"DARE TO BE YOUR BEST"

I picked this up quite some time ago and it is a great exercise to remind players that their daily efforts add up to an improved performance. Have the players read it prior to the first 21 practices of the season and rate their performance after practice. You'll be surprised how honest players are and how they start to understand what their best effort really is - and what they're capable of.

SPORTS SUCCESS EXERCISE "DARE TO BE YOUR BEST"

I dare any aspiring athlete to read and comprehend the material presented on this page, word for word, immediately before the start of his/her daily practice sessions for the next 21 days. I dare you to tape this exercise to the inside of your locker door and to use the columns provided in checking off an honest appraisal at the conclusion of each practice.

It is one of the athlete's illusions that the present hour is not the critical decisive hour, e.g., the event or game is a week or weeks away...ample time to prepare in a gradual type of way. Forget it! The critical time for accomplishing anything is in the here and now. Write it on your heart and imprint it on your brain that every day is a day to dare to do your best. Each day provides opportunity for self-improvement,self-renewal. Today's accomplishments, not yesterday's or tomorrow's produce the most satisfaction, as what you accomplish today can give you an immediate feeling of self-confidence and direction. The critical time for accomplishing anything is in the here and now. Today. The most important ingredient in future performance is present performance. The most difficult tasks are consummated, not by a single explosive burst of energy or effort, but by consistent daily application of the best you have within you.

Whether we call our practice exhausting work or relaxing play depends largely upon our attitudes toward it. Practice is an opportunity to improve our skills. The majority of athletes perform in games and events like they perform in practice. Approach each practice session with enthusiasm as nothing great has ever been accomplished without it. One spark of enthusiasm is worth more than two hours of uninspired practice. Be aware that it is not simply that certain activities are boring but that the mind has been programmed for boredom or distraction .

We program ourselves for boredom or distraction when we think we already know all about something. We learn and perform at our best when the mind is calmly alert, interested and enjoying itself. Challenge yourself mentally as well as physically and you will start to enjoy the price of success rather than pay for it.

My Best Effort/Above Ave./Ave./Below Ave./Poor Effort

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Weakside Pinch Post

In the case where both the low and high post entry passes are denied, the next option is for the weak-side guard to fake a cut inside, and then cut across to receive a pass and initiate a side-post game on the weak side.

The weak-side guard will receive the pass at the top, and the weak side forward will cut up to the mid-post - or pinch post, or side post, or whatever you want to call it, it's the same thing. (Note: this is also the reversal sequence in the Triple-Post Offense. You'll see Kobe Bryant receive the ball a lot in LA's pinch post sequence, and it looks almost exactly like this.) He weakside guard passes the ball to the side post, and begins a two-man game with the side post player. Meanwhile, the two forwards now on the weak-side form a double screen for the other guard, who will try to come under them for an easy layup, and when that is denied he will re-use the double screen and pop out for an opportunity for a jump shot on the weak side.

The two man game that the mid-post and guard play is dependent upon the guard's defender. The guard fakes down and cuts outside the mid-post. If his defender goes under the mid-post (which acts as a screen), the guard will cut outside and receive the pass back for the jump shot. Meanwhile, the mid-post player dives for offensive rebounding coverage or a post-up opportunity, the high forward on the double screen cuts to the middle for rebounding coverage, and the low forward remains in rebounding coverage. The other guard cuts high for defensive balance.

And, if the guard elects not to shoot the jump shot for whatever reason, you're right back into your Triangle setup:

In the case where the defender comes over the mid-post player, then the guard will take a handoff or drop pass for a quick dribble and layup opportunity.

The Lakers: Commit to the basketball

A post during the Lakers-Celtics NBA Finals addressed the number of uncontested shots the Celtics were getting (scroll down to see some photos). It seems that Los Angeles has a renewed commitment to the basketball and is making a concerted effort to get to shooters.




















Contrast that with this open jumper from last years finals.Contrast that with this open jumper from last years finals.










































or this back-breaking breakaway that all but sealed the championship for the Celtics

High Post Triangle

When running the 2-Guard continuity diagrammed below, there are a variety of looks, options, and specials that can be run during the continuity, Here is something to look at that is a great shot opportunity for the player at the low block (in this case 2) and also gives the screener a chance to post up if the matchup dictates.



When the ball is at the wing, a pass to the high post sets up a downscreen by 3. While the screen is approaching 2 should step in to set up the defender prior to using the screen by 3. On the catch 2 should be shot-ready or look to 3 in the post.

The Factory

While stations CAN be really good, I think some kids have a bad view of "stations" from some poor camp experiences. They might get the image of mindless, repetitive drills with little or no supervision.

It's a little thing but we have always had a section of practice that we called "The Factory".

An "assembly line" of driils that help us "build" our game.

Most of the drills were rapid fire, high intensity, competitive situations. Maybe a pick and roll, post D, help side, getting through screens, etc and almost always with an offense and a defense. This would put players in a short-sided and semi-live situation with a number of repititions to help them work out game situations.

The other thing I might suggest is rather than doing something different at every basket, We took to doing the same thing at all baskets - then switching drills/games/activities every 3-5 minutes. this way I was watching the same thing at each basket, and if I made a verbal correction - I could do it loud enough that it might be an effective teachable moment at every basket.

Plus it was much easier for me to really focus on what I was teaching, instead of switching from skill to skill and basket to basket.

2 Guard

2-Guard is a continuity offense designed to allow four perimeter players equal opportunity to be in all spots at sometime during the continuity. This is the initial cut and the basic ball reversal. Four players need to be able to function on the perimeter and it helps if the high post is a decent passer, as you will see later. Over the next couple weeks we'll add some options and specials that make this a pretty comprehensive offense that you can build on and use from the youth level on up.

Check back soon.

Advantage Disadvantage

Those immersed in the basketball community will read “Advantage Disadvantage” and recognize many of the “usual suspects” and familiar situations that will make you chuckle… or bring your emotions to anger, disgust, sadness, excitement, and joy. Readers foreign to the world of hoops will gain some insight into the machinations of prep basketball, recruiting, officiating, and the cracks in the system that allows the slime to sometimes find it’s way into our beautiful game.

“Advantage Disadvantage” is a fictional tale with high school basketball as the backdrop for an intriguing story of a cast of characters that challenges you to examine the purity of amateur sports. We get to know some individuals who are faced with some very real life temptations and we follow them while they try to reconcile right from wrong – all while wondering whether their decisions will prove to be an Advantage or a Disadvantage.

Multi-Sport Athletes

USC head football coach Pete Carroll uses the ability to play multiple sports when evaluating prospective recruits. He says,

“I want guys that are so special athletically, so competitive that they can compete in more than one [sport] here at USC. It’s really important that guys are well-rounded and just have this tendency for competitiveness that they have to express somewhere.”



“We want [athletes to] show that it’s really, really important for them to excel and [that] they have that special will and that competitiveness that can really define a desire to be something unique,” Carroll explains.

According to Carroll, the hunger to compete is what gets a player noticed. Being a well-rounded athlete, playing multiple sports and attending combines and camps will make coaches pay attention to your abilities. He says, “All of that is [just] guys looking for a chance to compete and learn, but also show who they are and what they’re all about. That’s why I like to see guys play other sports too, because they want to show off who they are. All of that is what makes them the kind of guy we would want here at our school.”

Do you believe?

There was the Amazing Mets motto "You Gotta Believe!" ; Jose Lima proclaiming Lima Time by exclaiming "Believe It"; the Golden State Warriors "We Believe!" and the most famous Al Michael's line at the end of the Miracle on Ice when he's heard screaming "Do you believe in miracles? YES!"

In sports we always talk about what we believe, we can achieve. Every coach, teacher, and parent needs to check out this video and realize how we can make a difference in kid's lives. One statement, one action by a teacher or coach can mean so much and seemingly small moments can help to shape their life’s direction.

After seeing this, I am sure that you will feel pretty good about the next generation.



Here is the text from the speech, and there are plenty of nuggets that should speak to each of us:

"I believe in me. Do you believe in me?

Do you believe I can stand up here, fearless, and talk to all 20,000 of you?

Hey, Charles Rice Learning Center – do you believe in me?

That's right – they do.

Because here's the deal: I can do anything, be anything, create anything, dream anything, become anything – because you believe in me. And it rubs off on me.

Let me ask you a question, Dallas ISD.

Do you believe in my classmates?

Do you believe that every single one of us can graduate ready for college or the workplace?

You better. Because next week, we're all showing up in your schools – all 157,000 of us – and what we need from you is to believe that we can reach our highest potential.

No matter where we come from, whether it's sunny South Dallas, ...whether its Pleasant Grove, ....whether its Oak Cliff ...or North Dallas or ....West Dallas or wherever, you better not give up on us. No, you better not.

Because, as you know, in some cases, you're all we've got. You're the ones who feed us, who wipe our tears, who hold our hands or hug us when we need it. You're the ones who love us when sometimes it feels like no else does – and when we need it the most.

Don't give up on my classmates.

Do you believe in your colleagues?

I hope so. They came to your school because they wanted to make a difference, too. Believe in them, trust them and lean on them when times get tough – and we all know, we kids can sometimes make it tough.

Am I right?

Can I get an Amen?

So, whether you're a counselor or a librarian, a teacher assistant or work in the front office, whether you serve up meals in the cafeteria or keep the halls clean, or whether you're a teacher or a principal, we need you!

Please, believe in your colleagues, and they'll believe in you.

Do you believe in yourself? Do you believe that what you're doing is shaping not just my generation, but that of my children – and my children's children?

There's probably easier ways to make a living, but I want to tell you, on behalf of all of the students in Dallas, we need you. We need you now more than ever.

Believe in yourself.

Finally, do you believe that every child in Dallas needs to be ready for college or the workplace? Do you believe that Dallas students can achieve?

We need you, ladies and gentlemen. We need you to know that what you are doing is the most important job in the city today. We need you to believe in us, in your colleagues, in yourselves and in our goals.

If you don't believe – well, I'm not going there.

I want to thank you for what you do – for me and for so many others.

Do you believe in me? Because I believe in me. And you helped me get to where I am today.

Thank you."

*******************Dalton Sherman

Apparently, this was not Dalton's first rodeo. Here he is from last March.



WOW!!

Basketball Playbooks/Notebooks at the High School level.

Here are a few thoughts that might make the use of Player Notebooks and Playbooks most effective. I've used them some years and some years we didn't. Not really sure why. Sometimes it can become a chore to police their use at first. But if you feel strongly enough that their use will be effective - it may be worth it.

Having one place to store schedules, tournament brackets, workout schedules, charts, or the players meetings and appointments is simply a good organizational skill that you are teaching your players that may carry on later in life. There were plenty of times we need to bring our Faculty Handbook to meetings or they may be in a business meeting where they must show up with their Operations Manual. And if they do play at the next level, they may very well be expected to take care of their playbook. They already take notebooks and text books to their classes - basketball is our class and it is not unreasonable to think that they can be responsible to do the same.

We had a pretty good football program and as hard as I found it at first, I tried to take the lead from them and emulate them a bit. If they can keep track of and demand the use of playbooks in HS - why couldn't we? I took the same approach to watching film, team or position meetings, conditioning/strength training and even more importantly the precision, timing and execution of our offense. Imagine what happens if linemen don't execute blocking schemes, quarterbacks and running backs don't time handoffs, backs don't hit holes at the right time, or the receiver doesn't break when the quarterback is ready to deliver the pass on a timing route!?! While teams can't get players to set and use screens properly? Shoot, the band and drill team moves at halftime are more coordinated than many basketball teams offenses. In an Olympic year we won't even talk about synchronized swimming! In a pool? Underwater? And point guards aren't ready to deliver passes when players break open.

But I digress....as usual!

I guess what I'm thinking is that you get what you emphasize, reward and are willing to demand. When we began to demand the same level of discipline and commitment as our football team we began to be taken more seriously and less as something to do between football and spring football.

One year I stapled our "playbook" together and found one on the floor of an opponents locker room after a game. The next year I put them in 3-prong portfolios and things weren't much better. A good 3-ring binder or even a "Trapper Keepr" style may be even more effective. So the better the quality - the more they may respect it.

Our league away games were anywhere from 45 minutes to 1:30 away, so we wanted them to be able to review the books and scouting reports on the bus. Are you willing to make the notebook their bus ticket? You'll only need to leave someone behind once to solve that problem.

When you have a team meeting, have them show you the book upon entering. If they don't have it - send them away. If you have consequences for missing a team meeting, those consequences would kick in. Again, that might happen once - or twice. But are you willing to enforce that? You get what you are willing to demand.

Maybe you're a team that uses targeted symbolic rewards to motivate. Stickers for assists, rebounds, points, steals, loose balls, wins, etc. They could get a sticker, when they show up with their book. Some coaches think that's a little juvenile - but I see a bunch of "paw prints", "tomahawks", and "buckeye leaves" on helmets every New Years Day! Another concern is where do you display those stickers. On posters in the locker room? In the gym? Well, maybe you can put them on the back of the 3-ring binder that houses your playbook. Then it becomes a badge-of-honor. Do you think kids might take care of it better and maybe even carry it around to "display" their success?

From a practical standpoint, seasons that I was really committed to using the books we'd give out the page(s) of the play that we were going to put in at practice tommorrow and players were responsible to study and be prepared the next day. When tomorrow arrives have them walk through it. In a matter of just a couple of minutes, you are now working 3/4 speed and discussing KEY components of execution such as timing, floor spacing and the sequence of options. We might have saved 5-15 minutes for each play/set we put in. Add that up over the course of a year.

The Golden Triangle

The "Golden Triangle" is a, somewhat, overused description of some of the most important, wealthiest, or influential geographic areas in many parts of the planet. i like to refer to another very important piece of real estate as the "Golden Triangle" -the area a step outside each block to the midpoint of the FT line.

For rebounding purposes, we emphasize all FIVE defenders getting into the "Golden Triangle" where a majority of the rebounds fall (statistically it's probably more like an ellipse - but that's nitpicking!: ?) We talk a lot about geometry and anticipating rebounding angles.

Perimeter shots will be in the air only a little more than a second. That gives the defender time to get position between your man & the basket, make contact stop his progress, then get in the "Golden Triangle". If the defensive player is too deep in the "Golden Triangle" that's when they must block out to create space and get to the outskirts of the Triangle.

The Bottom Line is if all 5 defenders can be on the outskirts of that Triangle and be between the basket and the man they are responsible for blocking out...we're going to get a large majority of rebounds. If only a few guys get in the Triangle and the other two are posing on the perimeter with perfect block outs, the offense may have a better shot at some of those long rebounds.

Of course that's just one way to "skin a cat".

Senior Experience

Every really good team I've been associated with had great senior
leadership...at the end of the bench. 3 or 4 mature kids that had
been program players, understood their role, practiced their
rear-ends off, and were willing to help others achieve their goals.
The bench was less "squirrelly" and those players understood the way
we did things so they could be another set of eyes for the players
that did play.

Those teams always had 4 or 5 guys that might not be as good a
basketball player as the top 3-5 players on the JV team. But why
have those underclassroom at the end of a 15 player bench when they
can get more reps and minutes on the Junior Varsity.

Make those players feel special on a daily basis, praise them
relentlessly, mention them to reporters, let them know that their
efforts are as important as the top 8 players, lavish them on Senior
Night, and make a big deal about them at the banquet.

Often times, those are the kids that keep in touchthe most, come
back the most, and end up being coaches in your program.