Things you will probably do a lot with your players/team

 1) REBOUND:  Over the course of a game, we have 550-600 rebound chances… 

2) CLOSE OUT: No matter what defense you play, you will do this A LOT!! 

3) TRANSITION DEFENSE: % wise you are in transition D more than 1/2 court

4) DEFEND PENETRATION: Every offense relies on ability to break you down

5) DEFEND BALL SCREENS: Few games pass without having to defend these

Things coaches need to do to improve ourselves

 1) READ:  “The man who chooses not to read is no different from the man who can NOT read”.  You MUST make time to read.  It’s the only way to gain experience.  It’s the only way you will catch up to coaches who have more experience than you.

2) WRITE:  When you put your thoughts on paper and in ink, they be come yours.  Your words become your philosophy.  If you have every  “in your head” it’s not stated.  And until you STATE them, it’s simply not yours.  Choose a simple topic… Rebounding… Write out your thoughts.  You will be surprised how much thinking you will do on it before you are willing to share with someone else!!

3) OBSERVE: Go to clinics.  Go to camps, work camps. Attend practices.  Watch DVD’s.  Go on-line and use YOUTUBE or VIMEO.  You can spend hours on hours. I want to get new ideas everyday!  Again you are making the choice to or NOT to learn from others.  If you already KNOW IT ALL, let me know so I can come observe YOU!!

4) REACH OUT:  There are so many resources out there.  If you aren’t  reaching out to others, you are losing ground to those who do.   There are coaches all over the country willing to share.  There are blogs.  There are Newsletters.  There are YOUTUBE channels.  All with coaches willing to give back what others have shared with  them.  As Don Meyer shares “collect all the good ideas whether you  use them OR not”.

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5) RISK: It takes a lot of courage to be a coach.  Don’t settle for the status quo.  You must be willing to put yourself “out there” to grow.  It’s not easy.  You will have some haters.  But that’s exactly what you are teaching your players.  Model it for them. 

This article was written by Steve Smiley when he was an assistant coach to Don Meyer at Northern State University. Steve is currently the head coach at Sheridan College.

1. Don’t play hard: You can have the most talented team in the world, you can have the most intelligent team in the world, but if your team doesn’t play hard, there is no chance that they will be successful over the course of time. You must, before all else, establish and demand that your players play hard. It must be your identity.

2. Don’t play smart: After establishing that your team plays hard, you must then teach your players how to play smart. They must have a high “basketball I.Q.” Your players must learn and buy into the system that you teach and they must learn technique. At Northern, we say, “You can have all the intensity of a mad dog in a meat house, but without technique, you’ll end up with a bullet between the eyes.” Your players must learn to be students of the game. We stress the importance of player notebooks and taking notes.

3. Don’t play together: Finally, after teaching your players to play hard and smart, your players must then learn how to play together. Your team will have a very difficult time if there isn’t unity among the troops.

Key Phrase = “Play Hard, Play Smart, Play Together.”

4. Don’t have a delay game: If your team is fortunate enough to get a lead late in the game, you must have some type of delay game. While that doesn’t mean that you become passive and are afraid to shoot, that does mean that you may have restrictions such as; the only shot is a wide- open lay-up, minimum number of passes before shooting is 5, etc. Teams that don’t have a delay game have the tendency to lose big games.

5. Have no delay game defense: There will be times when you are losing and the opponent is running a delay game to milk the clock. If and when that is the case, you must have a secondary defense that will force the offense to speed up and hopefully take bad shots, so your team can preserve the clock. That might mean you have a press defense, or a trapping zone defense, but whatever the case, you must find ways to speed up the game and give yourself more possessions and opportunities to score.

6. No comeback game: Your team won’t always have a ten-point lead late in the game. There will undoubtedly be times when your team is going to be losing and your players have to know how to speed up the game to get more possessions and thus, more opportunities to come back. First of all, do you have “quick-hitters” in place; set plays that will result in a good look at the basket in a minimal amount of time? Also, do you have substitution patterns in place to best maximize your talent when you are losing? For example, subbing in the appropriate players on a defensive possession that will give you the best chance to stop the other team, and during dead balls, subbing in shooters on offensive possessions if you need to get 3-pointers to get back in the game. In addition, when your team is shooting a free throw, do you have players ready to check in if the player makes the second free throw, which will stop the clock and set up your defense (a timeout without using a timeout)? Being prepared for situations where your team is losing late in the game and having a plan of action ready is vital to a successful program.

7. Don’t simplify the game: There is a lot of power and truth in the saying, “Simplicity is Complicated.” You must keep the game simple for your players. If they have to think too much, they won’t be able to react. A good quote is “the more they think, the slower their feet get.” A great coach teaches his or her players a few simple principles from which the program is known by, and then, that coach lets the players play the game.

John Calvin Maxwell is an American author, speaker, and pastor who has written many books, primarily focusing on leadership. One of the best books I've read is "Talent Is Never Enough," by John Maxwell.  Talent is everywhere but successful people make the most out their talent by combining it with a work ethic for maximum results.  Here is a great list I read from Lifehack.com written by DanCassidy.

Here are 10 things people possessing great talent always do:

1. They commit to their goals

When successful people set a goal, nothing gets in their way of achieving it. They commit 100 percent to the outcome, knowing that one difference between successful and unsuccessful people is that the successful ones commit to a goal and don’t stop until they achieve it.

2. And they persist until they achieve them

Obstacles to success are normal and should be expected. They can’t always be planned for. However, you can decide when you commit to success that you’re going to persist no matter what obstacles arise. Go around them, go over them, or push through them, but persist no matter what happens. That’s what successful people do, and so should you if you want to mimic their success.

3. They take responsibility

Successful people know that they are the masters of their own destiny. You don’t hear them complain about the things that stopped them from success. You won’t hear them make excuses. Instead, they push forward knowing that they are the only thing that will make or break their success.

4. They work hard

Have you ever met someone who is super-successful and lazy? Neither have I. The truth is that the road to success is paved with hard work. If you want to achieve great results, you’ll need to wake up early, stay up late and put in your time. Success doesn’t just come to those who want it. You’ve got to pay your dues.

5. Find people who are doing what they want and emulate them

A college professor once gave me some of the best advice I ever received. He said, “if you want to be wealthy, hang out with wealthy people. If you want to be funny, hang out with funny people. And if you want to be poor, hang out with poor people.”

The truth is that people naturally mimic the behaviors of those around them. Mindset is contagious. So if you want to be a big success in life, spend time with others who are already successful.

Don’t know anyone successful? That’s ok. You can read books written by them or about them. Listen to their radio interviews or watch them on TV. Attitude and success is contagious, so catch it by hanging around some of the greats.

6. They believe in themselves and their vision

The school of hard knocks ain’t easy, so if you want to achieve big results, you’ve got to believe in yourself. The world’s most successful people have unshakeable confidence in themselves and in their vision. Without it, they’d have to give up too easily after a few obstacles got in their way.

How’s your confidence? Do you believe you can achieve your dreams? I’ll tell you something in case nobody told you before: you can do whatever you want in life, you’ve just to first believe it, and then work like mad to get it.

7. They take care of themselves

When was the last time you saw a successful person who was obese or extremely overweight? Sure, these people exist, but they’re the exception to the rule. Most successful people know they need energy to get ahead, and the best way to have that is to eat right, exercise and get proper rest. Which brings us to our next point…

8. They rest and recharge

Hard work is a requirement for success, but you can only push yourself 24/7 for so long. Successful people work hard and then unplug so they can refresh their minds and bodies.

If you’ve been pushing it to the limit, think about unplugging for a long weekend or more. Once you get back to the grind, you’ll be more effective at getting the results you want.

9. They constantly learn

Successful people believe that learning never ends. This doesn’t mean they’re going to school to get new degrees, although they may. Even without formal education, they’re constantly reading and learning from others around them, perhaps from books, trade magazines or conferences, or from others who are ahead of where they want to be.

What have you learned recently that can get you closer to the success you want? If you haven’t picked up a book, trade magazine or listened to CDs or MP3s that can get you smarter in your field, it’s time to start.

10. They make mistakes and learn from them

Successful people aren’t afraid to take risks. Because of their unshakeable confidence, they treat any mistake as a learning opportunity.

Think about the last mistake you made. Didn’t make a sale? Reevaluate your sales call and make it better next time. Screwed up a presentation? Read a book on how to present successfully so you can crush your next one. Failed in your last relationship? Call your ex and ask what you can do better with your next partner. So go take some risks, don’t be afraid of making mistakes, and if you stumble, learn from it so you can be better next time.

These are 10 things successful people do. How many of them are you doing today? If not all, or most of them, it’s time to upgrade your behaviors so you can get the success you deserve.

Read the entire article here

• 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
  

• 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
  

• 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
  

• 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
  

• 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.

• 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
  

Although it was almost six years ago, it seems like just yesterday when I met Jayare on the couch of our dorm common room at Trine University.  Our first conversation ever we discussed our goals and plans for the future.  I told him about how I wanted to be a basketball coach, and be a positive role model and influence on kids from my neighborhood.  He told me about his plans to start a clothing line with a goal to help people in need.  

I am happy to say not only are we both doing what we talked about over five years later we are also helping each other along the way.  I am the the assistant coach at Cincinnati Christian University, and founder of SHA, and he has given away over $25,000 through the sale of T-shirts, and is now re-branding and working to take the new line nationwide.  Thanks to cell phones and the internet, we are able to maintain our friendship.  We are still able to talk almost daily and are very much involved in each others projects.  

The mission of Equange is to make people AWARE of the fixable problems in this world, INSPIRE them to change those problems for the better, and to HELP those who are less fortunate than most.  The vision is to CHANGE the world or AWARE + INSPIRE + HELP = CHANGE.  This is called the "equation for change."    

From the sale of clothing and accessories and promoting the core values of the business Jayare is raising money through Equange to put together kits for underprivileged and homeless Americans.  These kits can have anything from blankets and clothes, to toiletries and food.  The Equange website has been officially launched and products will be available soon.  Like, follow, and share Equange's website and social media for for information, updates and more!

Instagram/Twitter: @Equation4Change
Facebook: Wuo Wear (the name will be changing to "Equange" April 7)
Website: www.equange.com

This topic is one I hope to never experience again (from losing). I have coached at a variety of levels from junior high, high school, college and aau. Last summer was probably the toughest team I've ever coached; a group of 8th grade girls that only had one player that ever played aau. It was a fun, but rough summer for me. I learned a lot from that group of girls and would not trade that experience is for anything. Winning teams usually have no problems with motivation but the old saying of… losing teams have team meetings. We stayed away from that philosophy because I felt it brought the wrong focus.



Players are aware of all the games they've won and lost, they don't need to be reminded. When motivating this group of young ladies I chose to focus on what motivates the individual to see the 'big picture' and why they were playing basketball.



One of the girls always stepped up and her words that day were " we are paying to play, let's not waste our parents money and get the most out of it."



When I heard this statement it made me think. Some of my thoughts included:

1. Attention to realistic events around us

2. Variety in all we do

3. Team chemistry on and off the court

4. Compete with a purpose

5. Positive attitudes are contagious

6. Enjoy each day and each member of the team



I can and will elaborate on each topic (later) as I am sure many people have the same issues. I can say that everyday was a good day after that despite losing 95% of our games that summer. As I stated earlier, it was huge learning experience for a young coach like myself.  Now that I look back on it, it was actually quite satisfying in a strange way.  If any of my aau parents from last season read this… thank you for your patience!

1. Teams rise and fall on culture, leadership, relationships, attitude and effort.

Great teams have a great culture driven by great leadership. Relationships are meaningful and teammates are connected. The collective attitude is very positive and everyone on the team works hard to accomplish their mission.

2. It’s all about teamwork. Sometimes you are the star and sometimes you help the star.

3. If want to be truly great you have to work as hard to be a great teammate as you do to be a great player.

I tell this to athletes all the time but the same is true for any profession. When we work hard to be a great team member we make everyone around us better.

4. Your team doesn’t care if you are a superstar. They care if you are a super team member.

5. Three things you control every day are your attitude, your effort and your actions to be a great teammate.

It doesn’t matter what is happening around you and who you think is being unfair. Every day you can focus on being positive, working hard and making others around you better. If you do that great things will happen.

6. One person can’t make a team but one person can break a team. Stay positive!

Make sure you don’t let energy vampires sabotage your team. Post a sign that says “No Energy Vampires” allowed and keep them off the bus. Most importantly, decide to stay positive.

7. Great team members hold each other accountable to the high standards and excellence their culture expects and demands.

8. Team beats talent when talent isn’t a team.

9. Great teams care more. They care more about their effort, their work and their team members.

10. We > me

Unity is the difference between a great team and an average team. United teams are connected and committed to each other. They are selfless instead of selfish. They put the team first and know together we accomplish more.

11. You and your team face a fork in the road each day. You can settle for average and choose the path of mediocrity or you can take the road less traveled and chase greatness.

It’s a choice you make each day. Which path will your team take?