A Coach's Diary

There was a high school coach in Texas, who was also the head of the middle school program (that is how it works in Texas). This coach was known for the relationships that he builds with the kids that he coaches, and the impact that he has on their lives. A couple of ways that he does that is by not turning any athlete away and by finding a specific spot and role for every athlete on the team. They said that he gives every athlete a position and role, he encourages and inspires them, and he teaches them how to master their role. Being intentional like this helps make every athlete feel valued and important. They give it their all because they are completely bought in. They perform their job at a high level because they have been taught how and they know what is expected of them. Now, that role might be the 3rd person from the right on the 3rd string kick-off team, but imagine how disciplined a team is if the buy-in, instruction, expectations, and relationsh...

One season, I had a team that just couldn't shoot it very well. We had one really good shooter, and everybody else wasn't very skilled at shooting. We played very hard, we were aggressive on defense, but shooting was not a strength of ours. I spent the first few practices complaining about our ability, or lack thereof, to shoot the ball. During one of my complaining sessions, my dad asked me, "What are you doing to teach them how to shoot?" That question changed my career as a coach and as a teacher. From then on, I stopped being a victim of my personnel, and I took ownership over what I taught them and their skill and ability. All it took was a mindset shift and good guidance from dad. Instead of saying my team can't do this _______________," ask yourself three questions: 1 - Why can't they? 2 - How can I teach this? 3 - What am I allowing them to do? Don't be a victim of your personnel. If your team can't shoot, teach them how....

NBA legend Bill Russell wrote a book talking about his relationship with head coach Red Auerbach. He wrote: "From the first, Red's method of coaching me was by observation, listening, and conversation." Russell said that he was a private person and a man of few words. Red realized that and respected it. He used that information to coach Russell. Russell further wrote: "His attitude was: 'How can we do this together?' He approached it by asking himself, 'Russell is a good ballplayer. What can I do to help him win games?' That would have been sufficient. But he went further: 'This is a man I like and respect." Coaching, teaching, and leadership are about a transfer of information. The best way to transfer that information is by connecting with your athletes, getting to know them and their personalities, how they learn best, and how they receive information best.  This is done by listening first. Listening first is how we get more i...

Kemba Walker, the point guard for the Boston Celtics, is known for his crazy crossovers and his positive energy and positive spirit. In a recent playoff game, NBA announcers talk about his positive energy and his positive effect on the team: They talk about his smile. They talk about how he goes out of his way to say hello and ask how people are doing when they walk into the gym. They talk about how even the most cantankerous and competitive coaches find it impossible for them to stay mad when Kemba Walker walks into their office with a smile on his face. They talk about how contagious he is. He is the guy that everybody wants to play with, whether it is a practice scrimmage or a drill. What do your teammates say about you? How do you impact the locker room? How do you make people feel? Do you maintain a positive spirit through the ups and the downs?

So many players and parents look for resources on how to handle a lack of playing time and adversity. WNBA player Lexie Brown was recently interviewed on the Knuckle Heads podcast with her dad, former NBA player Dee Brown, and she had a great response on this topic. Lexie was asked how she handled not playing her first year and what she learned from that experience. Adversity is something that we all have to learn how to deal with. Lack of playing time is hard on everyone, especially when you are used to being one of the best players on your team. Her response was so on point! "You have to handle all situations with grace because you never know what is going to happen." Even if you know you aren't going to get the playing time that you want, remain one of the hardest workers on the team. Stay in the gym. Come early and stay late. We all have moments where we can handle situations better. But through it all, be a good teammate, bring energy on the bench. No m...

When we create partnerships with our athletes and their families and establish authentic connections, we build mutual trust and respect. We can then leverage that trust bond to help our athletes rise to higher expectations. We can also give feedback and constructive criticism in ways that our athletes are able to take it in and act on it. Creating partnerships also allows us to hold them to higher standards and challenge them more. Simply put, partnerships with our athletes help us coach them better and tougher so that we can get the most out of them because they know we care and have their best interests at heart. Get to know your athletes, what their interests are, what motivates them, what triggers them, how they best learn, and what their goals are. via: Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain

What if you would have started a new routine, program, or habit just one month ago? What if you start one this month? 🏀  Make _____ shots every day. ⚽  Get _____ touches every day. ⚾  Take _____ swings every day. 🥎  Hit _____ serves every day. 🏐  Hit _____ were against the wall every day. 🏈  Run _____ routes every day. 🥊  Shadowbox for _____ rounds every day. Tonight, set a goal, write it down, post in on your fridge, and every day that you complete it for the next month, check it off. See where you are in one month!