Category: Communication

The Point Guard

5/7/2015

The guy that basically has the best judgement, decision-making, doing what ever needs to be done for the team. The guy with the ability to learn, willingness to improve with a great work ethic. He is unpredictable, a coach on the floor and knows what his teammates can and cannot do… that's your point guard.

Other Characteristics of a point guard include:
1. Communication - Talk on and off the court, often. Calls out names and gives constant reminders to teammates.
2. Attitude - Positive and productive attitude (PPA).
3. Leadership - Has the ability to affect those around them and leads by example.
4. High Skill Level - Can put all the pieces together, has the ability to go from dribble to shot or pass quickly.
5. IQ - Knows what they can and cannot do; know what teammate can and cannot do. Tenacious and has a motor.

"You can't be a point guard who gets into the lane and always passes. Capitalize on the real estate you have gained."
"Point Guard must be able to pass with both hands equally off the dribble."
"You should always want your coach to be critical.It gives you an opportunity to learn and to over-come adversity."

The Point Guard

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Leadership mistakes

4/5/2015

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I talked to a former teammate last night. The conversation consisted of leadership, and the mistakes that leaders often make. After our conversation I decided to make a list of leadership mistakes in coaching. However, these mistakes are often made in every profession. Here are my top 6:

1. Making emotional decisions

Responding to how you feel vs. what they need
Bad shot, bad pass, bad defensive positioning: Keep negative reactions to a minimum because they are watching you
Reaction substitutions: it is okay to be mad at a player. Just don't make a emotional substitution that can cost you the game

2. Inconsistency

Saying one thing then doing another, or saying different things can damage a program
Develop a culture and standards, and live by them
Live up to clearly defined standards or don't define them
It's not bad to make mistakes just explain them

3. Lack of communication

Uncomfortable conversations are better than none
Let others know what you want
It's okay not to not always have all the answers. Don't be afraid to say "I don't know" while you figure them out.
Must find a balance so everyone is on the page

4. Assuming

Don't assume your staff knows what you want or need
Some things may be bit "elementary" and players should know certain things at a certain level. Don't assume your players know things you have not taught (think back to the bad coaches/managers you've had)
Don't assume, perform

5. Overlooking the good

More times than not the smart, tough and SIMPLE get overlooked. When you expect you forget to appreciate.
When things are going bad the focus is usually on the bad. Take a second everyday and look at the positives in your life and program.

6. Excuses for talent

If it's not okay for a manager it shouldn't be okay for the star
Does your 'best player' get the same consequences as the last guy on the bench
Talent shouldn't affect the the culture

"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." John Maxwell

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Great Defenses

3/31/2015

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1.      Have a “your not going to score on us” mentality
2.      Determined to get stops
3.      Are locked and engaged
4.      Applies ball pressure
5.      Contains the ball
6.      Active hands, mirroring the ball
7.      Active in gaps
8.      Helps the helper (ready to help teammates)
9.   Closeout with high hands, under control
10.   Don’t lunge out of position
11. Move on the flight of the ball
12. Contest shots with fouling
13. Finish possessions with a defensive rebound
14. Communicate the entire possession

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Characteristics of a Good Drill

3/12/2015

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Tournament time! Now that it is tournament time high schools are looking to practice on college courts. As I sit here and watch one of the local high school teams practice on our court before their regional semifinal game, they have some really good practice drills. Each drill is ran effectively. They have all the making of a good drill. Practice drills can sometimes be overlooked. A drill is of no value in practice if it is not ran effectively. Here are my characteristics of a 'good drill.'

Score - winner and loser in every drill. "Losing is not acceptable"
Time - not too much time for players to get bored but enough time to get good reps
Rotation - guys know where and when to go
Whistle - indicates tempo and "your out"
Emphasis - the more emphasize the less you get
Teaching - correcting guys mistakes, do not allow guys to get away with bad habits
Communication - Everyone on the court is talking
Involvement - the guys not in the drill are still involved in the drill on the sideline, being another coach
Purpose - every drill has a purpose to your team success (don't practice trapping if your not a trapping team, unless it's in the scouting report)

Whether it is a team drill or an individual player development drill, these are important aspects of a good drill. Good luck to all the teams playing in the post season!

"In the end, it's about the teaching, and what I always loved about coaching was the practices. Not the games, not the tournaments, not the alumni stuff. But teaching the players during practice was what coaching was all about to me."
-John Wooden

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The Point Guard

Leadership mistakes

Great Defenses

Characteristics of a Good Drill

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