Friday, May 19, 2023

Wisdom Across Coaching Disciplines - Don Meyer

Don Meyer had exceptional wisdom and the generosity to share. He kept three notebooks - basketball knowledge, general information, and a gratitude notebook for his wife that he gave her annually.

Here are quotes from "The Best Things I've Seen in Coaching." All of these work as well for life as for sport. 

"Krause's Rules:

  • Find yourself - one word description to sum you up.
  • Find your unique gift or talent - everyone has one.
  • Give it away - spend you whole life giving the gift away
"Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see." - Mark Twain

"Help servant leaders to get better."

"Never met a happy person that was selfish and unhappy person that was unselfish."

"Can't serve others when we are only concerned with ourselves."

"Never let the sun go down without resolving all bad situations." 

"Write things down immediately." (Young people use their phones for this.)

"Don't work for the system. Make the system work for you." 

"Constant, daily, never ending improvement..."

What is stopping you from becoming a complete coach? 

Have a learning attitude each day:

  • Read 
  • Ask questions
  • Teach
"Never waste an at-bat in life."

Seven qualities of elite performers:
  • A strong desire to succeed
  • Positivity in the face of challenges
  • Controlling the "controllables"
  • A high commitment/balanced attitude
  • A high level of belief in self and team
  • Process orientation
  • Positive communication and body language 

 Lagniappe. Jumping matters. Improvement demands practice. "Repetitions make reputations." In volleyball, the three-step approach is preferred. I suggest taking baseline measurements including cellphone video if you have it, work your program, and do followup measurements and video. 

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