Let's preface this post with an acknowledgement of a strong undertone of stereotype. Americans are selfish, greedy, conservative, success driven, etc. Foreigners are compassionate, unselfish, progressive, process driven, etc. I'm not sure whether or not these stereotypes, which I will lean on to support this argument, are true or false. I am sure that I am going to lean on them to some extent to support my argument. Just so you know, I am aware. You are now aware too.
Can American born players play the game of basketball as unselfishly as foreign born players?
This question arose after the NBA Finals in which the cosmopolitan, foreign-born Spurs undressed the American-born Heat. The Spurs put on a clinic. Actually, no clinic has ever been able to match what the Spurs did. I've never seen that before. The unselfishness wasn't human. It certainly wasn't American.
We Americans have been beaten over the head with the need for the superstar. To win in basketball you need a killer. You need MJ. Basketball has recently been viewed as a sport in which every team is only one player away; as long as that player is the man, a beast, a dude, a killer, like Mike, Magic, Bird, Lebron, Kobe, Shaq and others have been. The Spurs showed that if the basketball moves (Pop: "it moves or you die") on time and with a purpose that you don't have to constantly isolate your best player, ball screen your two best players and be up against the clock on every possession. I think our love of the superstar has created this ball-in-hand culture. The American born player has no knowledge of, or use for, the hockey assist. If it doesn't show up in a box score and lead to a scholarship or paycheck what good is it? If I control the ball, I control the box score. If what we want is superstars, then we are going to have to live with unspectacular players thinking they are spectacular.
Another American phenomenon is AAU basketball and/or sport specialization. (Full disclosure: I don't know how comparable other countries youth programs and sports specialization are to ours - if I were paid to write stuff like this I'd research, interview, etc. I'm not so I didn't) The issue with AAU basketball is that it is just more of the same basketball, a further reinforcement of selfish basketball. The bigger issue is with sport specialization. We shelter our youth from failure, from humility, from the backbone of selflessness. We eliminate the sports in which they are merely role players and focus on the sports in which they are stars. This may be our nations greatest sports error. Basketball players should play baseball (or hike, bike, paddle, swim, run) in the summer. They should play football or soccer or whatever in the fall. They should play basketball in the winter. They should practice basketball in between. We are insulating our youth from failure and in turn creating selfish wanna-be superstars that put themselves before the team because we put them before the team.
This is a first draft. I'd love to hear from anyone that reads this. Am I on to something? Eventually I will, or at least should, look further into the foreign side of this topic (scary thought - the world is a big place). I'm intrigued to know if the reason that the Spurs can play like that is because they are unselfish, well coached and talented or if it is because they are unselfish, well coached, talented and foreign.
Can America idolize the superstar and produce unselfish athletes? I hope so but I think no.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Thursday, September 26, 2013
The Fresh Print of a new era: PVD
Print volume is hurting our young athletes. Today's young athletes see their names printed more often than Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington ever did. I throw that out there for effect, but it's probably true. Nobody used to be able to google their own name. Nobody used to get ranked as an eighth grader. Nobody used to get hundreds of facebook and twitter mentions after a big game. Print was the thing of legend. Getting print was rare. It was never expected. If and when it happened, it was important. Really important. As in beating your cross town rival important. As in scoring five touchdowns important. As in breaking the state 100m dash record important. It took an actual athletic feat to be recognized. That's no longer the case. We create athletic feats out of the ordinary. The more we acknowledge the ordinary, the more print the ordinary gets, the more the ordinary becomes the entitled. The entitled were an elite class of athlete in previous eras; entitlement is the ordinary today. Excessive print creates entitlement of the masses.
The main actors in Print Volume Disorder (PVD) are: the players, the parents and the media. The players have PVD. They google themselves. They constantly check for new facebook and twitter followers or mentions. They follow and/or friend anyone and everyone that likes them; they unfollow and unfriend anyone that criticizes them. The parents have PVD. They do the same thing their children do. They seek out any and all mentions of their child and re-re-re them all. Proud to a fault, the PVD parents are. The media doesn't have PVD, it gives PVD. (Although an argument could be made that the media likes seeing their name in print as much or more than the players do.) The media is the infector and, subsequently, the benefactor. Quite the gig if you can get it. The funny thing is, I don't begrudge them a bit. They're running a business. Their business plan is simple. Most players and parents have PVD --- cha-ching! It's that simple. The more names we print, the more hits we get, the more times we're read. I don't blame them a bit. That would be like blaming the liquor store for the alcoholic.
Rankings are the cocaine of the PVD generation. We rank players as early as 8th grade. We re-rank players 6-7 times per year; gotta feed the need. Gotta get that bump. We rank 150 players deep in each class. So a player that is ranked as an eighth grader will likely see their name in this one location thirty to thirty-five times in a career. What if they play two sports? What if they visit other sites with similar rankings? What if they read their mentions on twitter? How many times will their parents, friends, girl/boy-friends, coaches, etc. show them their updated rankings? It's mind numbing to think about. How many times has Tyus Jones' name been printed in Minnesota the last 5 years? Would you take the over or under on 1 million?
How will PVD affect the players moving forward? Is it going to be possible to raise an athlete that isn't an egotistical a--hole? Is it their fault? Who's fault is it? Is their even a fault to be assigned?
PVD is a problem. It is not healthy for individuals, teams, communities and future generations. Unfortunately, PVD is growing stronger every day. It is infecting more and more people. This is a problem that will only get worse as our world continues to shrink under the veil of wirelessness. Parents will soon be hashtagging their childrens names during games. Twitter handles will be printed on jerseys in the place of last names (The NBA isn't really helping the cause with that stupid nickname idea). The media will tweet about what that stud 8th grader from Duluth is eating for lunch today (and people will care). The players will find a way to automatically retweet anything and everything that includes their name. It is only going to grow. Rankings can and will go younger and deeper. We aren't even close to the saturation level. I mean, is there a saturation level? Can a person grow conscious enough to tire of seeing their name in print? Is that even human?
That may be the saddest reality, and ultimately, the truest reality. We all have PVD. And, there is no cure.
The main actors in Print Volume Disorder (PVD) are: the players, the parents and the media. The players have PVD. They google themselves. They constantly check for new facebook and twitter followers or mentions. They follow and/or friend anyone and everyone that likes them; they unfollow and unfriend anyone that criticizes them. The parents have PVD. They do the same thing their children do. They seek out any and all mentions of their child and re-re-re them all. Proud to a fault, the PVD parents are. The media doesn't have PVD, it gives PVD. (Although an argument could be made that the media likes seeing their name in print as much or more than the players do.) The media is the infector and, subsequently, the benefactor. Quite the gig if you can get it. The funny thing is, I don't begrudge them a bit. They're running a business. Their business plan is simple. Most players and parents have PVD --- cha-ching! It's that simple. The more names we print, the more hits we get, the more times we're read. I don't blame them a bit. That would be like blaming the liquor store for the alcoholic.
Rankings are the cocaine of the PVD generation. We rank players as early as 8th grade. We re-rank players 6-7 times per year; gotta feed the need. Gotta get that bump. We rank 150 players deep in each class. So a player that is ranked as an eighth grader will likely see their name in this one location thirty to thirty-five times in a career. What if they play two sports? What if they visit other sites with similar rankings? What if they read their mentions on twitter? How many times will their parents, friends, girl/boy-friends, coaches, etc. show them their updated rankings? It's mind numbing to think about. How many times has Tyus Jones' name been printed in Minnesota the last 5 years? Would you take the over or under on 1 million?
How will PVD affect the players moving forward? Is it going to be possible to raise an athlete that isn't an egotistical a--hole? Is it their fault? Who's fault is it? Is their even a fault to be assigned?
PVD is a problem. It is not healthy for individuals, teams, communities and future generations. Unfortunately, PVD is growing stronger every day. It is infecting more and more people. This is a problem that will only get worse as our world continues to shrink under the veil of wirelessness. Parents will soon be hashtagging their childrens names during games. Twitter handles will be printed on jerseys in the place of last names (The NBA isn't really helping the cause with that stupid nickname idea). The media will tweet about what that stud 8th grader from Duluth is eating for lunch today (and people will care). The players will find a way to automatically retweet anything and everything that includes their name. It is only going to grow. Rankings can and will go younger and deeper. We aren't even close to the saturation level. I mean, is there a saturation level? Can a person grow conscious enough to tire of seeing their name in print? Is that even human?
That may be the saddest reality, and ultimately, the truest reality. We all have PVD. And, there is no cure.
Friday, June 14, 2013
The Self Conscious Open Gym
'Tis the season for sloppy, bad habit re-enforcing open runs and lethargic summer league games. Here's an idea for the player that is truly dedicated to his or her craft. Use these opportunities (open gym/summer league) as self testing grounds. Use your self awareness to drive your improvement. Ultimately, the outcome of these games have no real consequence. There are no coaches watching. There are no fans watching. Take these chances to make changes in your game. Engage in open gyms and summer league games with a thoughtful purpose.
Here is what you do:
Enter the gym with an intentional development goal already in mind. Don't wait until you enter the gym to make your daily development goal, make it before hand. Don't let the jive talkers stir your competitiveness before you set your goal. Shoot, take it one further and write it down in your car before you go in. Challenge yourself. You know your game better than anyone else. Which also means you know your flaws better than anyone else. Rather than hide those flaws, attack them.
-If you're a big guy that always seems to trail plays because you can make a middle of the floor face up jumper, change it up. Every possession, conscious effort, sprint to the rim. If a backscreen leads to a jumper, so be it.
-If you're a big guy that only scores over left shoulder, go over your right.
-If you're a guard that has issues attacking off dribble with your left hand, make a conscious effort to do it. The awareness here isn't necessarily to 'attack with left' as much as it is 'break habit, get better, stay aggressive, don't attack with right'.
-If you're a rhythm, off-the-bounce shooter, shoot off move and catch.
-If you're an aloof defender, lock in! Guard for full possessions & games.
-If you're a big floating wing that doesn't offensive rebound, don't float and go get some extra possessions.
-If you're a ball-in-hand scorer, basket cut, reverse ball, screen yourself open.
-Etc, etc, etc --- There are hundreds of examples
The cool thing about these summer testing grounds is that they can offer practice opportunities you'll never find anywhere else. There is a freedom in these settings that doesn't exist in formal practices and games. This freedom is actual basketball freedom, rare in the basketball world. You can truly do whatever you want. Basketball freedom, like all freedom can either be used or abused. Use it, and attack a different part of your game at every chance.
Start slow. Challenge yourself to "stay in character" for one game, then two, then three, and so on. It's ok to understand that eventually at every open gym, at least if you're a player with a pulse, competitiveness will take over. Go win some games, go ahead and get some buckets, but feel good knowing you put in conscious work first.
Too many players allow themselves to be open gym chameleons. Don't blend into your surroundings. Step outside, challenge yourself and change your game!
Here is what you do:
Enter the gym with an intentional development goal already in mind. Don't wait until you enter the gym to make your daily development goal, make it before hand. Don't let the jive talkers stir your competitiveness before you set your goal. Shoot, take it one further and write it down in your car before you go in. Challenge yourself. You know your game better than anyone else. Which also means you know your flaws better than anyone else. Rather than hide those flaws, attack them.
-If you're a big guy that always seems to trail plays because you can make a middle of the floor face up jumper, change it up. Every possession, conscious effort, sprint to the rim. If a backscreen leads to a jumper, so be it.
-If you're a big guy that only scores over left shoulder, go over your right.
-If you're a guard that has issues attacking off dribble with your left hand, make a conscious effort to do it. The awareness here isn't necessarily to 'attack with left' as much as it is 'break habit, get better, stay aggressive, don't attack with right'.
-If you're a rhythm, off-the-bounce shooter, shoot off move and catch.
-If you're an aloof defender, lock in! Guard for full possessions & games.
-If you're a big floating wing that doesn't offensive rebound, don't float and go get some extra possessions.
-If you're a ball-in-hand scorer, basket cut, reverse ball, screen yourself open.
-Etc, etc, etc --- There are hundreds of examples
The cool thing about these summer testing grounds is that they can offer practice opportunities you'll never find anywhere else. There is a freedom in these settings that doesn't exist in formal practices and games. This freedom is actual basketball freedom, rare in the basketball world. You can truly do whatever you want. Basketball freedom, like all freedom can either be used or abused. Use it, and attack a different part of your game at every chance.
Start slow. Challenge yourself to "stay in character" for one game, then two, then three, and so on. It's ok to understand that eventually at every open gym, at least if you're a player with a pulse, competitiveness will take over. Go win some games, go ahead and get some buckets, but feel good knowing you put in conscious work first.
Too many players allow themselves to be open gym chameleons. Don't blend into your surroundings. Step outside, challenge yourself and change your game!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
My take on AAU
I will preface this post with this: I was the 17u head coach of the the Minnesota Comets AAU program for six years. This post is the product of my observations while working within the AAU circuit, coupled with my observations since leaving AAU last winter.
If you're high major D1 or have money falling out of your pockets, this post is not for you. You should play AAU as constituted. If you're the former, you're probably not paying to play AAU anyway. If you're the latter, well, congratulations and carry on.
Game on.
Here are the things about AAU basketball I feel are of great benefit to players:
1. Playing. I have a hard time buying into the rationale that playing more is hurting our players. The issue is that playing has been viewed as a replacement to practice and training, which it should not be. The issue is not playing. Players get better by playing.
2. A new, different coaching voice. I've always felt this was one of the best reasons for playing AAU. A player's HS coach, by nature, will approach a player in one way or another. They point out the flaws they see in that player. They will give their individual advice to that player. An AAU coach can provide a different voice and different advice. I consider that healthy, constructive criticism.
3. Playing against the best. To me the single best reason to play AAU is to get your ass kicked. There are few places that players can go to get beat. AAU is one. If you don't learn a lot about yourself in those moments where you know the guy across from you is better, then this is the wrong game for you. The best learn from the best.
4. Comraderie. I've witnessed life long friendships built through AAU; I've made life long friendships through AAU. Spending weekend after weekend in gyms, hotels, pools, cars, and planes is a great way to get to know people. That comraderie is what I will always cherish from my time in AAU basketball.
Here are the things about AAU basketball I feel are not of great benefit to players:
1. There is far too much emphasis placed on scholarships and the level which players end up at. I did it. I touted our D1 guys. I touted our D2 guys. I didn't necessarily tout our D3 guys. (And, I'm a D3 guy!) It's how AAU programs get their next crop of talented players. It is the AAU program's resume. Players and parents would rather know that you have put players into scholarhsip situations than that you won event x or y. Wins are insignificant. Scholarships are significant. Level is significant. Right fit is insignificant. I've had far too many of players that I coached transfer down a level because they were swooned by the loot and not a career. I always say to players, "would you rather tell your grandkids about your playing career or your scholarship".
2. There is too much money being wasted in the system. The majority of players do not need to play 50 games in 10 events during the off season. The majority of players do not need to spend $3,000-$5,000 for those 50 games. The majority of players do not need to play in national events. I, personally, think AAU is a terrible financial investment for 90%+ of families. If you're good enough, make the investment. Most aren't good enough.
3. The exposure players received is over-hyped. Yes, you're right there are college coaches standing over there watching this game. They are there. Do they have your son or daughters correct contact information? Is it accurate? Did your college aged AAU coach turn it in on time? Did the event coordinator put it into the book properly? Did the event coordinator sell that info to the coaches for $200? It's true, coaches do watch AAU games. They (coaches) are the lifeblood of AAU. If they come, you can build it. That said, the world is getting smaller every day. Very few stones are left unturned by college coaches. The only prerequisite to a scholarship is being good enough for the coach to invest in you. That's it; it's that simple. Good players get scholarships. AAU is not a prerequisite. The exposure comes from being a good player, otherwise you are actually being exposed. That is an important distinction.
4. AAU takes up too much family time for the return families receieve. It replaces family trips to the lake, to Yellowstone, to the Boundary Waters, to the Twins game, etc. I played HS basketball in a different era. We played one or two summer tournaments with our HS team. I will never forget the family trips my family took during my teenage years. The rocky mountains, southwestern deserts, Minnesota lakes and everything in between shaped the person I am today far more than the thousands of hours I have spent in a gym. AAU seems to forget about life outside of basketball. There is life outside of basketball.
Fix it.
AAU can be fixed. It has the framework in place to be fixed. In my opinion, the action falls on both the clients (players) and the vendors (programs).
Play in less events. This will allow for other activities. Those activities will still include skill development, open runs and countless hours of shooting for the most dedicated. The less dedicated shouldn't be playing 10 events anyway.
Quit playing national events. In seven years of coaching very talented AAU teams, I had 7 out of 60 players get D1 scholarships. Two of them have transfered back to play D2 in Minnesota. And, we were a program that had good success in regards to over all recruitment. Don't forget this: We are lucky to have one of the best D2 leagues (NSIC) and two of the best D3 leagues (MIAC/WIAC) in the nation right in our backyard. What are you running from, and what are you running to?
Practice more. Reducing the volume of events and distance to these events should allow for more practice time and more in-depth practices. One practice a week in between events doesn't cut it. I did it, I know it doesn't cut it. They forget the stupid SLOBs, BLOBs, gimmick D's and Sets you put in anyway. Focus your practice time on their skill and knowledge development. Challenge your coaching skills. Make them better players.
Tell players what they need to know, not what they want to hear. Be honest. The best thing you can do is be honest; not biased, I said honest! And, that means you, all of you: the parents, aau program directors, aau coaches, media, college coaches, friends, extended family, handlers (I get the creeps just writing that), etc. Challenge the player in your life to be a better player.
Change will come. The saturation point is nearing. Too many share my sentiments. That said, it won't happen over night. There is a money making machine in motion. Change the game. Demand a better product. Demand a product that fits the masses, not the 10%.
The key is to play, not to pay.
If you're high major D1 or have money falling out of your pockets, this post is not for you. You should play AAU as constituted. If you're the former, you're probably not paying to play AAU anyway. If you're the latter, well, congratulations and carry on.
Game on.
Here are the things about AAU basketball I feel are of great benefit to players:
1. Playing. I have a hard time buying into the rationale that playing more is hurting our players. The issue is that playing has been viewed as a replacement to practice and training, which it should not be. The issue is not playing. Players get better by playing.
2. A new, different coaching voice. I've always felt this was one of the best reasons for playing AAU. A player's HS coach, by nature, will approach a player in one way or another. They point out the flaws they see in that player. They will give their individual advice to that player. An AAU coach can provide a different voice and different advice. I consider that healthy, constructive criticism.
3. Playing against the best. To me the single best reason to play AAU is to get your ass kicked. There are few places that players can go to get beat. AAU is one. If you don't learn a lot about yourself in those moments where you know the guy across from you is better, then this is the wrong game for you. The best learn from the best.
4. Comraderie. I've witnessed life long friendships built through AAU; I've made life long friendships through AAU. Spending weekend after weekend in gyms, hotels, pools, cars, and planes is a great way to get to know people. That comraderie is what I will always cherish from my time in AAU basketball.
Here are the things about AAU basketball I feel are not of great benefit to players:
1. There is far too much emphasis placed on scholarships and the level which players end up at. I did it. I touted our D1 guys. I touted our D2 guys. I didn't necessarily tout our D3 guys. (And, I'm a D3 guy!) It's how AAU programs get their next crop of talented players. It is the AAU program's resume. Players and parents would rather know that you have put players into scholarhsip situations than that you won event x or y. Wins are insignificant. Scholarships are significant. Level is significant. Right fit is insignificant. I've had far too many of players that I coached transfer down a level because they were swooned by the loot and not a career. I always say to players, "would you rather tell your grandkids about your playing career or your scholarship".
2. There is too much money being wasted in the system. The majority of players do not need to play 50 games in 10 events during the off season. The majority of players do not need to spend $3,000-$5,000 for those 50 games. The majority of players do not need to play in national events. I, personally, think AAU is a terrible financial investment for 90%+ of families. If you're good enough, make the investment. Most aren't good enough.
3. The exposure players received is over-hyped. Yes, you're right there are college coaches standing over there watching this game. They are there. Do they have your son or daughters correct contact information? Is it accurate? Did your college aged AAU coach turn it in on time? Did the event coordinator put it into the book properly? Did the event coordinator sell that info to the coaches for $200? It's true, coaches do watch AAU games. They (coaches) are the lifeblood of AAU. If they come, you can build it. That said, the world is getting smaller every day. Very few stones are left unturned by college coaches. The only prerequisite to a scholarship is being good enough for the coach to invest in you. That's it; it's that simple. Good players get scholarships. AAU is not a prerequisite. The exposure comes from being a good player, otherwise you are actually being exposed. That is an important distinction.
4. AAU takes up too much family time for the return families receieve. It replaces family trips to the lake, to Yellowstone, to the Boundary Waters, to the Twins game, etc. I played HS basketball in a different era. We played one or two summer tournaments with our HS team. I will never forget the family trips my family took during my teenage years. The rocky mountains, southwestern deserts, Minnesota lakes and everything in between shaped the person I am today far more than the thousands of hours I have spent in a gym. AAU seems to forget about life outside of basketball. There is life outside of basketball.
Fix it.
AAU can be fixed. It has the framework in place to be fixed. In my opinion, the action falls on both the clients (players) and the vendors (programs).
Play in less events. This will allow for other activities. Those activities will still include skill development, open runs and countless hours of shooting for the most dedicated. The less dedicated shouldn't be playing 10 events anyway.
Quit playing national events. In seven years of coaching very talented AAU teams, I had 7 out of 60 players get D1 scholarships. Two of them have transfered back to play D2 in Minnesota. And, we were a program that had good success in regards to over all recruitment. Don't forget this: We are lucky to have one of the best D2 leagues (NSIC) and two of the best D3 leagues (MIAC/WIAC) in the nation right in our backyard. What are you running from, and what are you running to?
Practice more. Reducing the volume of events and distance to these events should allow for more practice time and more in-depth practices. One practice a week in between events doesn't cut it. I did it, I know it doesn't cut it. They forget the stupid SLOBs, BLOBs, gimmick D's and Sets you put in anyway. Focus your practice time on their skill and knowledge development. Challenge your coaching skills. Make them better players.
Tell players what they need to know, not what they want to hear. Be honest. The best thing you can do is be honest; not biased, I said honest! And, that means you, all of you: the parents, aau program directors, aau coaches, media, college coaches, friends, extended family, handlers (I get the creeps just writing that), etc. Challenge the player in your life to be a better player.
Change will come. The saturation point is nearing. Too many share my sentiments. That said, it won't happen over night. There is a money making machine in motion. Change the game. Demand a better product. Demand a product that fits the masses, not the 10%.
The key is to play, not to pay.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Exorcise the Player
One of the hardest things for a young coach to do is to separate their former, playing self from their current, coaching self. It seems like something that doesn't, or at least shouldn't matter all that much. I think it does. In fact, I think that most people wrongly associate 'good player' with 'good coach'. I'd contend that the better, the more dedicated the player, the harder it will be for that person to become a good coach. They are two completely different animals. Playing and coaching have one thing in common: basketball. After that, they're not all that alike and require a completely different subset of talents and abilities. A player is a player. A coach is a coach.
It takes conscious effort to exorcise the player. I still haven't completely figured it out. I was an above average Division III player, but by no means exceptional. That said, I occasionally have a hard time explaining how a player should do something. I can show them. I know what it feels like to do it, but explaining the action is the hard part. Former players also have the tendency of assuming their players know things and/or glance over small details that have become second nature to them. If you're going to assume anything in coaching, assume they don't know. I've definitely improved; it's been conscious. I still catch myself going down the delusional road of "hey kids gather 'round while I embellish my dunk on so-and-so or how I gave so-and-so 30". It may be a fun road to venture down, but it's not coaching.
Coaching is teaching, which in some cases is showing, but is more often verbalizing. It's explaining what the player did wrong and what changes they should make to right the wrong. Former players, that haven't effectively exorcised, have a tendency to get frustrated when players can't do something the way they did. The frustration should be their own. Their frustration should be based on the fact that they can't effectively teach the action rather than placing it on the player that cannot perform the untaught action. It's even worse when players don't have the "drive", "dedication", and "love" for the game that the former player, now coach, had. That always sets off the former player. Often, the former player's vision of their drive, dedication, and love is distorted in their favor. They were more likely very similar to the player they are now scolding. Nonetheless, as coaches, it's somehow become our job to implant the impression that we cared more then than they do now. It's the old "I walked uphill both ways to school" approach. I'm not sold it works. Instead, try keeping the focus on them. Talk about their effort and how they can improve it. Keep your glory days out of it. They no longer apply.
And, therein lies the rub. How do we, the former player turned coach, let go of our basketball glory so we can teach? How the heck do we do that? Consciously, that's how. You have to let your playing career go. Go ahead, keep the headlines and box scores in a scrapbook. Let your mom keep the newspaper clippings on her refrigerator. Google your records and show your kids. Do all of that. Keep those memories alive. But, keep them out of your new gym. You have a job, and it's not playing, it's coaching.
Exorcise the player and exercise the coach.
It takes conscious effort to exorcise the player. I still haven't completely figured it out. I was an above average Division III player, but by no means exceptional. That said, I occasionally have a hard time explaining how a player should do something. I can show them. I know what it feels like to do it, but explaining the action is the hard part. Former players also have the tendency of assuming their players know things and/or glance over small details that have become second nature to them. If you're going to assume anything in coaching, assume they don't know. I've definitely improved; it's been conscious. I still catch myself going down the delusional road of "hey kids gather 'round while I embellish my dunk on so-and-so or how I gave so-and-so 30". It may be a fun road to venture down, but it's not coaching.
Coaching is teaching, which in some cases is showing, but is more often verbalizing. It's explaining what the player did wrong and what changes they should make to right the wrong. Former players, that haven't effectively exorcised, have a tendency to get frustrated when players can't do something the way they did. The frustration should be their own. Their frustration should be based on the fact that they can't effectively teach the action rather than placing it on the player that cannot perform the untaught action. It's even worse when players don't have the "drive", "dedication", and "love" for the game that the former player, now coach, had. That always sets off the former player. Often, the former player's vision of their drive, dedication, and love is distorted in their favor. They were more likely very similar to the player they are now scolding. Nonetheless, as coaches, it's somehow become our job to implant the impression that we cared more then than they do now. It's the old "I walked uphill both ways to school" approach. I'm not sold it works. Instead, try keeping the focus on them. Talk about their effort and how they can improve it. Keep your glory days out of it. They no longer apply.
And, therein lies the rub. How do we, the former player turned coach, let go of our basketball glory so we can teach? How the heck do we do that? Consciously, that's how. You have to let your playing career go. Go ahead, keep the headlines and box scores in a scrapbook. Let your mom keep the newspaper clippings on her refrigerator. Google your records and show your kids. Do all of that. Keep those memories alive. But, keep them out of your new gym. You have a job, and it's not playing, it's coaching.
Exorcise the player and exercise the coach.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
AAU Buyers Guide
Quick advice before we start: Yes, do it, play AAU. Play for the fun of the game, the love of competition and the desire to get better. Do not play for exposure or scholarships. Parents, do not view this as an investment into a potential dividend (scholarship). It is an investment into your child's basketball career. The experience is the dividend.
The 5 questions I would ask an AAU vendor, complete with 20 follow up questions:
1. Can you tell me about your program? Let them tell their story
-How long have you been in existence? Experience is very important
-Are you a non-profit or for profit organization? Good to know
-How are you funded (player payment or sponsorship)? Also good to know
-Who has played for you in the past/Where are they now? Not dire, but interesting
2. How much does it cost to play?
-What does the fee cover? Clarify what you get
-What doesn't it cover? Clarify what you don't
-Do you offer scholarships, and if so, how are they awarded? Some do, some don't
-Do you offer fund raising? Some do, some don't
3. Where are practices held? Important detail often overlooked
-How often are they held? Understand your expected time commitment
-Do multiple teams practice together? A must to ensure adequate numbers during dog days
-Are they required? You don't want to find yourself on a practice-optional team
-Is there individual skill time involved? A lot tout it up front, but few actually do it
4. What is the event schedule? Make sure your schedule fits THE schedule
-Who is responsible for travel arrangements? This varies from program to program. Ask who.
-What is an excusable absence? Consequences for spring sport, prom, family vaca, etc?
-Is the schedule final? Some programs have a hard time finalizing their schedules
-What takes precedence, the HS team or the AAU team? This can be a major issue, discuss it
5. Who is the coach? If possible talk with them directly, let them introduce themselves
-What is his/her experience coaching? Obviously important
-Experience coaching AAU? Half of an AAU coaches role is in planning/administration.
-How are teams chosen? Are they created or is there a try out?
-What is your playing time philosophy? Some play all, some play some
The 5 questions I would ask an AAU vendor, complete with 20 follow up questions:
1. Can you tell me about your program? Let them tell their story
-How long have you been in existence? Experience is very important
-Are you a non-profit or for profit organization? Good to know
-How are you funded (player payment or sponsorship)? Also good to know
-Who has played for you in the past/Where are they now? Not dire, but interesting
2. How much does it cost to play?
-What does the fee cover? Clarify what you get
-What doesn't it cover? Clarify what you don't
-Do you offer scholarships, and if so, how are they awarded? Some do, some don't
-Do you offer fund raising? Some do, some don't
3. Where are practices held? Important detail often overlooked
-How often are they held? Understand your expected time commitment
-Do multiple teams practice together? A must to ensure adequate numbers during dog days
-Are they required? You don't want to find yourself on a practice-optional team
-Is there individual skill time involved? A lot tout it up front, but few actually do it
4. What is the event schedule? Make sure your schedule fits THE schedule
-Who is responsible for travel arrangements? This varies from program to program. Ask who.
-What is an excusable absence? Consequences for spring sport, prom, family vaca, etc?
-Is the schedule final? Some programs have a hard time finalizing their schedules
-What takes precedence, the HS team or the AAU team? This can be a major issue, discuss it
5. Who is the coach? If possible talk with them directly, let them introduce themselves
-What is his/her experience coaching? Obviously important
-Experience coaching AAU? Half of an AAU coaches role is in planning/administration.
-How are teams chosen? Are they created or is there a try out?
-What is your playing time philosophy? Some play all, some play some
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I'll buy that
Why do coaches always talk to their teams about buying in? And, why do players have such a hard time actually doing it?
We all have a notion of what buying in means. It is giving your self to your coach and teammates. Buying in to a team is the epitome of selflessness. In order for it to work, all the members of a team need to do it. One under-miner and the whole thing falls apart. Think of a team as a chain on a bike. When intact, the bike functions perfectly and propulsion is the result. If one link in that chain fails, or in this case when players choose themselves over the team, the bike goes nowhere. It remains in place, no propulsion, no progress, and no wins.
So, if we all understand and truly believe this "buying in" cliche to be true, why is it so hard for young men and women to actually buy in? That is simple. Our sports culture is built on the star. They are given hero status, idolized for their individual ability. Rarely do we hold the team player, the bought in, on high. Young men and women are raised on this reality. They want to be the star; we all want to be the star. Driveway fantasies never involve the team player, they always result in the star, you, making the game winning shot. Has anyone ever been selfless enough to fantasize about taking a charge or setting a screen in their driveway? Nope. That doesn't exist. We are all selfish to a degree. We all want to be the star.
The single most important thing to overcome is the selfishness we are all taught. Coaches have known that their chief enemy is the selfish player forever. If the enemy is known, why then can't all coaches get their teams to buy in? A known enemy should be easy to defeat. Selfishness is a different kind of enemy though. It cannot be scouted. It can never be eliminated. It is omnipresent. How do you get ahead of it as a coach? The elixir lies in communication. Simple communication. Repeated communication. "We are going to be three things: tough, incessant and honest". Simplification of the message. Give players something they can understand. Give them simple and clear instruction as to why your practice plan and the drills within it are important. Explain to them what each drill is building for today, and why the skills learned will be necessary for tomorrow.
You must foster the buy in with your team. Take the names off of the shooting shirts. Take the names out of the program. Value and reward buying in. That means valuing and rewarding what you are teaching in practice. Don't value stats, unless stats are what you preach. If you preach effort, value and reward effort. You really want players to buy in? Foster it. Reward what is in your plan. Stick to your plan. Train the way your players think about the game. Change what they think is worthy of reward. Make all rewards and repercussions team based. And, always use "we" and "us", and make them do the same.
Players, buying in will eventually fall onto you. Each of you have a chance to aide or derail your coach. You have all the power. Concern yourself with yourself and you all lose. Buy in and everybody wins. Winning is remembered. Box scores end up on refrigerators, at your moms house. Wins never fade. There is no ink to fade. Wins remain in the memories of you and your teammates. They are forever.
Do me, and your coach, a favor and stop talking shop with your friends and family. Unless of course you want to talk about the values outlined in your coaches plan. When someone says, "why didn't you play more?" You say, "we played, we won, and it sure is fun to win." Never let your friends and family put doubt in your individual buy in. Shoot, get your friends and family to buy in too. It takes a great teammate to fully buy in. Hang your hat on that. Tell your friends and family about other team members that have fully bought in. Make it about the collective "we" and never about "me".
Buying in has become cliched. And sports cliches have become taboo. Cliches though, are often sound in message and meaning. That is why they have been replicated so often and why they continue to be used. Buying in is a cliche that ought to be continued. It's merely been misused, and often attempted and failed. Keep trying. It's worth it. Selfless, team first players and honest, "we" based coaches win, and win, and win. So, winning is directly tied to buying in? I'll buy that.
We all have a notion of what buying in means. It is giving your self to your coach and teammates. Buying in to a team is the epitome of selflessness. In order for it to work, all the members of a team need to do it. One under-miner and the whole thing falls apart. Think of a team as a chain on a bike. When intact, the bike functions perfectly and propulsion is the result. If one link in that chain fails, or in this case when players choose themselves over the team, the bike goes nowhere. It remains in place, no propulsion, no progress, and no wins.
So, if we all understand and truly believe this "buying in" cliche to be true, why is it so hard for young men and women to actually buy in? That is simple. Our sports culture is built on the star. They are given hero status, idolized for their individual ability. Rarely do we hold the team player, the bought in, on high. Young men and women are raised on this reality. They want to be the star; we all want to be the star. Driveway fantasies never involve the team player, they always result in the star, you, making the game winning shot. Has anyone ever been selfless enough to fantasize about taking a charge or setting a screen in their driveway? Nope. That doesn't exist. We are all selfish to a degree. We all want to be the star.
The single most important thing to overcome is the selfishness we are all taught. Coaches have known that their chief enemy is the selfish player forever. If the enemy is known, why then can't all coaches get their teams to buy in? A known enemy should be easy to defeat. Selfishness is a different kind of enemy though. It cannot be scouted. It can never be eliminated. It is omnipresent. How do you get ahead of it as a coach? The elixir lies in communication. Simple communication. Repeated communication. "We are going to be three things: tough, incessant and honest". Simplification of the message. Give players something they can understand. Give them simple and clear instruction as to why your practice plan and the drills within it are important. Explain to them what each drill is building for today, and why the skills learned will be necessary for tomorrow.
You must foster the buy in with your team. Take the names off of the shooting shirts. Take the names out of the program. Value and reward buying in. That means valuing and rewarding what you are teaching in practice. Don't value stats, unless stats are what you preach. If you preach effort, value and reward effort. You really want players to buy in? Foster it. Reward what is in your plan. Stick to your plan. Train the way your players think about the game. Change what they think is worthy of reward. Make all rewards and repercussions team based. And, always use "we" and "us", and make them do the same.
Players, buying in will eventually fall onto you. Each of you have a chance to aide or derail your coach. You have all the power. Concern yourself with yourself and you all lose. Buy in and everybody wins. Winning is remembered. Box scores end up on refrigerators, at your moms house. Wins never fade. There is no ink to fade. Wins remain in the memories of you and your teammates. They are forever.
Do me, and your coach, a favor and stop talking shop with your friends and family. Unless of course you want to talk about the values outlined in your coaches plan. When someone says, "why didn't you play more?" You say, "we played, we won, and it sure is fun to win." Never let your friends and family put doubt in your individual buy in. Shoot, get your friends and family to buy in too. It takes a great teammate to fully buy in. Hang your hat on that. Tell your friends and family about other team members that have fully bought in. Make it about the collective "we" and never about "me".
Buying in has become cliched. And sports cliches have become taboo. Cliches though, are often sound in message and meaning. That is why they have been replicated so often and why they continue to be used. Buying in is a cliche that ought to be continued. It's merely been misused, and often attempted and failed. Keep trying. It's worth it. Selfless, team first players and honest, "we" based coaches win, and win, and win. So, winning is directly tied to buying in? I'll buy that.
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