TWO OF TENNESSEE'S DEFINITE DOZEN

Every successful program has a core set of values, principles that guide them in all they do. At Tennessee, Pat Summitt calls theirs the ‘Definite Dozen’ and they embody everything they want in their program.

Here are just two of the ‘Definite Dozen’ that each player should adhere to in-order to be a great teammate and to contribute in making their team the absolute best it can be.

Don't say things you wouldn't say to some one's face.

Don’t talk bad about your teammates or slam on them behind their back. It eventually gets back to them and it causes division on the team. Don’t allow your teammate to carry-on talking about another. By allowing it, you send the message that you agree with it, and that is just as bad.

Negative thinkers & talkers suck the energy out of teams.

The old expression “one bad apple spoils the whole bunch” couldn’t be truer. If you want your team to be successful, then you have to hold each other accountable. Don’t allow teammates to participate in negative talk or just be negative in general (someone that always complains about everything). Don't be afraid to confront them about it. I would be willing to bet others feel the same way you do and will probably stand with you when you confront the negative teammate.

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EFFECTIVE TEAM LEADERS

If you want to be an effective team leader, you can’t demand respect. You earn it through your actions, through your words and by your sincere desire to help those around you to succeed.

And most importantly, you have to walk it before you talk it.

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WHO ARE YOU?

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

- Mahatma Ghandi

Whether we want to accept it or not, we become the person we allow ourselves to become. And more often than not, it is a result of those we surround ourselves with.

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GOOD vs AVERAGE

Good players consistently act differently when they receive a pass than average players. Good players are always a threat to score. Their body language, their pivot, their eyes: they look aggressive.

Average players look different. They may pivot the same or make jab steps, but they do not look like threats to attack or shoot.

As a defender, you can 'read' your opponents body language on the catch and immediately tell whether they are a threat to score.

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2009-10 PLAYER PREVIEW

There will be six roster spots available this season and recent Tennessee Temple transfer, Katie Robertson, has already made it known that she wants to fill one of them.

Katie visited the team over the Thanksgiving weekend and again at the Nationals tournament in March before deciding to transfer. The offensive-minded sophomore has a scorer’s mentality and should see plenty of time at the high post.

(Hannah, Olivia, Rebecca & Katie at the NACA National Tournment in Dayton, TN)

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2009-10 PLAYER PREVIEW

For those who think size is important in basketball... have you ever been alone in a dark room with a mosquito?

Size means nothing and Sophomore guard and defensive ‘pest’ Hilliary Smith proves it by relentlessly harassing opposing ball handlers. Players may pass over her, but very few are able to dribble past her with her great footwork and quick hands.

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2009-10 PLAYER PREVIEW

The lone Senior on this years roster will be shooting guard Rebecca Farris. Her outside range and accuracy will be a legitimate threat to perimeter defenders this season.

She finished last season with a 41.7% (3FG) average and finished second (to Haley) in the All Star Weekend 3-point contest by nailing her first nine shots of the contest.

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2009-10 PLAYER PREVIEW

After having a great showing at the GC Elite Camp this Summer, Junior point guard Olivia Dew, will finally ‘take the wheel’ of the offense on a full-time basis this season.

In addition to being a solid defensive stopper, Olivia’s strength is her steady leadership and her ability to quickly recognize defensive alignments & mismatches and take advantage of them.

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2009-10 PLAYER PREVIEW

Arguably one of the physically toughest players in the conference, and on the roster this season, will be Sophomore guard Hannah Dobernig.

Hannah was a unanimous All-Conference selection last season and her determination to shut down the opponents best player is a testament to her ‘can’t get past me’ defensive attitude.

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TALENT IS NEVER ENOUGH

Great basketball players achieved greatness through inner determination and a drive to succeed. This drive and determination led to hours of practice time mastering new skills.

All the great players are notorious for their work ethic, as Magic Johnson said, "Talent is never enough. With few exceptions, the best players are the hardest workers." Larry Bird was known for his summer workouts, shooting thousands of shots every day during the summer. Michael Jordan was known for working on a weakness every off-season, perfecting a new skill and entering the next season with something new he did not possess the prior season.

"Many athletes have tremendous God-given gifts, but they don't focus on the development of those gifts. Who are these individuals? You've never heard of them -- and you never will. It's true in sports and it's true everywhere in life. Hard work is the difference. Very hard work."

- John Wooden

BUILDING CONSISTENCY

All players, especially the team leaders, should understand that practicing under game-like conditions (speed, shots, etc.) is sometimes more important than ‘what you practice.’

Because if a team isn’t consistent in the way they work, then it’s going to change with each day depending on how they feel. If you want to build consistency that remains constant in games, it starts with consistency in practices.

If your two-hour practice is hard, then four quarters of a game will be easy. 100% effort in everything you do will never let you down.

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2009-10 PLAYER PREVIEW

The Lady Lions low post weapon this season will be Sophomore Rachel Phelps. Not only is Rachel a solid defensive presence on the court, but she has the handles to go coast-to-coast when necessary.

In addition to being selected to the NACA All-Tournament team in her rookie season (as a mere 8th grader), she finished her freshman season ranked 7th on the Covenant all-time school rebound list.

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2009-10 PLAYER PREVIEW

The Lady Lions roster will get a little deeper this season at the guard spot as Sophomore All-Conference selection Lea McWilliams has been officially cleared to return to action following ACL surgery.

Lea missed the entire 2008-09 season after tearing her ACL just three weeks prior to the start of the season. Lea’s aggressive defense and mid-range jumpers will be a welcome addition!

Glad to have you back Lea!

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PUSHING THROUGH IT

"Adversity only visits the strong mind… but it moves in stays with the weak mind"

- Mark Gottfried

ARE YOU A 'JORDAN' OR A 'SKETCHERS?'

The 8 Rules for Building a Successful Personal Brand

No matter what part you play on your team, whether you’re a rebounder, a leader, a shooter, or even a manager, you should always be YOU and make sure everybody knows YOU are special, YOU are different than any other.

While most people tend to focus on just playing the game, many don’t take the time to evaluate their skill sets (weaknesses included) and how much of an impact they actually have on the team.

Another way of thinking about it… If you were to walk down the ice cream isle at the grocery store, there are dozens of different brands of vanilla ice cream. Yet, out of all those dozens of brands, most people have one particular brand they love more than any of the rest. Now apply that same principal to you and your basketball skills. What is your ‘brand?’ Are you just one of the many basketball players that your coach has to choose from? Or are you that favorite brand that is better than all the rest?

A ‘personal brand’ is not just some jazzy little logo that companies and high-dollar clothing or shoes have. If you are a player, then you too should develop your very own personal brand. No I don’t mean a logo, but instead you need to be known for being the best at something.

For those of you who don’t know where to begin you can start with the 8 Rules for building a successful personal brand:

1. Be Consistent

Think about who you are and who you wish to become. Make sure this is a true reflection of self and not a watered down carbon copy of someone else. Consistency will lead to recognition and ultimately this is what brands are known for.

2. Live & Breathe Your Talent

Don’t talk about it. BE about it. If you make the conscious decision to go ‘all in’ for something whether it be rebounding, scoring, ball handling, or being a good leader, etc….actually go ‘all in.’ In order for your ‘brand’ to thrive, you need to practice what you preach and soak up new knowledge about what you are doing. I know sometimes the road gets rough and your passion may get tested but realize that this is what will make you special. Separate yourself from the other ‘brands’ of players. The only thing left is to start now and never look back.

3. Sweat Equity is the Best Equity

Live the tradition the Lady Lions have established over the past few years: 100% effort in everything you do, fear no team or no player, and never surrender regardless of the score. If you believe in what you want to become, then prove it. If you aren’t investing any time into your own brand then why should someone think you are different?

4. Be Professional

You would think this would be self-explanatory but it’s not. No matter what you do, where you go, or who you talk to, always keep in mind that impressions are everything. Live by this quote, “You can’t control how you are perceived but you have 100% control over how you are presented.” Believe that! Because you never know who is watching.

5. Be Resilient

How many times have you felt like you’re not making progress over the past week? Month? Year? DON’T GIVE UP. No matter what! Yes, it’s okay to take a minute and pick yourself up off the ground and dust yourself off and get right back at it. Maybe you need to go ask a teammate for encouragement or maybe ask a coach for advice, but you can’t succeed if you give up when things get tough..

Keep grinding and never let someone else determine your future. Do not let your personal brand be affected by a third party. YOU are in control of your brand.

6. Be Transparent

Nobody expects you to be superwoman. Be real, be honest and most of all, accept that everybody makes mistakes, including you. Every once in a while let someone in on your thought process and technique so that they can give you some feedback. Don’t try to cover up when you mess up…talking about it can actually give you more insight into what went wrong in the first place and how it could have been prevented or improved upon.

7. Be Strategic, Daring and Open to Suggestions

Think about your brand and who you want to be. What do you want people to think about you? Strategically map out the things that you can do to achieve these goals. It’s imperative for you to have a plan to be the YOU you want to become. Planning is essential.

To be daring means having a plan but also leaving some room for new possibilities. Take risks in the way you do things. Most players don’t want to change the way they’ve been doing things (i.e., shooting mechanics) and be open to suggestions from others. You never know what you can learn to help make your brand better until you try.

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak,” – Epictetus

8. Develop Small OC-esque Habits

Obsessive = repetitive thoughts

Compulsive = repetitive drills

You have to be obsessed with your personal brand. You should obsess about the way you practice, the way you play, the way you lead, etc. All of these categories are important to establishing your brand. Examine your flaws and embrace them; turn them into assets. Be meticulous in the way you strive to make your brand the absolute best there is! You want people to look at YOU and talk about YOU in such a way that they see YOU as the best brand at whatever it is you do.

Magic Johnson once said… ”How you do something… is how you do everything.” So essentially, when you become known for doing things a certain way - give yourself a pat on the back because you have created an identifiable brand that is personally yours.

(thanks to Sakita Holley for the idea)

WHEN THEY'RE READY...

People change when they...

Hurt enough that they have to;

Learn enough that they want to:

Receive enough that they are able to.

- John Maxwell

ATHLETE NUTRITION PT. II

Time your Nutrients for Greater Muscle Gains and Recovery

The timing of nutrients, especially protein and carbohydrates, are extremely important to repair damaged muscle tissue caused by an intense workouts and games.

Having a combination of protein and carbs immediately post workout can improve muscle recovery by 250% as opposed to not consuming calories. You have a small window of opportunity after your workout to optimize recovery so be sure to grab a shake or eat a meal within 30-60 minutes. Waiting longer than 2 hours after your workout to refuel your body causes your body to breakdown more protein than it will rebuild.

A ratio of 3 or 4:1 grams of carbohydrate to protein has been proven to facilitate protein synthesis (muscle repair) and the refueling of glycogen (your body's gas tank). Here are some convenient post workout options to ensure recovery is acheived.

Chocolate Milk - Milk protein contains the amino acid Leucine, which is the mostimportant Amino Acid to promote muscle protein synthesis

20-30 Grams of Whey Protein + Sports Drink

Muscle Milk Collegiate Ready to Drink Shake with a banana

Balanced Meal (Lean Protein, Complex Carbohydrates, Fruit, Veggies)

MORE NEW KICKS

I know this is a basketball blog and lately I've had more stuff on shoes than I have on hoops, but this is my favorite time of the year with new hoops kicks dropping every other day, and if you're a baller... then you probably don't mind!

I'm a big fan of the Kobe IV (even though it's a low cut) an the latest colorway will drop on October 17th.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

Have you ever witnessed an athlete with a bad attitude either during a game or after a loss? An athlete that fails to control their emotions and lashes out at their teammates or opponent, or pouts after a game, lacks emotional maturity… regardless of the circumstances.

We've all done it at one time or another, or at least I have. The thing we have to remember is that attitude is the COMBINATION of our thoughts, feelings and actions. It's not just our feelings, not just our thoughts and not just our actions – it is literally all three of these added together.

We choose our attitude in any given set of circumstances. Our attitude is completely independent of circumstance, just as our conscious thought is. When something happens, we have the choice to react through pouting or to respond through awareness. The CHOICE is ours (yours) for the making.

99% of the time, a POSITIVE attitude from you will elicit a positive attitude towards you. The better your attitude, the better you feel and when you feel good, people can just tell. You can just tell when some one is in a positive vibe by the way they walk, talk and sound. Your body will instantly respond to changes in your attitude and feelings.

Just as true, 99% of the time a NEGATIVE attitude from you, equals negative attitude toward you and it can be no other way. Remember, with every feeling and action you are sending out a vibe that everyone around you can feel, whether you know it or not. Have you ever been around someone who was in a bad mood? They didn’t say anything to you but you could just tell that they were not in a good mood?

Don’t be the teammate that sends out the bad vibe. Control your emotions and choose to have a good attitude… even in the worst of circumstances.

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HISTORY LESSON ON J's

With Michael Jordan being a ‘slam dunk’ to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame this year (yeah I know, bad pun), Nike put together a 3D site commemorating each of the J’s.

The online site features a page for each of the 24 Jordan sneakers, all in white color ways, with corresponding 3D graphics corresponding to the shoe, the year it was released or one of Michael’s achievements form that year.

There’s the Bugs Bunny on the top of the XI (the ones he wore in Space Jam), or the Olympic tributes on the VIIs’ page. If you will click on any of the 3D cutouts on each page, a window will open giving a brief description of what happened with MJ and the shoes. For instance, did you know that a special cipher that can only be viewed under a blacklight was present on the XXI's?

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109 PERCENT EFFORT

The LSU Tigers will wear a patch this season commemorating the 109 percent effort Robyn DesOrmeaux said she'd give every day (combining her No. 99 jersey and the 10 percent chance of her surviving five years given by her doctors).

Great story reminding us that there's more to sports than just winning.

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FRESH KICKS IN NEW COLORWAYS

The crazier the colorway... the more I love 'em! Nike has been dropping some fresh new colors with both the Hyperdunk and Hyperize lately. I must say, I'm really diggin' the black & gold HD's and even the newest Hyperize in "Champion Gold."

PLAYING "NOT TO LOSE"

Have you ever watched a game when one team is either winning by a large margin or appear to be in total control, and then for some reason, they relax and go mentally stale for a few minutes?

And then the opposing team decides that they have nothing to lose, so they begin playing with total abandon by taking bigger chances and going for broke, and they start to score and momentum starts to build and good things start to happen. The bigger risks they take, the better the reward. Then the momentum totally shifts. This team is "playing to win."

The other team, who was originally leading and in control, unfortunately allowed themselves to relax and by doing so, now begins to change its focus, trying to play cautiously and protect their lead. This is "playing not to lose."

By the end of the game, the team that is playing to win has caught up to the other team. What seemed impossible a minutes earlier becomes a reality: they pull off a come-from-behind win.

The paradox of playing to win or playing not to lose is this:

When you’re playing not to lose, the best you can hope for is “not losing.” There is no way to win when you’re playing not to lose.

When you’re playing to win, there is no such thing as “losing”; the worst that can happen is that you keep playing.

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2009-10 SEASON PREVIEW

The final revisions have been made to the 2009-10 schedule and although we seriously tried to reduce the number of games we would play this season, it looks like we’ll still end up playing 27 games before the East Regional. In addition, although we’ve been invited to three different Christmas tournaments (Dothan, Eufaula and one in Kentucky), the jury is still out on whether we will accept. With 27 games already scheduled, a little time off may not be a bad thing.

We open the season in Pensacola with an all-out weekend assault against the West Region by initiating newcomer SL Jones into the conference on Friday night, followed by Saturday games against East Hill and, arguably the tallest team in the conference, Aletheia.

NON-CONFERENCE

We have 14 non-conference games on the schedule including a couple of rematches that I am eagerly anticipating (looking to redeem losses that should have been wins from last season) against two outstanding teams from Alabama, Providence (1A) and Pike (3A). Both teams were ranked in the Top 10 when we played them last season. Also on the non-conference schedule this season is Arnold (4A), Freeport (2A), Bozeman (2A), Wewa (2A), Northside and Rutherford (5A).

EAST REGION

The East Region schedule remains the same (Grace, Emmanuel, Maranatha, Tallavana) with the exception of a new member school Eagle Nest, and boy are the rumors already flying… I was told the other day (by another coach) that they have a player that is 6’4. My response to him about her? “You must have forgotten how we play defense… she can’t score if she never gets to touch the ball.”

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Tip #1 to Defend Baseline Out of Bounds Plays

Defending the inbounds pass, especially under your opponents basket, is critically important to winning games, but rarely gets the attention it needs in practices.

Tip #1 - Count the 5 Seconds

The offensive team only has 5 seconds to inbound the ball before a violation is called. You should have this 5 second inbound clock going in your mind. The clock starts the moment the passer touches the ball. Although you should already be placing tremendous defensive pressure on your man, the closer the count is to 5 seconds, the tighter your defensive pressure should become. Totally denying the easy pass will likely result in a forced or hurried pass which usually leads to a turnover.

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