THE TOUGHEST TEAM IN SPORTS?

Came across an article in the Wall Street Journal about a team that views tough in a completely different way!

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - Just before a recent game, South African rugby player Schalk Burger stated his belief that a rugby match isn’t a rugby match unless it “starts with a bang.” After less than a minute of play, Mr. Burger was penalized, for what looked like an attempt to gouge an opponent’s eyeballs.

Far from condemning the act that earned Mr. Burger an eight-week ban, South Africa’s head coach Peter de Villiers suggested that the offended player & coach “go to the nearest ballet shop, get some nice tutus and get a great dancing show going.”

Needless to say, the coach emphasizes tough-physical play. Just how tough are his players?

Andy MacDonald (now retired), was tracking a livestock-killing lion when the predator leapt on him, and he was left fighting off the feline with his bare hands.

“The lion bit off part of Andy’s ear and clawed his legs and lower body,” wrote South African rugby historian Paul Dobson. “Andy put one hand into the lion’s jaws and eventually the lion left him.” Mr. MacDonald received more than 400 stitches.

While some display their toughness by manhandling large beasts, others show their courage by staying on the field after sustaining serious injuries. André Joubert broke his hand in a tackle during the quarterfinals of the 1995 World Cup, yet went on to play two more matches -- this without taking any painkiller. Mr. Joubert said he suffered few long-term consequences other than a shortened finger.

I’d like to think our team is mentally stronger and physically tougher than most of our opponents… but this takes it to a whole new level!

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TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

In his book “Teamwork Makes The Dream Work,” John Maxwell said the following:

Look at hundreds of winning teams, and you will find that their players have four things in common:

1. They play to win: The difference between playing to win and playing not to lose is often the difference between success and mediocrity.

2. They have a winning attitude: Team members believe in themselves, their teammates, and their dream. And they don’t allow negative thinking to derail them.

3. They keep improving: The highest reward for their efforts isn’t what they get from it, but who they become because of it. Team members know intuitively that if they’re through improving, they’re through.

4. They make their teammates more successful: Winners are empowerers. As Charlie Brower says, “Few people are successful unless a lot of other people want them to be.”

Maxwell also lists the 10 C’s of Successful Teamwork:

1. Commitment that inspires results

2. Contributions that make a difference

3. Competency that raises the standard

4. Communication that increases effectiveness

5. Cooperation that creates harmony

6. Chemistry that enhances personal connection

7. Creativity that enlarges the team’s potential

8. Conflict management that reduces tension rapidly

9. Cohesiveness that allows change to be rapid

10. Community that makes the journey fun

(thanks coach Starkey)

THE POWER OF BELIEF

After winning back-to-back championships in 2005 and 2006, the Lady Lions faced a daunting challenge to start the 2007 season.

It wasn’t the loss of four players to graduation that was unexpected, but the loss of five others due to transfer, placing the team firmly into the “rebuilding” category.

Cross-town rival Panama City Christian, with four Senior starters and league leading scorer and All-Conference selection Sharee Hudson, were the hands-down favorite to bulldoze their way through the conference and claim the first girls basketball title in the school’s 45 year history.

However, the Lady Lions weren’t ready to concede defeat just yet.

Considering the lack of depth on the roster (not even one Senior), the chances of repeating for a third straight title seemed all but impossible. Of the three returning players, only one had been a starter, and three others were mere 8th graders, one of which had never even played basketball.

Early in the 2007 season, the team gathered in the gym and stared at an empty spot up on the wall, and made themselves a promise, that at the end of the season, this team of young and inexperienced players would be hanging a championship banner in that very spot.

Total and unwavering belief in each other and in the team verse Philippians 4:13, was the fuel that ignited an unbelievable 22-5 season. And by the way, yes… they did hang a conference championship banner in that very spot shortly after beating Panama City Christian by 15-points in the championship game.

So as we head into the 2010 season with only five returning players, it is important to understand the power of belief and the impact it can have on a team. This isn’t the end of a championship run… it’s not even the beginning of the end… but it’s possible that it may just be the end of the beginning.

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WANTING IT IS NOT ENOUGH

“Whenever you start — give it your best. The opportunities are there to be anything you want to be. But wanting to be someone isn’t enough; dreaming about it isn’t enough; thinking about it isn’t enough. You’ve got to study for it, work for it, fight for it with all your heart and soul, because nobody is going to hand it to you.”

- Colin Powell

KEEP POUNDING THE ROCK

“What is difficult is winning consistently over time, year after year after year. To do that, you've got to build and maintain a culture of winning. That means establishing high standards, making everybody aware of them, and exhorting everybody -- in ways both polite and not-so-polite -- to reach for those standards every day."

- Jim Calhoun

LIVE THE JOURNEY

"During the season, your team should be led with exuberance and excitement. You should live the journey. You should live it right. You should live it together. You should live it shared. You should try to make one another better. You should get on one another if somebody’s not doing their part. You should hug one another when they are. You should be disappointed in a loss and exhilarated in a win. It’s all about the journey."

- Coach K

COMPLACENCY

With a taste of success, it's easy for most teams to think the same effort will yield the same result the next year. It gets harder each season and takes more dedication to reach the same results.

You can't rely on yesterday's success to get you there. You must move forward and create tomorrow's success... today.

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IMPROVEMENT IS MADE IN THE OFF-SEASON

"I’ve been shooting every day, trying to get better so I can have a consistent jump shot. I’m shooting 700, 800 shots a day."

- Derrick Rose

Although shooting a couple hundred shots (made shots) every day will definitely help improve your shooting percentage, not everybody has the motivation to do so, nor the time to do it. Therefore, if you are one of the few that are actually motivated to improving your game rather than just talking about it, then you want to make the little bit of gym time you get as productive as possible by focusing your attention on your shooting. You do that by tracking your progress with a shot notebook.

Shooting a couple of hundred shots per day can get real boring, so you have to create situations that challenge you. For instance, you should break your shots into sets of 10 and then see if you can shoot 40% or better per set (4 out of 10). Write down your score or percentage for each set so you can track your progress for the day

Improving your shot in the off-season puts you way ahead of the curve once the season starts.

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REAL COMPETITORS

Real competitors are those players that come to play every time they step on the court. They are a team’s hardest workers and constantly work toward improving. They are not the type that yell at their teammates or glare at officials or punch walls when they miss a shot. They are the type that are determined and just plain enjoy playing. Competitors are those players that other players love to play with but not against, the type of player that spectators love to watch, and coaches love to coach.

Real competitors are hard to find.

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KEEP IT SIMPLE

Too many players take an easy shot and somehow manage to turn it into a difficult shot. Some players don’t understand the concept of getting simple shots, and instead, they go for the "highlight reel" shot which typically results in a miss.

Post Players: When you get into the paint, remember to get powerful, take your eyes to the rim, be patient and be purposeful. The best way to do that is through a jump stop! It allows you to go up on-balance, with both power and under control.

Perimeter Players: Always be ready to shoot the second your fingers touch leather. Be squared-up and into your shooting stance BEFORE you catch the ball. The best move is to not to have to use a move... just catch & shoot!

4:13

CATCH THE BASKETBALL!!!

This sounds very simple, but there are a lot of players at every level that have everything necessary to be an effective player but they simply can’t catch the ball.

Always "watch" the ball "into" your hands when catching. Taking your eye off the ball, for even just a second, leads to fumbled catches and turnovers.

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COMMITMENT vs INVOLVEMENT

"When you get an athlete, they've got to be motivated, and they've got to be committed. It's like the kamikaze pilot that flew 54 missions -- he was involved, but not committed."

- Lou Holtz

WHAT DOES YOUR LABEL SAY?

Sooner or later, every player gets stuck with a label. A label is a one-word description that, well… best describes your game.

Some labels are complimentary (i.e., unselfish, smart), while others are not so complimentary (selfish, lazy). Labels are not always accurate though. For instance, a coach may label you as “tough” because you play hard and play to win, whereas opposing players (and opposing fans) might label you as a “thug” because you play so rough. It’s all in the perception people have of you and your game. Your actions and words create the perception others have of you.

Have you ever stopped to think about what kind of labels you have? How your teammates and your coach perceive you and your game? How fans and opposing players perceive you and your game?

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THE THEORY OF 2

It will take a coach only about 2 minutes to teach you a skill.

It will take you about 2 weeks of total concentration (everyday) on the skill to get it down.

It will take about 2 months of everyday work to be game perfect with that skill.

- Kevin Eastman

WILLPOWER

In 1975, Junko Tabei became the first female to climb Mt. Everest. Afterwards she said, “Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is the most important.”

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THE ABILITY TO PLAY THROUGH IT

"Michael Jordans’s special strength was his ability to play through pain. He just blocked out the pain of a sprained ankle or a foot injury and refused to miss a game. Most guys would be out two weeks, but not MJ, his focus and mental toughness was awesome. So much so that he inspired his teammates [by his example] to play up to his level.

Most people only saw the glitz and glamour side of MJ’s life, but they didn’t see the hard work, preparation and pain he went through. He played in Phoenix with an infected foot and the team doctor wanted to send him home and Jordan refused. He played every game of that road trip. He once played with a broken cheekbone, with blood leaking into his sinus cavity. He never missed a game because of that. He never even missed a practice. One day Michael had back spasms in his lower back so bad that we had to carry him off the bus. He scored 40 points that night."

- Stacey King

Another famous story about MJ’s ability to “play through it” happened in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. Jordan had been fighting the flu and had doctors put an IV in him during halftime to help with dehydration. Late in the game, New York Times sportswriter Mike Wise saw how weak MJ looked and like many sportswriters on a deadline had done, actually wrote his story for the next day’s paper as if Utah had won the game. However, like many times before, Michael refused to accept defeat.

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THERE ARE NO SECOND CHANCES

Basketball is a game of details. And as they say, “the devil is always in the details.” Most players don’t worry too much about details early in a game. But not paying attention to details [especially early in a game] leads to uneccessary mistakes, and ultimately mistakes become the difference between winning and losing.

Scenario #1

A player takes an ill-advised shot early in the game. “So who cares. The other team gets the rebound, and besides, it was just one wasted possession right?” Okay, what if there are only 5.3 seconds left in the game and the other team has the ball… and your team is down by two or three-points? How much is that one extra possession for your team worth right now?

Scenario #2

You throw a pass to a wide-open shooter (the best shooter on your team) that is just a little too soft or slightly off target. “Yeah, yeah I know. So what… our best shooter had to adjust a little to catch it and no longer has the advantage of having an uncontested shot opportunity. Big deal, it was only one pass right?” Okay, what if there are only 5.3 seconds left in the game and the other team has the ball… and your team is down by two or three-points? How much would you pay to get back that one wide-open uncontested shot opportunity for your best shooter?

Scenario #3

You go for a steal and end up committing a foul rather than playing solid position defense. “Big deal… I picked up an early foul and allow some chump with little or no game to shoot two easy ones because they were in the Bonus.” Okay, what if there are only 5.3 seconds left in the game and your opponent has the ball… and your team is down by one-point. Will those two-points from the free throw line you gave your opponent, be the difference between winning and losing?

It’s not be the missed shot with 5.3 seconds left that really lost the game for your team [as most players would probably think]. Instead, it was probably the six or seven ill-advised shots taken early in the game. Or maybe the three or four sloppy passes to wide-open shooters early in the game. Or maybe even the lazy defense that resulted in a couple of trips to the free throw line for your opponent. Those types of mistakes ultimately determine the difference between winning and losing.

The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins.

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WHAT MAKES A PLAYER SPECIAL?

Anybody can have a good attitude when things are going well. Anybody can have a good attitude when they’re playing well and their team is playing well and they have energy. That’s not that special. What makes a player special, is how they respond when they face adversity.

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WHAT DID I ACCOMPLISH TODAY?

If you were to ask every player on your team if they want to win the conference championship this coming season... I'm almost positive that every single player would answer "yes!"

But if you were to ask those same players what they did today to improve their game... to ensure they are adequately prepared to play for the championship... how many of your teammates would actually have an answer involving some type of specific practice to improve an area of their game?

Every player on every team wants to win a championship. There is nothing special about that. Those that really want to win, work on their game daily with a specific goal in mind toward improving. If you're serious about improving your game, you should be asking yourself these questions on a daily basis:

1. What were my top 3 objectives today for improving my game?

2. How many of the 3 objectives did I accomplish today?

3. How many did I fail in meeting?

3. What caused me to fail in meeting them?

4. What could I have done differently to have met those objectives?

5. What did I learn today?

6. What additional assistance do I need to succeed?

You first have to know where you are... before you can map out how to get where you want to go.

4:13

EXCEL AT SOMETHING

If you want to be known as nothing more than an “average” player… with no great strengths or weaknesses, then just go to practice and participate. You see it’s very easy to be a "vanilla" player, not really standing out on anything.

But if you want to be recognized as a special player on the court… well then choose something you are good or at or enjoy and then excel at it. Make it your unflinching goal to be the best on your team at it (whatever it is). If it’s defense, then strive to be your teams best defender. If it’s rebounding, then strive to be your teams best rebounder.

But above all else... don’t settle for being average.

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THE FASTEST WAY TO IMPROVEMENT

Learning the "little things" is the quickest way to improve your game. As your knowledge of the game increases, the more your confidence begins to grow. The more confidence you have the more your skill set begins to unfold. The more your skill set improves… the better you become.

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WHAT IT TAKES...

A mature team is willing to make the sacrifices it takes to win. It's willing to play a certain way. Unselfishness, diving after loose balls, taking charges, getting defensive stops at critical points in a game. The inexperienced teams are the ones that live and die by the jump shot. They tend to place way too much emphasis on the offensive end and not nearly enough on the tough things that it takes to win games.

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PREPARE TO BEAT THE BEST TEAMS

“I’ve always felt you can beat average, mediocre teams in a lot of ways. You can only beat good teams with good, solid basketball. My whole concern with everything we do is how will it work against the best teams — not in most games against most teams but in the biggest games against the best teams.”

- Bob Knight

DO YOU BELIEVE? I MEAN REALLY BELIEVE?

In 1859 the Great Blondin, the man who invented the high-wire act, announced to the world that he intended to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope. As the story goes, 5,000 people gathered to watch. Halfway across, Blondin suddenly stopped, steadied himself, backflipped into the air, landed squarely on the rope, and then continued safely to the other side.

Just as he was about to begin yet another crossing, this time pushing a wheelbarrow, he turned to the crowd and shouted, "Who believes that I can cross pushing this wheelbarrow?" Every hand in the crowd went up. Blondin pointed at one man. "Do you believe that I can do it?" he asked. "Yes, I believe you can," said the man.

"Are you certain?" Blondin asked.

"Yes," said the man. "Absolutely certain?" "Yes, absolutely certain." "Thank you," said Blondin. "Then, sir, please get into the wheelbarrow."

Needless to say, this story illustrates the difference between "talking it" and "walking it." There is no doubt Blondin believed in his abilities. So much so that he was willing to assume the risk of someone else's life to prove he could do it. That type of confidence is rare. "Knowing beyond any doubt" that you can do it.

What is your level of belief in your abilities? Can you improve your shooting percentage? Can you become a better rebounder? A better defender? The answer is without a doubt "yes!"

But you're going to have to approach it with 100% confidence that you will eventually reach your goal. That's the only way that type of confidence is developed.

The greatest barrier to success... is the fear of failure.

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PRIDE IN HIS WORK

“Anybody in the NBA can make a layup,’’ said Wallace. “But not everybody can get that defensive stop when your team needs that stop. When they throw the ball at your man, you’re either going to, excuse the French, [expletive] or get off the stool. Defense is something I’ve hung my hat on all the time. If we’re all moving in synchronization on defense, it’s a beautiful thing. My high school coach always told me that offense sells tickets and defense wins championships.’’

- Rasheed Wallace

WHAT DOES A REBOUND REPRESENT?

One of the most unglamorous parts of basketball is rebounding, yet there is a direct correlation between rebounding and winning. Rebounding is also a great way for a player to create a niche for herself on a team. Maybe you can’t dribble the ball exceptionally well or possibly you’re not a good shooter – but if you dominate on the boards, the coach will always find playing time for you.

First and foremost, let’s understand what a rebound represents – an extra possession for your team… and one less possession for your opponent! In a 32 minute game, every possession truly does make a difference. It doesn’t matter if it’s a defensive rebound or an offensive rebound, you have just given your team a possession that they may not have otherwise received.

Excellent rebounding teams usually win because they have a greater number of possessions than their opponent. It means they have more opportunities to score while their opponents have less.

But rebounding isn’t easy.

A good rebounder has to mentally strong and physically tough. Going to the boards is a very demanding job. It gets extremely physical inside with a lot of bumping and pushing. Some players don’t mind going to the boards occasionally, but the good rebounder is tough and not only does she not mind the contact, but she relishes it. She loves not only to receive the contact but likes to dish a little out as well. Mentally she knows the importance of rebounding and she blocks out any aches and pains. Mentally she also makes sure the contact doesn’t go too far. She wants to bang with her opponent but not to the extent that she draws a foul.

- Coach Starkey

The Little Things - They're the difference between good teams and great teams!

*A jump stop

*A loose ball

*A bad close out

*A one possession mental lapse

*A quiet bench

*A bad attitude

*One bad shot in warm-ups

*Not asking who the girl you came in for was covering

*Arguing with the referees

*Not accepting a hand when you have come out

*A missed lay-up (no backboard)

*A dumb foul

*Bad warm-up

*Not giving ball to referee properly

If you concentrate on the little things it takes to be great, then the offense and defense take care of themselves!

- Coach Don Meyer

(thanks coach Cooley)

Failure to Reach Potential

Although there are numerous things that can prevent a player from reaching their full-potential, the most common thing boils down to a Lack of Committment.

A player may be blessed with tremendous athletic ability, but without heart & discipline, they will only go so far. History is littered with stories of underdogs (lesser talented players) accomplishing amazing things because they were disciplined enough to be 100% committed to the task at hand.

If you want to reach your full-potential... being 75% committed isn't enough.

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WHICH ONE ARE YOU?

“My job is to call attention to the things that I think are the difference between winning and losing. If I can't do that then I have failed as a coach.”

- Bill Parcells

When a coach tries to get a player to change part(s) of their game or push a player harder, the immature player sees it as criticism and becomes defensive. The mature player however, sees it as a roadmap leading them to success.

"It's not the will to win that matters - everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that makes the difference."

- Paul "Bear" Bryant

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THE BLUE CRUSH (our Defensive philosophy)

Every game is won with defense. In baseball, it's pitching. In football, it's stopping the run. In basketball, it’s through suffocating defense.

Defense is like the money in your pocket or in your savings account. You always know exactly what you have. However, offense is like the stock market… there are good days, and there are bad days.

We want to put on a “defensive clinic" during every game we play. When other teams describe us, our goal is to have them talk about our defense first.

We make it a point to NEVER allow the other team to run their stuff offensively. We take great pride in making their offense react to our defense. Our goal is pressure every ball handler into indecision and making mistakes.

It's never about winning. It's always about defensive performance and playing to the best of our ability.

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ARE YOU WALKING IT... OR JUST TALKING IT?

Every team has a “best player” and some teams are fortunate enough to have two. Some of these “best players” understand the responsibility that goes with that and others don’t. But those who do understand the responsibility have two things in common:

 They have earned this designation (not just been given it)

 They understand it’s an everyday responsibility

It’s about consistency. It’s about being a pit bull of sorts. It’s about bringing it to every practice and for every game.

Everyone wants to be Michael Jordan or Kobe or Lebron, but they don’t want the hard work or responsibility that goes with it. Being thought of as the best is not a one-time thing. It is an everyday commitment to excel as a player who gives maximum effort every time she hits the floor. That means every game, every half, every quarter, every minute, every second, and every possession!

And this is no different for anyone who is — or wants to become — the best. It is a personal commitment that takes incredible daily focus. If you want to be your teams “best,” are you walking the walk… or just talking the talk?

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FOUR TRUTHS ABOUT DISCIPLINE:

1. Discipline Comes With A Price Tag

Discipline is costly. It demands a continual investment of time, energy and commitment at the expense of momentary pleasure and ease. It means giving up short term benefits for the hope of future gain. It means pressing on to excellence long after everyone else has settled for average.

2. Discipline Turns Talent To Greatness

Poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow shared insight when he wrote:

The heights by great men reached and kept

Were not attained by sudden flight,

But they, while their companions slept,

Were toiling upward in the night.

3. Discipline Focuses On Choices, Not Conditions

In general, people approach daily discipline in one of two ways. They focus on the external or the internal. Those who focus externally allow conditions to dictate whether or not they remain disciplined. Because conditions are transitory, their discipline level changes like the wind. In contrast, people with internal discipline focus on choices. You cannot control circumstances, nor can you control others. By focusing on your choices, and making the right ones regularly, you stay disciplined.

4. Discipline Does Not Bow Down To Feelings

As Arthur Gordon said, "Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them, day after day. What you promise today must be renewed and redecided tomorrow and each day that stretches out before you."

If you do what you should only when you really feel like it, then you won't build disciplined habits. At times, you have to act contrary to emotions. If you refuse to give into your lesser impulses, no matter how great they will make you feel in the moment, then you'll go far.

- John Maxwell

(thanks coach Brown)

Players on the best teams believe they can do things no one has ever done before. Great things are accomplished by teams who not only believe they will accomplish something great, but completely believe in the abilities of each other. Nothing can withstand a team that believes in each other.

4:13

Are you giving energy or taking energy?

One of the biggest pet-peeves for most coaches is when a player shows up for practice and isn’t mentally prepared to be there.

Do you have a player on your team that casually strolls into the gym two-minutes before practice is scheduled to start? Then they have to put their shoes on, or put a brace on, or maybe have to go to the restroom while everyone else is stretching or getting started? Or maybe have a teammate that isn't focused on why they're at practice (to improve their game) and tends to play around a lot?

Every player at every practice either gives energy or takes energy from their teams practice. Come in absolutely ready to practice, condition, etc. with a mindset focused on preparation and improvement. That means no cell phone, not finishing meals, or any other last minute stuff.

Whatever time practice is scheduled to begin, be ready to start at that very moment, not five minutes later. If you need to get a drink… arrive early and buy it. If you need to go to the restroom… arrive early take care of your business. If you need to put your brace on… arrive early and put it on. If you want to socialize with your teammates for a few minutes… arrive early and talk away. But when it's time for practice, let your mind be focused on that and nothing else. Coming in and being mentally unprepared is stealing precious practice time from your coach and from your teammates.

Are you giving energy or taking energy?

4:13

When you work out this summer…

When working on your game or your conditioning, it’s okay to enjoy it and have some fun. But keep in mind, you should always have an eye toward how hard it's going to be if we are going to get where we want to go and how everything you are doing right now is either pushing you toward that direction or slowing you down.

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WHAT IS ‘REAL’ TOUGHNESS?

Found a good article about toughness on Mets infielder Alex Cora, who has been battling an injured thumb all year. His offensive stats would suggest that he is not very important to his team's success. However it is just the opposite. His toughness is rubbing off on his teammates:

Cora tore the ligament in his right thumb and still played shortstop. Wearing a splint every game, Cora packs his thumb in ice afterward, occasionally takes some anti-inflammatory medication, and he is good to go.

“I love that,” third baseman David Wright said. “That’s the true measure of a guy I have the ultimate respect for: a guy who plays hurt, doesn’t go about announcing it and just goes out there and does his job and does it well. I haven’t known him long, but Alex is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorites.”

He has fielded every ground ball, made every throw and turned every double play with no regard for his thumb. In the top of the seventh inning last week, he singled, stole second and scored on a single by Wright. In the bottom half, he made a fully extended diving stab of Josh Bard’s grounder, landing on his right hand.

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BALL PRESSURE BUYS YOU TIME

If you always have good pressure on the ball then that will allow your teammates extra time to get through screens and recover to their man.

You never want a passer to be able to sit back and put a pass exactly where and when they want to. Even if you get caught in a screen or get back cut, if your teammate is applying good ball pressure, that may be the extra second you need to recover to your man and not allow an open shot.

- Coach Cooley

The two most important factors for penetration...

"A player/team must have quickness to effectively penetrate a defense. Naturally, blur quickness was an advantage for point guards, but tape analysis showed many excellent teams with average speed point guards. The good teams structured opportunities for their perimeter players to penetrate. Ball screens, high post step outs, and flash cuts all provide ball penetration within the defensive perimeter.

The ability to break down a defense is critical to offensive success. The top teams structured their attacks to feature the strengths and hide the weak areas of their players. Winners found effective methods to penetrate, even without good quickness at the point guard spot."

- Bob Ligouri

From "Building A Championship Offense"

The two most important factors for penetration are spacing and ball reversal. Whether against M2M, zone or combination defense -- your offense needs to have elements of spacing and ball reversal available. By spreading the defense out via spacing it makes it more difficult for the defense to close the gaps in help situations. Ball reversal forces closeout situations which can be great for dribble penetration or penetrating passes to the post or players flashing.

- Coach Starkey

"If your best players are setting an example, it makes everything easier. [Younger guys] say oh, so this is how it's done."

- Jon Spoelstra

SELFISH ANGER

There will be times when players get angry at themselves, their teammates, or even their coaches. It happens to all of us. But a championship team will hold itself and each of its players to a level of responsibility that ensures that this anger, this disappointment, this distraction, will never have an adverse effect on the team.

We have all seen a player get taken out of a game, leave the floor, and cross in front of the bench with body language that says even more than the words they may or may not (and definitely should not) say. Typically another player or coach then has to divert their focus and energy to go over and calm that player down. This is a just like a turnover except that it can be more costly. It can rob a teammate of some precious gas in their emotional tank.

This is a case of “emotional hijacking” and our team will tell you that this cannot be tolerated under any circumstances! Championship teams know they cannot rob themselves of their best resources. They cannot hijack the very strength they have because a teammate has put themselves and their issue ahead of the team.

- Coach E

"As a young player, you don't always need to smile. You never saw Jordan smile. The only time he smiled was when he was kicking your butt."

- Flip Saunders

3 THAT MUST BE GREAT EVERY DAY

The 3 people that must be great daily for your team to succeed:

Head Coach

Best Player

Point Guard

- Don Meyer

SENDING SIGNALS

Came across a good article on Chamique Holdsclaw and her recent return to the WNBA following an unexpected two-year absence while being treated for clinical depression.

Holdsclaw, who gained fame in helping the University of Tennessee to three straight NCAA championships and being the player once approached by Michael Jordan and invited to play a game of one-on-one, now measures herself partly by how she impacts the lives of others, especially her younger teammates on the Atlanta Dream roster (WNBA) both as player and as a de facto coach to the younger players when necessary.

“She’s meeting our expectations on a daily basis,” Coach Marynell Meadors said. “Her leadership has had a calming effect on the team.”

Bill Bolen, the Dream’s president and chief operating officer, recalled a loose-ball drill during the first practice of the season. “She was the first to dive on the floor,” Bolen said. “That sent a signal on Day 1 that we’re going to practice hard.”

“I’ve been thinking lately about my legacy,” she said. “What’s important to me now is, how will I be remembered, not as a player but as a person? I’ve known hard times and I’ve persevered."

4:13

ATTITUDE DETERMINES YOUR ALTITUDE

“Regardless of circumstances that may seem out of control, you are in control of one very important thing – your ATTITUDE. It is your most priceless possession. Both personally and on the court, your attitude determines your altitude, or success. Remember, you can’t spell 'success’ without ‘u’ – that’s YOU.”

- Keith Harrell

Entitlement vs. Investment

As I travel around the country and work out with the best of the best from the High School, College, and NBA levels, I am continually reminded of what these players all have in common that makes them great:

they want to get better.

they want to know everything they can that will help them become a better basketball player.

they are committed to improvement of their bodies and their game.

they are very serious about the game every time they hit the floor.

they want to be coached.

The best example I can give you is Kobe Bryant. He once told me that he does not work out any more… he now blacks out. He said that a workout just isn’t enough anymore if he’s going to stay on top of his game and take on all the players he knows are going to challenge him. He said he has to go beyond what all other players are doing. He took his workout to a higher level. He took his to blackout status!

What Kobe also was saying is what all players need to hear and need to know. He is willing to invest in his improvement and not stay the same. He was willing to invest in his future and not stay the same. He is willing to invest in his game and not feel that he is entitled to be great, entitled to take every shot, entitled to have everything given to him. He was, and is, going to earn it.

The lesson here is one that I tell every one of the great players I work with: it’s not about entitlement if you want to be the best. It’s about investment.

Players need to know that being the best is not easy. They need to know that they need to invest in their futures (both on the court and off the court for that matter). Entitlement will lead to ultimate failure; investment will lead to future success.

- Kevin Eastman