It's the most wonderful time of a year again, and back with fans in the stands! March Madness is a great opportunity for basketball coaches to embrace being a student of the game - observing differing styles of play, potential trends, or concepts that may be worth confiscating. With Selection Sunday complete, here our the … Continue reading First Four: What To Watch From March Madness
Season Off the Sidelines
After ten seasons on the sidelines, wait, take this back to the playing days, and it will be over twenty years since I have spent a season off the court. My wife and I have made the decision to move back home to be closer with family. A little one on the way can shift … Continue reading Season Off the Sidelines
Negotiating 101: Position of Power
Our final #BookClub from Negotiating 101 looks to seal the deal by understanding how energy impacts results and the power in our position as a coach.
Negotiating 101: Body-Language
Each interaction during a negotiation can help uncover true feelings, hidden agendas, or consequently lead to misinterpretations. For this #BookClub post I'll share a story from personal experience to allow coaches to digest and consider what their reactions would be if in a similar situation. This does leave an open interpretation to how coachable I may have been during my playing days.
Negotiating 101: Preparation
The coaches come to the table - or locker room - for a team meeting to negotiate the terms of the off-season. At the scholastic level student-athletes plans are set in place, versus professionals, that may choose to participate in summer leagues or rest. The negotiations aren't necessarily between what the expectations are rather than an alignment of energy invested into the off-season. Therefore it is a matter of what must happen in order for team success to occur versus what each party wants to accomplish.
Negotiating 101: Bartering
Are you a salesman or a negotiator?
This might depend upon the context of the situation. Sales tends to have a negative connotation, while negotiating seems to infer self-advocacy. Regardless of role or level, Negotiating 101 is a lesson all of us could benefit from as coaches.
How To Be Here: It All Matters
Stay attentive to the details that matter and continue to remove clutter. In the end, we are all taking a risk and depending how you look at the details in the moment; we will move forward in the right direction.
How To Be Here: Create & Craft
A coaching philosophy, or an imitation of blank canvas turn to style of play. Some days we develop writers block. On others, there is not enough time in the day to get everything done. These preparations are an example of creative applications.
Be Different
Being different creates transparency. A translucent program mitigates miscommunication. Underclassmen understand expectations earlier because continuity is often consistent. And as a staff, evaluating prospective recruits as a future fit to the program can be more identifiable.
Habit Seven: Sharpen the Saw
Covering the final chapter of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. How much time do we spend chipping away during a season without thinking back to sharpen the tools? Think smarter, not harder.
