At "A Step Up" Women's College Basketball Assistant Coach's Symposium in Dallas, Stephanie Normal from Louisville talked about how she uses the example of a flock of geese to communicate important points of teamwork to her student-athletes.
1. Common Direction (flying together in the V formation makes it easier and quicker to get to their destination)
2. Shared responsibility (the geese in the back will rotate to the front)
3. Encouragement (the geese in the back will 'honk' at the geese in the front)
Really cheesey video, but it makes some good points!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Marsha Sharp: What do you want your legacy to be?
First and foremost...We are the CARETAKERS of this game!
What do you want your legacy to be?
-Begin with the end in mind.
-Your legacy is a whole lot of day to day choices that add up over time. IT STARTS TODAY!
-Your legacy impacts your ability to operate in this sport.
-Todays kids do not understand how todays choice impacts their future. Help them! Social media houses them in a glass house- your choices/behaviors are universally known.
-There are no shortcuts to integrity- allow behaviors to be true to your core beliefs.
TRUST. It's more powerful than love. If you love someone but can't trust them....? If you hear your partner across the room engaged in a positively emotional conversations do you feel jealousy or excitement/trust for their enjoyment?
-Trust is 50% competence and 50% character. You need responsibility and experience of all sorts in this profession to be trusted that you know what you're talking about. Character is simply an accumulation of every day choices.
-Trust is INTENTIONAL
-Ask your players-- what's the most important thing to build as a team? (Trust). How do we do that? (silence). It involves directional work with the people above, below and next to us. Trust is honest communication....I care enough about you to step out of my comfort zone and speak honestly for the benefit of the greater good. Have the courage to have a hard conversation.
-The most important thing to do....more than video, scouting, anything...is to sit 1 on 1 with your players. Think about what is needed on a daily basis to improve your relationships with people as we move forward.
Yes, we do HAVE to win, but it can't be all about winning or else you'll be on an emotional rollercoaster. We need something to love everyday that's bigger than the score. Great champions of our game use winning as a platform (Pat Summitt, Kay Yow).
-"If you win without integrity, you lose"
-Do not put yourself in a position to win at all costs
-The trophies are all about memories
-"Be part of something bigger than yourself.
-Find opportunities for causes in something you're passionate about that's bigger than yourself
-Respect our game and give back
Q&A
What's the best way to build trust...1 on 1 meetings with players is critical! It is a proven fact that WBB players distrust their coaches more than any other sport.
Regarding men in women's basketball...men who have spent their entire life devoted to WBB and paid their dues deserve to be in WBB! However, if you jump ship from MBB than, no, disagree. Also make sure there is balance on staff- male HC needs to hire female assistants!
Best way to prepare: learn from as many people as you can. Do the dirty jobs if needed. Go to clinics, read and watch good basketball/leadership. Learn about climbing the ladder from those who did (books!). Accumulate life experiences and pay your dues.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Jody Conradt Keynote Address
4/27/2012
Below are some notes I took from Coach Conradt's keynote address at A Step Up coaching symposium in Dallas this weekend. Watch for much more A Step Up information over the next few weeks!
This is a PROFESSION; teach one, reach one- each one.
Coaching is not just recruiting; what's most important is being a student of the game; setting your self apart and rising above. Coaching is teaching- be a lifetime coach.
Be a giver.
"Opportunities don't go to the best kept secret"
Make no mistake...coaching is a winning business. Accept the challenge. (Win every day, all day, in everything you do).
An important element of leadership is helping others love our passion for women's basketball.
Recruiting
-Culture is defined as the core values on which something is built. This is the hard part...trying to get your student-athletes to use their talents to be part of the team.
-Team is defined as a group of people brought together with common purpose.
-Need to lead SA's to "doing the right thing" by promoting and upholding standards of the team.
-Consider the PSA's culture when recruiting them to your team. Evaluate their home life and high school experience (AAU is temporary; mostly in the summer, limited practices, etc)
Important Player Qualities:
1. Focus/Intensity/Passion/Willingness to commit to goals and achieve them/Natural enthusiasm
-need athletes who believe its fun to compete in practice!
-todays athletes don't want to compete and make each other better....they're afraid of making each other "look bad" (it's almost like you need alter egos in practice so kids can leave emotions at home).
-It's up to us to create an environment where competition is fun and healthy
Remember....life's not fair; accept responsibility (the ABILITY to RESPOND! Event + Reaction = Outcome).
2. Willing to accept their role
-What happens when you wine and dine a player, then they sit on the bench their freshman year?
-Who on your team OWNS rebounding? Steals? This must be developed by coaching staff through repeated emphasis.
-The best compliment a player can get... "When you are on the floor, everyone plays better"
-As a coach, avoid saying "my" team. It's the players team! Help make them feel that way- allow them to create team rules. This creates a sense of ownership and shared responsibility. Avoid calling them "kids"- this is a built in out for immature behavior and other ills! Think of the qualities we hate to see in kids....do we ever display those? Lead by example!
-Selfishness and ego will kill teamwork more than anything.
3. Communication- listen, sense, feel.
Women are more preoccupied with relationships than achievement; they want to please their peers more than adults.
Often, a roommate or teammate will be the peril of one's academic/basketball woes. Ask the player- have you talked to this person about the issue you are having? Odds are there is a lack of communication.
-Create an environment of communicative efforts!
-Give examples of situations and ask the team to answer. For example: Your teammate is in the parking lot/cafeteria/room with their boyfriend or girlfriend. They show up to workouts late and tell the coach that they were finishing a test and talking to a professor. The entire team knows where that athlete was but the coach accepts the tardy excuse and moves on. What do you do? Answer: the team should police, protect the team and uphold its standards. Teammates should let that player know that is unacceptable behavior and if it happens again then there will be more serious consequences.
In life there are consequences just like in basketball- when you foul 5 times, you're out!
-Leadership is an art, not a science. Need to learn when to nudge and when to show...when to hide and when to be visible...when to use the stick or the carrot...when to shout or whisper.
Chemistry fits in with confidence. You have to like the sense of team and environment. Understand your team members! Encourage confidence in each other- it will only help you! Respect- don't have to like everyone.
Important qualities in assistants:
1. Teacher- on Coach Conradt's staff, no one ever missed more than 5 practices per year. Why would you punish an assistant with that?
2. Mirror the HC's values
3. Competent piece for the program. What is their expertise and does it fit in/balance out staff?
4. Complete the HC's weaknesses and fill other assistant's voids
Q&A
How do you delegate leadership?
"If you're a senior, you're a captain"
What is coach's role in promoting the program and growing the game??
Regarding marketing: it IS your job to get people in the seats and newspapers to cover you!
MBB are like bankers...people with lines out the doors, plenty of business.
WBB are like insurance salesmen...must go door to door!
WBB sells on personality and story of players.
Think we do need players names on their jerseys for public recognition.
Below are some notes I took from Coach Conradt's keynote address at A Step Up coaching symposium in Dallas this weekend. Watch for much more A Step Up information over the next few weeks!
This is a PROFESSION; teach one, reach one- each one.
Coaching is not just recruiting; what's most important is being a student of the game; setting your self apart and rising above. Coaching is teaching- be a lifetime coach.
Be a giver.
"Opportunities don't go to the best kept secret"
Make no mistake...coaching is a winning business. Accept the challenge. (Win every day, all day, in everything you do).
An important element of leadership is helping others love our passion for women's basketball.
Recruiting
-Culture is defined as the core values on which something is built. This is the hard part...trying to get your student-athletes to use their talents to be part of the team.
-Team is defined as a group of people brought together with common purpose.
-Need to lead SA's to "doing the right thing" by promoting and upholding standards of the team.
-Consider the PSA's culture when recruiting them to your team. Evaluate their home life and high school experience (AAU is temporary; mostly in the summer, limited practices, etc)
Important Player Qualities:
1. Focus/Intensity/Passion/Willingness to commit to goals and achieve them/Natural enthusiasm
-need athletes who believe its fun to compete in practice!
-todays athletes don't want to compete and make each other better....they're afraid of making each other "look bad" (it's almost like you need alter egos in practice so kids can leave emotions at home).
-It's up to us to create an environment where competition is fun and healthy
Remember....life's not fair; accept responsibility (the ABILITY to RESPOND! Event + Reaction = Outcome).
2. Willing to accept their role
-What happens when you wine and dine a player, then they sit on the bench their freshman year?
-Who on your team OWNS rebounding? Steals? This must be developed by coaching staff through repeated emphasis.
-The best compliment a player can get... "When you are on the floor, everyone plays better"
-As a coach, avoid saying "my" team. It's the players team! Help make them feel that way- allow them to create team rules. This creates a sense of ownership and shared responsibility. Avoid calling them "kids"- this is a built in out for immature behavior and other ills! Think of the qualities we hate to see in kids....do we ever display those? Lead by example!
-Selfishness and ego will kill teamwork more than anything.
3. Communication- listen, sense, feel.
Women are more preoccupied with relationships than achievement; they want to please their peers more than adults.
Often, a roommate or teammate will be the peril of one's academic/basketball woes. Ask the player- have you talked to this person about the issue you are having? Odds are there is a lack of communication.
-Create an environment of communicative efforts!
-Give examples of situations and ask the team to answer. For example: Your teammate is in the parking lot/cafeteria/room with their boyfriend or girlfriend. They show up to workouts late and tell the coach that they were finishing a test and talking to a professor. The entire team knows where that athlete was but the coach accepts the tardy excuse and moves on. What do you do? Answer: the team should police, protect the team and uphold its standards. Teammates should let that player know that is unacceptable behavior and if it happens again then there will be more serious consequences.
In life there are consequences just like in basketball- when you foul 5 times, you're out!
-Leadership is an art, not a science. Need to learn when to nudge and when to show...when to hide and when to be visible...when to use the stick or the carrot...when to shout or whisper.
Chemistry fits in with confidence. You have to like the sense of team and environment. Understand your team members! Encourage confidence in each other- it will only help you! Respect- don't have to like everyone.
Important qualities in assistants:
1. Teacher- on Coach Conradt's staff, no one ever missed more than 5 practices per year. Why would you punish an assistant with that?
2. Mirror the HC's values
3. Competent piece for the program. What is their expertise and does it fit in/balance out staff?
4. Complete the HC's weaknesses and fill other assistant's voids
Q&A
How do you delegate leadership?
"If you're a senior, you're a captain"
What is coach's role in promoting the program and growing the game??
Regarding marketing: it IS your job to get people in the seats and newspapers to cover you!
MBB are like bankers...people with lines out the doors, plenty of business.
WBB are like insurance salesmen...must go door to door!
WBB sells on personality and story of players.
Think we do need players names on their jerseys for public recognition.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Quote of the Day:
"It doesn't matter how many resources you have.
If you don't know how to use them, they will never be enough"
"Winning on the Road" -by Bob Walsh
Bob is a great guy and current head coach at Rhode Island College. I got to know him a little bit when we were both at Providence and have the utmost respect for him. Please subscribe to his blog at http://blog.coachbobwalsh.com
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS A MENTALITY. IT IS KNOWING THAT WE HAVE PREPARED OURSELVES FOR EVERY CHALLENGE – THE EMOTION OF OUR OPPONENT, THE ELECTRICITY OF THE CROWD, THE DIFFERENT GYM, THE TOUGH CALLS. IT IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT NOTHING CAN HAPPEN THAT WE ARE NOT READY FOR – WE ARE PREPARED TO WIN.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS TOUGHNESS. IT IS AN ATTITUDE THAT NO MATTER WHICH WAY THE BALL BOUNCES, WE ARE GOING TO FIND A WAY.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS INTENSTIY. IT IS DICTATING THE TEMPO OF THE GAME WITH HOW HARD WE COMPETE, FROM TAP TO BUZZER. IT IS LETTING THEM KNOW WHO THE BETTER TEAM IS AS SOON AS THE BALL GOES UP.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS BELIEF. IT IS 100% TRUST IN EVERYONE IN OUR LOCKER ROOM AND EVERYTHING WE DO. IT IS KNOWING THAT YOU NEED TO BE THERE FOR YOUR TEAMMATES, AND KNOWING THAT THEY WILL BE THERE FOR YOU.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS ENERGY. IT IS AN ENTHUSIASM AND PASSION TO GO INTO SOMEONE ELSE’S BUILDING AND MAKE THEM PLAY OUR GAME. IT IS EVERYONE ON THAT BUS BEING ENGAGED AND EXCITED.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS SACRIFICE. IT IS PUTTING ASIDE PERSONAL ISSUES FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM. IT IS A TEAM EGO.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS COMPOSURE. IT IS THE POISE TO STAY LEVEL AND KEEP OUR TRUST WHEN OUR OPPONENT MAKES A RUN.
WINNING ON THE ROAD STARTS IN OUR OWN GYM. IT STARTS IN PRACTICE, WITH AN INTENSE PREPARATION AND A COMMITMENT TO EVERY POSSESSION. IT IS ABOUT NEVER SETTLING, NEVER TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT, AND BEING MENTALLY PREPARED FOR PRACTICE.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS A SWAGGER. IT IS A COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING ABOVE ROLLED INTO A CONFIDENCE THAT PEOPLE NOTICE AS SOON AS WE WALK IN THE GYM. WE EXPECT TO WIN, AND THEY KNOW IT.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS FUN. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE GOING INTO THEIR HOUSE AND PROVING WE ARE THE BETTER TEAM FOR 40 MINUTES.
WHEN YOU PUT ON A RIC BASKETBALL UNIFORM, WINNING ON THE ROAD IS EXPECTED.
WINNING ON THE ROAD
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS A MENTALITY. IT IS KNOWING THAT WE HAVE PREPARED OURSELVES FOR EVERY CHALLENGE – THE EMOTION OF OUR OPPONENT, THE ELECTRICITY OF THE CROWD, THE DIFFERENT GYM, THE TOUGH CALLS. IT IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT NOTHING CAN HAPPEN THAT WE ARE NOT READY FOR – WE ARE PREPARED TO WIN.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS TOUGHNESS. IT IS AN ATTITUDE THAT NO MATTER WHICH WAY THE BALL BOUNCES, WE ARE GOING TO FIND A WAY.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS INTENSTIY. IT IS DICTATING THE TEMPO OF THE GAME WITH HOW HARD WE COMPETE, FROM TAP TO BUZZER. IT IS LETTING THEM KNOW WHO THE BETTER TEAM IS AS SOON AS THE BALL GOES UP.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS BELIEF. IT IS 100% TRUST IN EVERYONE IN OUR LOCKER ROOM AND EVERYTHING WE DO. IT IS KNOWING THAT YOU NEED TO BE THERE FOR YOUR TEAMMATES, AND KNOWING THAT THEY WILL BE THERE FOR YOU.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS ENERGY. IT IS AN ENTHUSIASM AND PASSION TO GO INTO SOMEONE ELSE’S BUILDING AND MAKE THEM PLAY OUR GAME. IT IS EVERYONE ON THAT BUS BEING ENGAGED AND EXCITED.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS SACRIFICE. IT IS PUTTING ASIDE PERSONAL ISSUES FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM. IT IS A TEAM EGO.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS COMPOSURE. IT IS THE POISE TO STAY LEVEL AND KEEP OUR TRUST WHEN OUR OPPONENT MAKES A RUN.
WINNING ON THE ROAD STARTS IN OUR OWN GYM. IT STARTS IN PRACTICE, WITH AN INTENSE PREPARATION AND A COMMITMENT TO EVERY POSSESSION. IT IS ABOUT NEVER SETTLING, NEVER TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT, AND BEING MENTALLY PREPARED FOR PRACTICE.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS A SWAGGER. IT IS A COMBINATION OF EVERYTHING ABOVE ROLLED INTO A CONFIDENCE THAT PEOPLE NOTICE AS SOON AS WE WALK IN THE GYM. WE EXPECT TO WIN, AND THEY KNOW IT.
WINNING ON THE ROAD IS FUN. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE GOING INTO THEIR HOUSE AND PROVING WE ARE THE BETTER TEAM FOR 40 MINUTES.
WHEN YOU PUT ON A RIC BASKETBALL UNIFORM, WINNING ON THE ROAD IS EXPECTED.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Quote of the Day:
"I can check the level of your honesty and commitment by the quality of your effort on the court. You cannot separate sports from life, no matter how hard you try. Your personality shows up on the court: greed, indifference, whatever, it all shows up. You cannot hide it."
- Pete Carill
- Pete Carill
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Why a good passer is usually a GREAT player...
"Passing was the single greatest attribute of my teams over the years. A passer who can see people open is the same guy who sees where and when to screen, avoid picks, helps on defense - in other words, he can see. The passer is the same guy who knows where weaknesses are, where the drives are, and where everybody on the floor is. To score, you gotta move the ball. We pass to move the defense and every pass counts. What I also love about passing is how much it builds team morale. Passing takes the tension out of a game. Passing makes everybody feel a part of the game, a part of the team. No single aspect does more to develop good team play than passing. The first thing I look for in a high school player is can he pass? If he can, he's the same guy who can cut and defend."
- Pete Carill
- Pete Carill
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