"Players other than the man defending the ballhandler must slow the advance of the ball, of course. And it's not enough for the rest of the team merely to run back quickly on defense, though that is the second-best strategy. The best strategy is for the teammates to make a quick transition with purpose. That … Continue reading Winning Defense: Transition & Early Halfcourt
Losing Streak
It can be two or twenty-two games, losing streaks all create a similar effect - questions. Where are we playing poorly? What can we adjust? How have we been practicing? How are our rotations? Who has played well for us, who needs a shorter leash on the floor? Why doesn't practice transfer to the games? … Continue reading Losing Streak
After. Time. Off
We just finished with #BalancingTheHolidays. Each program handles winter break differently, some coaches make philosophical decisions, while others are at the mercy of their actual game schedule. Either way, it is a unique time during the season where coaches have to consider sports-life balance and the re-activation upon return. https://twitter.com/CoachsClimb/status/1210343084988534787 In our season, there is … Continue reading After. Time. Off
Balancing the Holidays
Holiday Hoops Redefined We are all shaped by our circumstances. This is a commonality present in all communities and cultures. But it wasn’t until 5 years ago that I truly understood the weight of these words. I joined the varsity basketball team of Texas High School in 2000 as a sophomore. Texas High School is … Continue reading Balancing the Holidays
Coach-Speak
https://twitter.com/CoachsClimb/status/1208417683424841728 Let's define "Coach-Speak": Often the language used by coaches when addressing simpler issues with deeper contextual meaning. The majority of John Wooden's speeches are rich with coach speak. "Success is the peace of mind which is a direct result of the self-satisfaction in knowing that you have made the effort to become the best … Continue reading Coach-Speak
Winning Defense: Developing Individually Within a Team Concept
"It's not overwhelmingly difficult for a committed group of players with other average individual basketball skills to put together a very good team defense. Many good defensive teams are far better than the sum of their parts." Winning Defense is set up into three (plus drills) separate parts: Developing Individually Within a Team Concept Rotating … Continue reading Winning Defense: Developing Individually Within a Team Concept
Season Part One
To me, it is funny that this topic is #SeasonPartOne because as I was pondering what to write it came to me that for winter sports teams and more importantly basketball teams there are really like 6 seasons within a season: pre-season, practice season, non-conference season, conference season, championship season and postseason. And honestly, there … Continue reading Season Part One
Coaching the Best Player
The best players I have had the opportunity to work with have shared these characteristics: Different Investment Levels - Consistently put in extra time Competitor Hardest critic & biggest fan - Confident, but never satisfied It is their identity - Love being in the gym Different intuitiveness for the game - Game was slower for … Continue reading Coaching the Best Player
Conscious Coaching: Chapter 5
"Conscious Coaches keep their dedication to their families and their own health as they traverse the various roads of their professional career." Chapter 5 Takeaways KPIs of Conscious Coaches Balance Life & Family 3 Cs + 1 to Build Relationships Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are those fancy business metrics that likely existed in your Accounting … Continue reading Conscious Coaching: Chapter 5
Work The Officials
A post that seems like it should come with a preface, something of the sort – if you are an official and you are reading this, disregard the hashtag, as coaches, we intend to 'Work With Officials'. Really, those in stripes have an incredibly challenging job and if you haven’t officiated before – youth levels … Continue reading Work The Officials
Coach's Climb 