LEARNING TO LOOK, SEE, HEAR & LISTEN

To me, concentration is basketball in a nutshell.  Concentration leads to anticipation, which leads to recognition, which leads to reaction, which leads to execution.

The concentration I'm talking about involves four key words.

The first two are "look" and "see."  Everybody who plays basketball looks, but very few players see.  Very few players train themselves to use their eyes.  Not everybody has the same shooting ability as everybody else, nor the same size, nor the same quickness.

But each person who's playing this game can develop the ability to see what's happening on the court -- see the open man, see where to take the ball, see the guy who's being defended, see who's open on the break.

"Hear" and "listen" are the next two words.  Most people only hear. The key is listening to what you're being told, what's being said, what is expected of you in your role as part of any team.

A basketball player who learns to see and listen has improved tremendously without doing a single thing involving physical skills.  Once learned, seeing and listening are valuable traits for anyone doing anything.

(Thanks Coach Bobby Knight, excerpt from the book Knight: My Story)

START "SMALL" TO GO FROM GOOD TO GREAT

Going from good to great follows a simple recipe. Start small. 

Starting small means doing something now and something within your control that will have an immediate impact.  As small things begin to accumulate, bigger things will happen.

(Thanks Dave Ulrich)

YOU CAN'T FAKE TRUE COMMITMENT

“Before you can become a good team… you have to become good teammates."
- Coach Jim Larranaga

"Playing hard is a given...playing well is the goal."
- Coach Bob Starkey

“False praise does not help the athlete. Be honest. Praise worthwhile effort not average effort. Do what helps to make the athlete better.”
- Coach Gambetta

“People can smell serious emotional commitment and energy from a mile away ... you can't fake true commitment.”
- Alan See

“The best don't "need" a coach, they "want" a coach.”
- Coach Bru

“The world does not owe you success. But the world gives you plenty of resources and opportunities to create all the success you want.”
- Alan Stein

Phil 4:13

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

Watching some college basketball yesterday and caught the big BYU win over SDSU lead by BYU guard Jimmer Fredette. When I watched him play, the thing that struck me the most was how composed he always is, he never lets the emotion of the game get to him, he is always in control. When the ESPN analysts talked about Fredette looking for pickup games at the prison to hone his skills back in his hometown, I was intrigued. Here is the ESPN segment that goes into it,

One of the virtues that is undervalued by coaches is mental toughness. I do think it is something that can be developed like any skill. But it’s harder to develop because in order to be mental tough, you have to be in the position to make mistakes over and over again and then learn from them. It's a painful process, but it's the only way to become stronger.

(Thanks Coach Bru, X’s & O’s of Basketball)

There's a big difference between being a basketball player... and someone who likes to play basketball.

One of the most difficult realizations a young athlete must learn to come to grips with as they move up to the next level, is being able to recognize that they may no longer be the “go to guy” on their team.

Athletes mature at different ages and I've seen numerous examples of a 6^th or 7^th grader that was absolutely the best player on their team, and within a year or two, their teammates mature and catch up and even surpass them in athletic ability and game skills.

It can be even more difficult for the athlete to grasp if they reach a plateau where they aren't getting any better, and their teammates continue to excel.

As athletes move up to the next level, more and more demands will be required of them. Shooting baskets out in your driveway was the only real practice needed when you played youth ball. If you could hit shots, the ball went to you in the game. Not necessarily because you were so good... but maybe because your teammates couldn't shoot.  As you move into more competitive Middle & High School play, shooting isn't nearly enough to earn playing time.

Recognize that you are competing against your teammates for playing time. Making the team didn't mean that you were the best (no matter how much you may love the game), it only means that you were in the top 12-15 kids out of the 30 or 35 that tried out.  If you don't think you are getting the minutes you deserve, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions and be honest in your answers...

Where do I rank against my teammates in the following areas:

Defense?

Quickness & athleticism?

Ball handling?

Court Awareness?

Understanding the offense & knowing the plays?

Hustle?

Conditioning?

Leadership on the court?

To excel at the next level means you'll have to work a lot harder to improve your skills (both mental & physical) more than just shooting around in your driveway and during scheduled practices. You're going to have to make specific improvement a priority outside of scheduled practices.  

There's a big difference between being a basketball player... and someone who likes to play basketball.

4:13

AAU PLAY vs DEDICATED PRACTICE FOR IMPROVEMENT?

I am a firm believer that too many young athletes get caught up in the AAU trap and think it's an absolute must to improve their game and eventually get a scholarship.  

I came across a great example from Innovative Athletes that puts that theory into perspective...

Let’s pretend you are in the 8th grade, you have 6 AAU games scheduled this weekend:

In those 6 games you average 8 shot attempts per game, that’s 48 shots for the entire weekend and let’s say you shot 12 free throws.  So total you shot 60 shots in 48 hours of play.

Now turn the situation around, let’s say you decide to stay at home and work on your shot which should consist of 350 shots plus another 50 free throws.

In just 2 hours you get 400 shots compared to 60 in 48 hours.  Yes, a lot less fun but which is more productive to your game?

The math doesn’t make sense and think of this on a long term basis, those shots add up over a period of time, just think about how many shots you could be shooting in your driveway.

My advice, play on team when you turn 15, choose your coach and team wisely.  One that will benefit your future, I love the competition of AAU, it’s a great evaluator of talent and is huge in regards to college scouts.  Be wise with the weekends you choose to play, you do not have to play every weekend, NCAA coaches are ONLY allowed to scout in July – prepare diligently on your game for July and than take full advantage of the July tournaments.

Kids worry too much about not being exposed enough, well guess what... by failing to prepare will only expose your weaknesses.  Trust me, college coaches will find you if you are a good fit for their program.  Their sole job in the summer is to hunt for talent, your name will pop up eventually and I just want to make sure you’re prepared for your opportunity.

(Thanks iAthletes)

FRIDAY'S QUOTES

“People can smell serious emotional commitment and energy from a mile away ... you can't fake true commitment.”
 - Alan See

The best don't "need" a coach, they "want" a coach.
 - Coach Bru

 ”The ratio of We’s to I’s is the best indicator of the development of a team.”
 - Lewis B. Ergen

 “Instead of telling yourself how hard you work, spend time thinking up ways in which you could work harder.”
 - Dick DeVenzio (via Rick Allison)

 “Without mistakes, the learning process would be permanently blocked. No mistakes, no progress.”
 - FIBA Coach
 

“Thoughts determine what we want, Actions determine what we get.”
 - Greg Brown

THE MICHAEL JACKSON LAW

Of all the strange and surprising patterns of talent, few are stranger or more surprising than the phenomenon called the Michael Jackson Law. This is the rule that the most talented performer in a family musical group will be among the youngest children.

Consider:
 The most talented Bee-Gee? Andy, the youngest.
 The most talented Jonas brother? Nick, the youngest.
 The most talented Hanson brother? Zac, the youngest.
 The most talented Andrews Sister? Patty, the youngest. 

 The pattern isn’t exactly new. Mozart and JS Bach were also the babies of their families.

The question is, why? Why are the Tito Jacksons and Nannerl Mozarts of the world fated for obscurity? Is it simply a coincidence? Or is there something deeper going on?

I think the younger kids are more talented because they have more opportunity to steal. That is, to spend lots of hours intensely watching their siblings, borrowing what works, and discarding what doesn’t. To use their siblings as a test kitchen for developing their own recipe for success.

Young athletes need to do the same thing. They need to watch the older more experienced athletes on their team and pay attention to what works and what doesn't. Pick up the good habits and try to avoid the bad ones. Soak up everything you can from those that are better than you.

(Thanks Daniel Coyle)

THE STEADY CLIMB TO THE TOP

In my three years at UCLA, Coach never mentioned the word, “win,” once.  Words he used were “go,” “faster,” “again,” “hurry up,” and “bear down.”  Coach believed success was not measured by how many banners you manage to hang but rather by how much effort you made to reach your own potential, as an individual and as a team.

-- Swen Nater

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH?

Many times, the difference between being good and being great comes down to your attitude and the way you approach practice and developing your game.

Are you thinking I "have to" practice or I "get to" practice?

4:13

A POINT GUARD vs A "TRUE" POINT GUARD

At the middle & high school level, the best ball handler on a team usually ends up being the point guard by default. But being a great ball handler doesn’t necessarily mean that the player will be a great point guard. A “true” point guard is so much more than a great ball handler… they are in essence the coach on the court and the player that understands the game enough to be able to make their teammates better.

John Wall turned the Rookie Challenge at this weekend’s NBA All Star festivities into a personal playmaking clinic. Before the game, the Washington guard looked up the Rookie Challenge's assists record which was 17, by Chris Paul in 2007 and said he planned to beat it. Wall scored 12 points when he wasn't repeatedly setting up his fellow rookies for acrobatic dunks and wide-open jumpers. Wall racked up a record 22 assists to win the MVP award,

(Thanks John Hollinger)

"LITTLE THINGS" MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN BIG GAMES

Good coaches understand that “little things” make a big difference in BIG games.

Watched a Final Four tournament this weekend and couldn't help but notice some of the “little things” that occur in games that most players never practice and those little things can often determine which team wins or loses in a close game.

Here is one of those little things I saw... I watched a team up by seven points with 3:50 left in the game, start to “play keep away” with the ball by spacing out and holding the ball until defensive pressure was applied. That's a smart strategy on offense... burn as much clock as possible to protect your lead.

At this particular point in the game, the defense was playing a sagging man-to-man (off the ball) in order to protect paint. Each time a defender would come out and put pressure on the ball, a pass was made to a wide open offensive player, this cycle would be repeated over and over again. The defense was basically chasing the ball rather than denying the catch, which allowed the offense to run more than a minute off the clock during each of their possessions before the defense finally got the ball back.

It would have only taken about 20 seconds for the coach to instruct the defense to pressure the ball AND deny the catch, which would likely force the offense into shortening their length of possession. But that didn't happen... and the defensive team in this example lost the game.

Little things make a big difference in BIG games.

4:13

THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE?

What do you think the biggest difference is between high school and college age basketball players? 

Yes, college players are usually bigger, stronger, and faster. Yes, college players are usually more skilled and have higher basketball I.Q.’s. Yes, college players are usually more mature in every aspect of their game.

However, I believe communication is the biggest separator. College basketball players effectively communicate better than high school players do.

This past weekend I watched a marathon of college basketball – caught 2 games in their entirety and saw bits and pieces of 4 other games.

What did I see?

College players talk! They talk on screens. They talk on inbounds plays. They talk when sprinting back in transition D. They thank the passer on an assist. Between the squeaking sneakers and constant chatter… a college court is never silent.

College players listen! They listen when they huddle before free throws. They listen to their coach during time-outs. They listen with their eyes and their ears.

Obviously, these are blanket statements. Not every college player does these things…and some high school players do. However, in both cases, those are the exception rather than the rule.

In high school, you may have sufficient talent, but lack of consistent, effective communication can easily be your teams Achilles Heel. When you don’t talk on Defense, your opponent gets easy buckets. When you don’t talk on Offense, things get scrambled and confused.

Bottom line: lack of communication causes breakdowns on both ends of the floor.

(Thanks Alan Stein)

INFLUENCING YOUR OPPONENTS PLAY

"You can't always be the strongest or most talented or most gifted person in the room, but you can always be the most competitive. 

There are bound to be days when you run into someone who is better than you.  What can you do about it?  You can compete, that's what.  You can put forth so much effort that you cut your opponent down to size and force him to play below his abilities.  Competitiveness allows you to influence your opponent."

- Coach Pat Summitt, from Reach for the Summit (Thanks FootballCoachAcademy)

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." - Les Brown

"Heroes and cowards feel exactly the same fear - they just respond differently." - Dan Millman

"Above average talent isn't a requirement for success. It's about having belief, sustained effort, and an absolute sense of purpose." - Coach Farris

“Great teams are not built by extraordinary players, but by ordinary players doing extraordinary things." - Alan Stein

"Handling success is often as hard as acheiving it. Key is not to get amnesia. Analyze what got you there; then up it!" - Kevin Eastman

NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

"Frowns aren’t just down-turned facial muscles.  They are devices that destroy teams, tear down positive atmospheres, and create ill feeling. 

Scientifically, frowns are supposed to use a lot of extra muscles and energy and perhaps even bring about the flow of some kinds of harmful chemicals in the body.  I don’t doubt it, because they bring about toxic thoughts and situations all the time." - Dick DeVenzio

(Thanks Sefu Bernard, PGC)

IT'S NOT ABOUT TALENT

Above-average talent isn't a requirement for success. It's about having belief, sustained effort, and an absolute sense of purpose in what you want to accomplish.

4:13

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

“There is a difference between losing & failing. Losing reflects the score. Failing reflects your attitude.” – Simon Sinek

“Money can’t buy mental toughness.” – Coach Bru

“Individual ego is the number one killer in teams being able to reach their potential.” - Rick Pitino

“Mediocrity will always try to drag excellence down to its level. Don't trade your superiority for their inferiority.” – David Roads

“The next time you encounter a difficult obstacle or problem, you should smile and say, Here's my chance to grow.” - Zig Ziglar

“More people would learn from their mistakes if they weren’t so busy denying that they made them.”

“Average often doesn't come from a lack of talent, but from a lack of belief.” – Mark Fritz

“The more you focus on what your competition is doing, the less you're focusing on what you are doing.” – Simon Sinek

ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

“Everyone wants to play here, and sometimes we [the coaches] think they can.  But when they get here we find out that they can’t because they struggle. You have to be super competitive just to survive because it’s not good enough to just try hard. You need to be result-oriented.” - Geno Auriemma

(Thanks Brian McCormick)

ARE COACHES SETTING PLAYERS UP FOR FAILURE?

Came across a great article by Brian McCormick on why youth coaches, trainers, high school coaches and AAU coaches inadvertently set players up for difficulties when they reach the next level. 

Recently, many questioned the rash of freshmen transfers in men’s basketball. The transfers result from the same issue.  (Link to article)

(Thanks Brian McCormick)

WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THIS?

Players are not born... they are made.

GOODBYE FOOTBALL SEASON

Came across an entertaining video this morning that is great send-off to football season...

WHEN COACHES AND PLAYERS CLASH

"Coaches and players usually don't like each other.  Players don't like coaches telling them what to do.  Coaches don't like players telling them what they're not going to do and that's just the nature of the business.  If we couldn't play, we wouldn't be here.  If they couldn't coach, they wouldn't be here.”

-          - Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons

(Thanks Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press)

“We should focus on going to battle against our opponent… not each other.”  Although that statement sounds like common sense and something every team would understand, every day there are coaches and players battling each other… and it is so counterproductive to the success of a team.  Don't believe me?  Just ask the sputtering Pistons with their pathetic 19-33 record.

4:13

HOW TO GUARD A GREAT SHOOTER

While it can be difficult to prevent a great shooter from scoring, especially if they have strong counter dribble moves, there are a few simple things you can do ‘every’ and ‘always’ to limit the scoring opportunities for any great shooter.  Here they are:

Get Shooter’s Attention
Dick DeVenzio wrote in his book STUFF, “If you want to make a shot difficult, you have to get the shooter’s attention while he is deciding to shoot. . .  A good defender has to interrupt that rhythm and concentration by gaining that shooter’s attention with jab fakes, violent movements – whatever it takes to get the shooter’s attention on you and off the shot.”  It’s important to focus on the shooter before he or she catches the ball.   You can also utilize distracting techniques to get a shooter’s attention rather than allowing him or her to focus on the upcoming shot.

Limit Touches
The easiest way to guard a great shooter is to limit his or her touches.  While chasing shooters off screens and beating them to their shooting spots can be difficult, the less touches a great shooter has, the fewer shots he or she will take.

Hand in Shooting Pocket
Against any great shooter, always keep one hand in their shooting pocket.  This is a simple way to distract the offensive player, but more importantly, it could prevent the shooter from getting some shots off.  Too often, we teach young basketball players ‘hands up’ on defense when really the term should be ‘hands in’.  Once a shooter makes the catch and it’s obvious a shot is going to take place, the last piece to guarding a great shooter is to put your hands in the face of the shooter and limit their vision.

(Thanks Lyndsey (Medders) Fennelly, PGC)

ARE YOU PRACTICING ACCORDING TO YOUR ASPIRATIONS?

Regardless of which sport you play, if you are committed to improvement, apply yourself and put in the work, good things seem to follow.

Jacob Coker is living proof.  The Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul Episcopal product was a virtual unknown when he attended the Jimbo Fisher Camp in 2010.  That didn’t last long.

Coker made all the throws, showed good footwork and athleticism, and impressed with his knowledge of the game.  He was offered on the spot and by June 21, Coker committed to Florida State.

“My junior year, ...I knew that my highlight film probably wasn’t impressive – it wasn’t that long at all.  I knew in the offseason that I would have to work real hard to get to where I wanted to be, that was to be playing big-time Division-1 football."  Coker explained.

"After football season, I started working out twice every day and I would throw the football every day.  I did whatever I could to make myself better.  I worked on five-step drops, quick reads, shotgun, all of that stuff, deep balls, intermediate balls, short balls – everything.  I knew that camps probably wouldn’t get me where I wanted to be and that I still had something to prove, but luckily I had some good showing at camps and I got a few offers.  I am real happy that Florida State offered me, that is for sure. It is a big-time college that I would love to play at and I am extremely excited about playing for them.”

As of just after midday on February 2, Coker is officially a part of the Seminoles family.  While he is excited to be a part of what is going on in Tallahassee, he knows his hard work isn’t over yet.

Are YOU practicing according to YOUR aspirations?

(Thanks Noles 24/7)