her). 

USA Basketball Scrimmage

Watching film of pro's is a good way to see what it looks like at the highest level.  We talk about offensive and defensive transition, talking and helping on defense, and many other things, but sometimes we have to 'see' it and 'hear' it.

Team USA basketball is gearing up for their World Cup run, and highlights of one of their scrimmages was posted online.  A couple of things that I noticed were how fast they transition from offense to defense and defense to offense, how much they talked, spacing and reading the defense, and how they competed against each other.  

This might be good for players to watch to see how some of the best players in the world compete in scrimmages.

You can see the video and my notes from the video below.

See my notes after the jump.

Preparation + Opportunity = An Explosion of Success

Preparation + Opportunity = An Explosion of Success

Ray Allen's advantage was pulling up before anybody else was there.  One of the keys to success is self-confidence.  One of the keys to self-confidence is preparation.  One of the keys to preparation is repetition.  Doing it over and over and over again.

Ray Allen would beat everybody to the gym, get his reps in so that he was prepared and confident, and the result was one of the best careers in NBA history.

It takes a special kind of monster to consistently put in the type of work that it takes to be the best at something.  It might be easy and exciting to start something know, but it's hard to stay with it over weeks, months, and years.

If you are looking for a video for your athletes that talks about the time and effort that it takes to become a great shooter, this video by Dev at In The Lab is really good.

7:00 - Pre-Game in the NBA.  There is an intentional focus on certain things and guys are completely locked in and going hard.  And these are teams at the bottom of the NBA on the last game before the All-star break - so imagine how hard the better teams go in their pre-game routines.

10:00 - Phil Handy is an NBA coach and trainer.  He trained for years before getting his first job in the NBA.  He said that he learned a lot from the guys he worked with, like Kobe Bryant.  Kobe was so focused on getting better at the details that he would stay in the same spot working on the same footwork moves for 30-45 minutes until he mastered it.  He would do things over and over and over again.  It's hard to do that.  It can be boring and tiring and everybody is not willing to do the basics like that, but the best will, so it is necessary if you want to be the best that you can be.  

The best players want to be coached.  They want to be challenged.  They want to be pushed.  They want to get better, and if you can help them get better, they will listen and value what you bring to the table.

The best players are self-correctors.  When they are off or they have rough games, they get back to the gym early to fix their errors.

Be low and ready with a wide base to be a better shooter, and be calm.  Don't rush your shot.

Kobe would get to the arena 3-4 hours early to get ready.  A lot of veterans have a routine to make sure that they are ready to play when the game starts.  The best players don't just show up at the gym - a lot goes into these guys getting themselves ready to play.  It is a full prep that goes into their pre-game routines.

The best players have the supreme confidence and belief in themselves that they can get the job done.  If you doubt them or try to tell them that they can't do something, they will go to the ends of the world to prove you wrong because they know that they have put the time and the work in to be their best.

Habits
Good or Bad, They Define Us.

15:00 - Accountablility - We all have somebody that we have to answer to.  We are a reflection of our parents.  We have to hold ourselves accountable.  It is one of the keys to success.

18:15 - It starts with BALANCE.  Stationary form shooting is a great start to finding your balance and rhythm.  Most great shooters have great balance.  They can hit shots off-balance, but they try to get on balance before they shoot as much as possible to make sure that they are able to aim effectively.

20:00 - Form shooting - make 50 swishes every day this week

How To Extend Your Shooting Range - In The Lab

In the Lab is one of my favorite YouTube channels for basketball.  The guy who runs the site is Dev, and he has a very realistic and fresh approach to the game.  He is going through the process of trying to perfect his shooting ability.

Here he meets with former Baylor Basketball player Austin Mills to talk about how to extend your shooting range.  Some key points:

1 - It takes time, effort, and passion to become a great shooter; there is no short cut to being great at anything - shooting included; it's about information and reps/reps/reps; know how to shoot correctly and get as many reps as possible to become a better shooter

2 - When you are off, learn how to adjust or 'fix' your shot without completely changing your form

3 - Start with form shooting close to the basket to warm-up and to find a rhythm and flow

4 - A lot of being a great shooter is confidence and mentality; if you can do it in a small gym alone, consistently, you will get the confidence to be able to do it in a packed gym in big games

5 - There are good misses and bad misses - generally, good misses lead to rebound opportunities and bad misses lead to fast breaks

6 - Good arc leads to a high bounce above the rim - it gives your shot a better chance of dropping in the basket; if your rebounder has to chase too many of your misses, your misses are more off than if they can rebound your misses around the basket

7 - A lot of the best shooters don't jump very high on their catch and shoot shots (Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, etc)

8 - 'Ball in the Air - Feet in the Air' to catch and shoot and get your shot off quicker

If You Can Spot It, Then You've Got It

If you can spot greatness in someone else then that greatness is already in you because for you to recognize those traits in someone else, those traits must also be in you.  You just have to bring them out.  If you can spot it, then you've got it.

Mentality and mindset are what separates the elite, and our attitude and how we approach a situation can determine our success or failure.  If we think we can, then we can.  If we make excuses, then those excuses will hold us back.  

Your mind is what makes everything else work.  It's not usually your physical ability that separates elite athletes, but their character and their mindset.

The mental abilities of confidence, composure, and concentration are critical.

No matter where you are right now, you can become a champion.  You first have to shift your mindset and believe.  Work on your confidence, your composure and your level of concentration and belief, and watch your life and performances start to transform in a positive way.

Be TOUGH. Be the TOUGHEST

You don't have to be the biggest, strongest, fastest or even the most skilled to be the best. You really don't even have to be the 'best' to be the best.  If you can be the TOUGHEST you can beat them all.

Being the TOUGHEST means competing.  Every possession.  Every day.
Being the TOUGHEST means you are willing to outwork your opponent.  When they quit, you keep going.  When they slow down, you keep going.

Being the TOUGHEST means you never quit.  You might get beat, but you don't quit.

Being the TOUGHEST means being the one who tries the new move.  They know that learning is a part of getting better and they know that messing up is a part of learning.  
The TOUGHEST might lose the ball, but they sprint back.
The TOUGHEST go get it knowing that they might fail.  But the TOUGHEST know that if they do fail, they are TOUGH and TOUGH people always figure it out and correct their mistakes.  

The TOUGHEST might get beat on a play but they hustle back and fix it. 

Being the TOUGHEST means being the one who isn't too afraid to try. You might get scared, but you have the courage to try.

The TOUGH ONES knows that being afraid is a part of life, but they don't let fear run their life.

The TOUGH ONES go at it even when they are afraid.  That is what courage is.  That is what being TOUGH is.  

Be one of the TOUGH ONES.  Be the TOUGHEST.

Just Compete

COMPETE

When the battle gets tough, when they are bigger stronger or faster, when you start to feel doubt, when they start to push you, even if they start beating you - just compete.

Compete this next possession.  Compete for this next touch.  Compete for the next ball.  Compete in this next race.  Compete in this next 1 on 1 battle.  Compete on this next sprint.  Compete to cut-off the baseline.  Compete to cut-off the sideline.  Compete for every inch.

Compete with that little devil in your mind that is telling you that you can't, that you aren't good enough, that they are better than you.  Compete with those ghosts who are whispering about you and whispering around you, saying that you can't do this or you can't do that.  Compete to prove them wrong.  Compete to prove yourself right.  Compete to prove that you are good enough.

Nobody can stop you from competing, and if you just compete, then you will always have a chance, you will always have hope.  When you compete, you give your team a chance.

When you compete, you always win.

COMPETE

1% Better Every day

Can we commit to getting 1% better?  Every day, let's try to find a way to get at least a little better.  If we can just get a little better every day, then over time these small gains will add up to something special, and we will become the athlete/person that we want to be.

Getting 1% better can mean a lot of different things.  It could be getting better at shooting, or dribbling or throwing, or any technical skill that your sport requires.  It could be doing 10 minutes of ball-handling every day this week, not leaving the gym until you make 50 free-throws, doing 5 sprints after your workout, hitting ten perfect forehands and backhands, or any kind of extra skill work pertaining to the sport that you play.  When you get better by putting in the work, your confidence grows.

Getting 1% better can mean getting stronger.  It can mean giving your all in the weight room, going hard in every rep, and not just being in the room with your friends playing around, telling jokes, and skipping reps/sets.  It could mean doing 25-50-100 pushups tonight before bed, or doing some sit-ups, or running around the block.  The stronger and more fit you are, the better that you will perform.  If you really want to be who you say you want to be, you will find a way to get stronger.

Getting 1% better can mean watching game film of yourself, your opponents, or somebody that you look up.  It could be as simple as watching a few YouTube videos on different moves that you can try or watching a few videos that can help you improve your pitching or shooting mechanics.

Getting 1% better can mean working in your mindset.  Telling yourself every morning that you can do this.  Telling yourself that you can - and will - have a gold medal day.  That you are capable of achieving your dreams.  It can mean reading books or articles on mental toughness.  It means that you are ready to embrace the journey and all of the ups and downs that come with growth and becoming your best self.

Every day, the goal is to get a little better.  The saying goes, 'Rome wasn't built in a day.'  Start today.  Start a journal.  Every morning, write down one thing that you will do today to get better, or every night make notes in your phone that lists the thing(s) that you did today to get better.  Do this for one month and see how your game starts to change.  Do this for one year and see how your LIFE starts to change.

Just 1% better.  Everyday.  That is it.