Why do some schools win more than others? Why are some programs always winning championships while others win once in their history? The answer is pure and simple: talent, hard work, execution and coaching. Can any team win on any given day without all these factors? Yes. Can any team win a championship without them? Absolutely not! Talent alone is not enough. During the recent NCAA tournament many talented teams were defeated early while others rose to prominence. What happened? Hard work, execution and excellent coaching sent those teams home.
Execution and hard work are crucial to winning a championship. Whether it is breaking a press in basketball, hitting the outside pitch to the opposite field or throwing the baseball across the diamond, one must be able to execute or lose. Remember, there are two ways of overcoming difficulties: you alter the difficulties, or you alter yourself to overcome them. Teams that win consistently, find a way to execute a plan to overcome the difficulties, while others, find themselves watching those who do. Darren Collison, UCLA point guard puts it this way. “My job is to help my team win,” Collison said. “Regardless of what anybody else says, I’ve still got to go out and prove that we’re the best team. It’s not about individual performance or me trying to show someone up, it’s about the team.”
Finally, consistency in winning always comes down to coaching. The elite coaches have an instinct of always putting their teams and players in a position to be successful. The preparation is done ahead of time so there is no second thought come crunch time. Players believe they will win because they have been prepared for success and not set up for failure due to lack of anticipation or preparation. Ben Howland said of his teams win over Xavier, "That's a real credit to how good our players are and how well they perform under pressure. I think this is, by far, the best team in the last three years."
UCLA is only the third team to reach three consecutive Final Fours since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
Xavier coach Sean Miller said of Ben Howland's team, “They really had a way about them, as if they had been there before. Very patient on offense, they don’t crack easily, or flinch."
Winning does take talent but winning Championships takes execution, hard work and good coaching!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Raising Concerns
All too often, parents become emotionally upset at a perceived injustice toward their son or daughter by, "the coach." As a high school athletic director, I have seen and heard my share of this primal instinct. All parents have a natural drive to protect their kids from any injustice, but when it comes to athletics most go about it all wrong or not at all. Before I offer a direction to proceed, let’s look at what one can and can not control.
Parents can not control: 1) who the school has chosen as the coach 2) how an athlete is developed 3) the coach’s evaluations 4) how playing time is relegated 5) who comes off the bench 6) the after game talk or any thing related to coaching. COACHES COACH.
Parents can control: 1) their attitude 2) tongue 3) support of their athlete and 4) the method/timing of raising concerns. If the first three are done in a positive and uplifting way, then the concerns should be received positively as well. Like most everything in life, timing is crucial. Therefore, never approach a coach after a loss and never out of the blue, as you may find those concerns falling on deaf ears.
Most parents tend to view circumstances involving their athletes through colored glasses. Coaches, in most cases, have no parental connection to the team and therefore should be more objective. However, if this is not the case and intervention seems necessary, I have always advised parents to seek resolution through the following chain of command: 1) parent to coach, 2) parent to athletic director and lastly 3) parent to principal.
Benjamin Franklin wrote, "The doors of wisdom are never shut." As members of a small community like a team, adults should be able to communicate with each other to resolve issues. If you find the doors closed to your concerns, then wisdom may not be present.
Parents can not control: 1) who the school has chosen as the coach 2) how an athlete is developed 3) the coach’s evaluations 4) how playing time is relegated 5) who comes off the bench 6) the after game talk or any thing related to coaching. COACHES COACH.
Parents can control: 1) their attitude 2) tongue 3) support of their athlete and 4) the method/timing of raising concerns. If the first three are done in a positive and uplifting way, then the concerns should be received positively as well. Like most everything in life, timing is crucial. Therefore, never approach a coach after a loss and never out of the blue, as you may find those concerns falling on deaf ears.
Most parents tend to view circumstances involving their athletes through colored glasses. Coaches, in most cases, have no parental connection to the team and therefore should be more objective. However, if this is not the case and intervention seems necessary, I have always advised parents to seek resolution through the following chain of command: 1) parent to coach, 2) parent to athletic director and lastly 3) parent to principal.
Benjamin Franklin wrote, "The doors of wisdom are never shut." As members of a small community like a team, adults should be able to communicate with each other to resolve issues. If you find the doors closed to your concerns, then wisdom may not be present.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Team Chemistry
"United we stand, divided we fall." "All for one and one for all!" These are age old expressions of team unity. This dynamic process, which occurs when a team sticks together in pursuit of its goals, is an extremely important variable in the quest for athletic success. Success, especially in tough situations, is directly related to the type of chemistry that exists within the team. Just as important, when evaluating team chemistry, is the level of satisfaction and personal well-being that each member feels as a result of inclusion to his/her role on the team. Also, players need to feel that others on the team (including coaches) trust them or "have their back." This trust will cease to develop if one does not work to provide consistent feedback to each athlete.
John Wooden is without question one of the most respected and honored coaches in our nations history. Although he won many Championships, it wasn't winning games that drove him. It was ensuring that, regardless of the final score, his players always put forth their utmost effort and performed to the best of their abilities, together. He also had a personal connection to each player's value, worth and role on his teams. Wooden's famous "Pyrimad of Success" was not just a formula for winning, but for character and chemistry as well. Great team chemistry, more often than not, has been the common denominator for coaches in their championship seasons. Dean Smith stated, "I think a very underrated part of championship teams is team chemistry."
Coaches need to make an undying commitment to helping their players grow as students and as individuals, in addition to helping them improve on the field. They should coach with a vision for success for each athlete and for the team, but always keep each game in the proper perspective. With that in mind, what’s more important: team goals, individual improvement or team chemistry?
The correct answer is ALL OF THE ABOVE!
John Wooden is without question one of the most respected and honored coaches in our nations history. Although he won many Championships, it wasn't winning games that drove him. It was ensuring that, regardless of the final score, his players always put forth their utmost effort and performed to the best of their abilities, together. He also had a personal connection to each player's value, worth and role on his teams. Wooden's famous "Pyrimad of Success" was not just a formula for winning, but for character and chemistry as well. Great team chemistry, more often than not, has been the common denominator for coaches in their championship seasons. Dean Smith stated, "I think a very underrated part of championship teams is team chemistry."
Coaches need to make an undying commitment to helping their players grow as students and as individuals, in addition to helping them improve on the field. They should coach with a vision for success for each athlete and for the team, but always keep each game in the proper perspective. With that in mind, what’s more important: team goals, individual improvement or team chemistry?
The correct answer is ALL OF THE ABOVE!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Player Development
Coaching involves many different aspects related to the team, its players and the game. Without a doubt the most valuable legacy any coach can give to each of his players is their development. Developing a players confidence, skill level, knowledge and performance, is the trade mark of a good coach.
The elite coaches take pride in player development which is often reveled by their preparation for obstacles before they happen. Therefore, when they do occur, the work has already been done and the players are ready to perform. These coaches understand the importance of developing each member of a team for the long run. As, "Iron sharpens iron," so player development improves the team and keeps each member sharp.
Joe Paterno stated, "The desire to win is important but the will to prepare is vital." The difference between winning and losing is not about good players, teams lose with good players. What it takes to win are interested players, committed to work for coaches who
are committed to their development. The final testament of player development is in the conviction and will of the team to carry on as changes occur. How well any team improves speaks volumes about player development.
A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are. - Ara Parasheghian,
The elite coaches take pride in player development which is often reveled by their preparation for obstacles before they happen. Therefore, when they do occur, the work has already been done and the players are ready to perform. These coaches understand the importance of developing each member of a team for the long run. As, "Iron sharpens iron," so player development improves the team and keeps each member sharp.
Joe Paterno stated, "The desire to win is important but the will to prepare is vital." The difference between winning and losing is not about good players, teams lose with good players. What it takes to win are interested players, committed to work for coaches who
are committed to their development. The final testament of player development is in the conviction and will of the team to carry on as changes occur. How well any team improves speaks volumes about player development.
A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are. - Ara Parasheghian,
Friday, March 7, 2008
The Slump
“I’ve had slumps last all winter” Bob Uecker
Every ballplayer at some point in his career goes through a slump. Vance Law described it as, “The field looking like one big glove and everything I hit goes right into it”. The slump is often referred to as being, “Snake Bit”. For this reason, some ball players have been known to carry anti venom in their travel bags to cure the dreaded curse. Still others, like Yogi Berra, refused to admit their bad luck: “Slump? I ain’t in no slump….I’m just not hitting”. Even the great Mickey Mantle dealt with it. Mickey stated, “During my 18 years I came to bat 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. Figuring a ballplayer will average about 500 at bats a season. That means I played seven years without ever hitting the ball”. That should put it in perspective. Thanks Mick.
The slump is not always related to a flaw in your technique. One’s troubles may have something to do with the guy on the mound. Making adjustments to what he is doing is important to your success as well. The best way to handle a slump is to: 1) realize everyone goes through it, 2) keep faith in your ability, even when others may want to reinvent your swing and 3) go back to the basics. Hitting is an art, but it is not an exact science. Timing, feel, confidence and hard work are the intangibles that every good hitter needs to put his technique into action and break out of the slump. Consider this basic thought.
"My theory of hitting was just to watch the ball as it came in and hit it." Tommy Lasorda
Every ballplayer at some point in his career goes through a slump. Vance Law described it as, “The field looking like one big glove and everything I hit goes right into it”. The slump is often referred to as being, “Snake Bit”. For this reason, some ball players have been known to carry anti venom in their travel bags to cure the dreaded curse. Still others, like Yogi Berra, refused to admit their bad luck: “Slump? I ain’t in no slump….I’m just not hitting”. Even the great Mickey Mantle dealt with it. Mickey stated, “During my 18 years I came to bat 10,000 times. I struck out about 1,700 times and walked maybe 1,800 times. Figuring a ballplayer will average about 500 at bats a season. That means I played seven years without ever hitting the ball”. That should put it in perspective. Thanks Mick.
The slump is not always related to a flaw in your technique. One’s troubles may have something to do with the guy on the mound. Making adjustments to what he is doing is important to your success as well. The best way to handle a slump is to: 1) realize everyone goes through it, 2) keep faith in your ability, even when others may want to reinvent your swing and 3) go back to the basics. Hitting is an art, but it is not an exact science. Timing, feel, confidence and hard work are the intangibles that every good hitter needs to put his technique into action and break out of the slump. Consider this basic thought.
"My theory of hitting was just to watch the ball as it came in and hit it." Tommy Lasorda
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Making the Routine Play
The game of Baseball is a game of outs. Therefore, limiting your opponent’s number of outs is an absolute must, if you expect to win the close games. The difference between a good team and an average team is the ability to make the routine play. Good teams, at all levels, are tough to score on, while average teams generally find a way to give up more outs than they should.
Example: When your opponent turns to,” sacrifice bunt”, an out must be made. Many big innings have come form committing the cardinal sin of, not getting an out on the bunt.
A good rule of thumb for bunt defenses is the “KISS” rule (Keep It Simple Stupid). Keeping your bunt defenses simple, while being in one set defense 90% of the time, can go a long way to ensure an out on the play. This limits confusion, gives consistency and will make the play routine. Remember, Baseball is one place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated, so take the out and get back to the business of being tough to score on.
Example: When your opponent turns to,” sacrifice bunt”, an out must be made. Many big innings have come form committing the cardinal sin of, not getting an out on the bunt.
A good rule of thumb for bunt defenses is the “KISS” rule (Keep It Simple Stupid). Keeping your bunt defenses simple, while being in one set defense 90% of the time, can go a long way to ensure an out on the play. This limits confusion, gives consistency and will make the play routine. Remember, Baseball is one place in life where a sacrifice is really appreciated, so take the out and get back to the business of being tough to score on.
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