I’m going to let you in on some of the secrets of coaching. Here is Part I…
Know the difference between winning and losing; you win with:
• Superior personnel
• Superior conditioning
• Superior mental attitude
• Excellent teaching
• Outstanding teamwork
Get players to perform to the potential and with maximum effort.
• Decide early what offensive and defensive systems you will use and completely sell your team on your system. Be flexible, remember your personnel dictates your style of play to a large extent. Make “believers” out of your team. If they believe in your system of play, so will others! The players will do a better job of executing when they understand the “why” of the system.
• Acquaint players with your philosophy and methods. Have well-thought-out reasons for everything you do. Convince the players that everything is done for their ultimate good: now and in the future.
• Have team discipline! Get rid of the “non-conformists.” You will not win with bad people. Be absolutely fair in all dealings with your players. Do not show favoritism, and be totally honest with the players, and keep them informed.
Faith and belief on the part of your players will result in their giving you a 100% effort.
• Respect player judgment and wishes. If given the opportunity, players will exercise common sense. Allow the players the opportunity to speak out in meetings. Do not hesitate to consult with the players when confronted with a problem, which puzzles you and your staff.
• Be sincerely interested in your players as people. Be aware of their environment and their problems. Take pride in their achievements…basketball and otherwise. If the player is convinced of your extra effort for him, he will give extraordinary effort you, the coach.
• Do not belittle and demean your players. They are NOT “studs” or “dogs” or “animals.” They are young men or women, someone’s son or daughter. Treat each as you would treat your own children. Be firm, but fair!
• Recognize the winning player! Go with the winners. Do not hesitate to move a player from position to position until you find a place where he or she is best suited to HELP the team.
• Do not give up on players with athleticism or size!
• Do not over-coach! Let them play.
• Provide leadership by example. Your attitude, mannerisms and personal habits, both on and off the court, are very important. Personal example is far more important than any written or spoken message. Be enthusiastic about basketball, work and academics. It will “rub off” on your players.
• Glamorize the aspects of the game that are seldom noticed by the average fan or media type of person — great defense, the assist, taking a charge, setting the great screen, diving on the court and getting the rebound would be examples of efforts which need to glamorized.
• Generate morale. Morale is expressed by the assist on offense and a blocked shot by a defender. A player’s willingness depends on just how good he wants to be. Some just want to be on the team, others just want to get in the game and play. It is the job of the coach to build a sense of pride in each player to be “the very best player he can be.” • For morale, you must have pride, pride to be the best conditioned, toughest, most competitive, and the most consistent team. Each player must have individual pride, team pride, school pride and community pride. How do you bring this about? You stress quality in everything the individual and the team does. Go first-class in cleanliness, neatness, dress, equipment, and conduct. Morale is an attitude — toward self, the group, and toward both individual and team goals.
• Motivate the players! A motivated team will play over their heads. Motivation is not an accident. Do not wait until game day to “fire up” the team. Both coaches and the team must be “up” and ready to go every day.
