A Coach's Diary

  “Discipline is doing what you’re supposed to do, the way it’s supposed to be done, when it’s supposed to be done.” - Nick Saban Do you have the discipline to do the things you don’t want to do and avoid the things you do want to do? Discipline is doing what you’re supposed to do, the way it’s supposed to be done, when it’s supposed to be done. When asked what his secret was for winning 7 national championships, legendary football Coach Nick Saban said, “People have goals and aspirations to do things, and you have to help them define what they need to do to accomplish those goals and how they have to edit their behavior to be able to do it. And then, show them that they have to have the discipline to execute it every day, which is probably the hardest part.” He then says we make hundreds of decisions every day that come down to 2 questions: Are you willing and able to do what you know you are supposed to do — especially when you don’t want to do it, and are you willing and able to...

For Players When you are bored, what do you do?  Do you do something that gets you closer to your goals, or do you play with something that is a distraction?  Do you find ways to work on your game or do you have other outlets like your phone or your TV? The best players know how to fill their downtown appropriately.  A lot of times this means rest, relaxation, and getting away from the game.  A lot of other times, this means practicing on your own, watching film, doing skill work, stretching, conditioning, or watching YouTube videos that can help you get better. Someone is always working, even when you aren't.  A big difference between good players and great players is how much time and effort they put into getting better. For Coaches I used to worry about parent phone calls, parent meetings, and parent emails.  Then I realized that parents just want to do things:   1) What's best for their kid and  2) To be heard. O...

The following is an excerpt on the importance of discipline from Dean Smith and his book, A Coach’s Life. If a head coach has conviction, the most naturally disciplined group on any campus will be his athletic team because team members are used to sacrificing a certain amount of peer acceptance in seeking excellence.  I’m convinced that our work habits and tough practices instilled a certain mind-set and mental toughness in our players, and that why we avoided problems.  From 1967 to 1969 we had so many close games – and generally won them in the last minute – that our players developed a deep pride in the program.  They were committed, they worked awfully hard, and they had high expectations.  I think it prevented a lot of dissension. “The really free person in society is the one who is disciplined,” I told our players.  What I meant was, true freedom results from having choices.” The person who is more disciplined is the person who creates optio...

"When you play against those teams that take great pride in being patient, and they are good at what they do there is no easy answer. The question becomes 'How tough are you at the end of the shot clock?' Are you willing in the last 15 seconds of the shot clock to sit down and guard the ball, will they keep seeing both, will they talk on defense or will they give up that back door lay-up at the end that kills you?" Sean Miller via Bob Sarkey at Hoop Thoughts

“Discipline isn’t something you have or don’t have. Discipline is something you choose. You choose it. It’s not God-given -- you do the right thing, the right way, the right time all the time.  That’s a choice. It’s a choice for all of us.” Via Bob Sarkey at Hoop Thoughts