Soul of a Poet and Hide of an Elephant

All opinions expressed within are solely mine. They do not reflect those of the City of Melrose, Melrose School or Athletic Department. Don't blame them. 

To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heav'n in a wild flower.            Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.                  - William Blake

Independent film director Mira Nair says that to do her job well she needs, "the soul of a poet and the hide of an elephant." That fits the job description of coaches, too.

What belongs for coaching with each analogy? 

The Soul of a Poet

Poets communicate and evoke emotional responses. So do coaches. Poets use imagination to shape their vision. So do coaches. It takes time for poets to develop their craft and engage a following. As does coaching. 

The Hide of an Elephant

If you put yourself out there as a teacher, writer, or coach, others will push back against your tone, content, and context. 

Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton literally brushed his skin regularly with a horsehair brush to achieve a leathery quality. 

Sometimes people form opinions to generate controversy or to challenge conventional wisdom. Copernicus postulated the sun at the center of the universe with planets orbiting it. Colleagues lambasted Semmelweis for his germ theory of handwashing to reduce infections. Few accepted three-point shooting theories of Mike D'Antoni. If you want to be publicly different, get thicker skin. 

Every new idea isn't correct either. Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement of Hitler turned out fatally flawed. British researcher Andrew Wakefield manipulated data showing the immunization caused autism. He had his medical degree stripped and continues to spread disinformation. We still aren't sure about how many planets exist in the Solar System.  

Bottom line, if you want to coach, or write, finding critics won't be difficult. Or as I remind people, "don't beat yourself up, there will always be someone around to do it for you." 

An AI Take:

The soul of a poet is a complex and elusive concept, as it encompasses many different qualities and characteristics that poets possess. At its core, the soul of a poet is a deep sensitivity and a profound appreciation for the beauty of the world around them.

Poets have a unique ability to see beyond the surface level of things and to find meaning in the smallest of details. They are often deeply introspective, and their work is an expression of their innermost thoughts and emotions. The soul of a poet is therefore deeply connected to their creative process, which involves a constant exploration of their own inner world and an ongoing quest to understand the world around them.

The soul of a poet is also marked by a deep sense of empathy and compassion. Poets have a unique ability to connect with others on a deep emotional level, and their work often reflects a profound understanding of the human condition. They are often driven by a desire to communicate important truths about the world and to help others to see things from a new perspective.

Finally, the soul of a poet is marked by a deep commitment to their craft. Poets are often driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to create something meaningful and lasting. They are willing to put in the time and effort required to hone their skills and to perfect their craft, and they are constantly striving to improve their work.

Overall, the soul of a poet is a multifaceted and complex concept that encompasses many different qualities and characteristics. At its core, it is marked by a deep sensitivity, a profound appreciation for the beauty of the world, a strong sense of empathy and compassion, and a deep commitment to the craft of poetry.

Lagniappe. 

Working on your snap? 

Lagniappe 2. Build athleticism. This guy has big ups. 

 

Assignments That Work for Coaches

 

"This is is how we do it." Does that mean it's the best way or could there be a better way? There's a concept in Japan, "I am what I am because of you." Be that coach. 

Learn across domains. In Michael Pollan's "Intentional Eating" MasterClass, he gives tips and assignments. Tip: buy food not EFLSs - edible food like substances. Shopping the perimeter of the store gets us food and fewer EFLSs. A Twinkie is an EFSL. 

How about basketball? Where's the "food" versus the processed "stuff?"

1. Player development. It's the meat and fish department. Repeat after me, "Every day is player development day." Gregg Popovich says, "Technique beats tactics."

Assignment: Rethink how much and what practices serve player development. 

2. "Kill your darlings." Where's the beef? Everything in practice should serve winning. 

Assignment: what fluff needs to go? 

3. Become more efficient. Practice time is precious. Watching UCONN Women, the Boston Celtics, or the Patriots practice, I'm struck by the tempo and efficiency. Efficiency rules. 

Assignment: work on efficiency. 

• Up the tempo.
• Name everything. "We're on to RACEHORSE." 
• Condition within drills and scrimmaging. 
• Use more baskets, avoid lines.
• Have a written practice schedule to guide us.

4. Make it competitive. The best activities are 'holistic', informing offense, defense, decision-making, conditioning, and competition. Players play, in part, because they love competition. 

Assignment: make activities competitive between groups or for players, achieving their PBs, personal bests. "Beat the Pro," a.k.a. Bill Bradley, is competition to 11, making 11 shots before missing four, as the Pro gets three for a miss. There's no reason why in practice that a player can't make 11 consecutive elbow jumpers someday...not every day. 

5. Elevate our teaching. COVID and age took tolls on me, but that doesn't mean I've stopped learning, teaching, and sharing. I see that you're out there beating your brains in on the court. I honor that. Raise the stakes. 

Assignment: make it holistic, like Dean Smith. Have a 'quote for the day' and a "concept of the day." "Champions do extra." - James Kerr, in Legacy

6. Steal. Picasso said, "Good artists borrow; great artists steal." 

Find ideas everywhere. I was on vacation years ago and met a coach from Indiana who shared a drill called rollouts which was a closeout and live action drill. 

It's an excellent pregame warmup drill. Add constraints like you need a screen before you can score. 

Maybe we might find someone distasteful but still find their concepts or ideas worth stealing.  

Assignment: Find three ideas worth stealing every day. 

7. Share. Phil Jackson said, "Basketball is sharing." 

If I had a mantra, it would be, "share something great" - an idea, quote, movie, book, recipe. 

Assignment: Find one thing to share daily. 

8. Contain the egos. Gregg Popovich teaches, "Get over yourself." Modern basketball observes, "Whoo, look at me!" Flexing, standing over a player after a dunk or 'breaking ankles'. Barry Sanders would hand the touchdown ball to the official. "Act like you've been there before."

Assignment: share elements of volleyball 'respect' and sportsmanship regularly. 

9. Find a mentor. "Look for the helpers." - Mr. Rogers  Atul Gawande is an accomplished surgeon and still hired a senior colleague to oversee his surgery. AND he learned from that surgeon. 

Assignment: Seek help humbly. 

10.Remember empathy. Consider how our coaching impacts the players. I'm shocked when I hear coaches who've called players useless, worthless, or disloyal because the player doesn't serve the coach's interests. It isn't written anywhere that a great coach should be a soulless mercenary. 

I knew a doctor who said his father was a surgeon who came home and said, "It was a bad day. I only made two nurses cry." 

Assignment: Find a way to express our humanity every day. Support a teammate, a colleague, or a friend. 

Lagniappe. Core strengthening to increase power... 

Benefits of Girls Playing Sports

Cross-post partially adapted from "Why I Coach Girls Basketball."  

Participation in sport helps girls in many ways - in health, in school, in social advancement, and as future leaders. Female athletes earn better grades, higher graduation rates, higher self-esteem, and lower teen pregnancy rates. 

• "As little as four hours of exercise a week may reduce a teenage girl’s risk of breast cancer by up to 60%; breast cancer is a disease that afflicts one out of every eight American women. (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 1994)
• Forty percent of women over the age of 50 suffers from osteoporosis (brittle bones). (Osteoporosis, 1996) None of us should want our daughters to repeat the experiences of generations of women—our mothers and grandmothers—who were not permitted to play sports or encouraged to participate in weight-bearing exercises that are necessary to establishing bone mass.
• Girls and women who play sports have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem and lower levels of depression."

Growing up, I didn't think much about girls' sports. I never saw my sister play high school basketball and rarely saw her play high school tennis. Mostly I was preoccupied with boys sports. 

The 1972 passage of Title IX gradually changed a lot about sports. Here's the AI take:

Title IX is a federal law in the United States that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. The law covers all educational institutions that receive federal funding, including colleges, universities, and K-12 schools.

The significance of Title IX is that it has helped to promote gender equity and equal opportunities for women in education. Prior to the passage of Title IX, women were often excluded from educational programs and opportunities that were available to men. Title IX helped to break down barriers to education and allowed women to have equal access to resources, programs, and activities.

Title IX has also had a significant impact on athletics, requiring that women's sports programs receive equal funding and resources as men's sports programs. This has led to a significant increase in the number of women participating in sports at all levels, and has helped to raise the visibility and popularity of women's sports.

Overall, Title IX has helped to create a more equitable and inclusive educational environment in the United States, and has had a lasting impact on opportunities for women in education and sports.

The highlights of my coaching career aren't seeing players win league championships or players achieving college athletic scholarships, although they happened. It's girls winning in the classroom and in society, earning advanced degrees. Many reached their dreams, like a former player graduating from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. That's progress and meaningful change. 

Lagniappe. US Women's Olympic Coach Karch Kiraly (Ker-eye) shares a few passing tips. 

Objectivity Is the Candle in the Wind

All opinions expressed are my own. Don't blame the City of Melrose, School Department, Athletic Department, Melrose High School, or Flip Wilson ("The devil made me do it.") And yes, Teddy Roosevelt said, "comparison is the thief of joy." 

Objectivity wrestles with Herculean tasks for difficulty. What's the inverse? Bias. 

Sometimes, we see players and teams through rose-colored glasses. "They have no weaknesses and they're a sure thing for the playoffs." And then it doesn't happen. Or we see a talent-limited team and dismiss them. And they win, maybe win a lot, or win a title. 

We forget about random variation in performance, health and injury, and luck. In "Thinking in Bets," WSOP champion Annie Duke says that poker is 76 percent skill and 24 percent luck. She argues that "resulting," making judgments on results alone, oversimplifies the game. 

There's "endowment bias," my guy, my team, my kid. Is Jayson Tatum better than Jokic, Embiid, Giannis? By what metric? 

From Diamond-digest.com

Stratifying players or teams into 'tiers' can decrease but not remove bias. Especially if we have a small 'tier' disputes will be irresolvable. For example, who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of the Red Sox? Ted Williams by acclamation. David Ortiz? I think so. That leaves two spots, with Carl Yastrzemski the clubhouse leader for one. Who gets the final spot? Roger Clemens or Pedro? 

We're affected by recency bias. The top players seen recently stick in our consciousness. I 'anchor' on winning. Players that won a State Title earn more consideration, right? Winning depends on the supporting cast, too. The greatest player never to win a sectional championship at Melrose was Victoria Crovo. 

And there's "analytics," the numbers. It's hard to ignore the Melrose All-Time single season and career leaders. But that doesn't mean I ignore the eyeball test either. 

The tetrad of All-State selections, winning, numbers, and performance under the postseason spotlight impact my tiering. I exclude any players currently on the team. And inevitably, I'll omit someone deserving and people will take issue with the tiers. These aren't stone tablets. But if it gets people talking volleyball in the offseason, so much the better. 

I'll give it a go for the top three tiers of Melrose players. It's imperfect and biased, and I recuse myself from including my daughters. 

Tier One (alphabetically)

• Brooke Bell
• Hannah Brickley 
• Jen Cain
• Victoria Crovo
• Lily Fitzgerald
• Jill MacInnes
• Sarah McGowan
• Emma Randolph
• Elena Soukos
• Gia Vlajkovic 

Tier Two (alphabetically)

• Nicole Abbott
• Andrea Basteri
• Marisa Cataldo
• Amanda Commito
• Marianne Foley
• Colleen Hanscom
• Erin Hudd
• Emily Hudson
• Rachel Johnson
• Allie Nolan
• Autumn Whelan
• Athena Ziavras

Tier Three (alphabetically)

• Ruth Breen
• Jen Cohane
• Saoirse Connolly
• Kerry Dillon
• Chloe Gentile
• Eva Haralabatos
  
• Laura Irwin
• Amanda Labella
• Merri Lessing 

Take a rotation from any of these groups and you'll win a lot. 

Lagniappe. Learn from experts. Setting at the dining table? 

How Much Do You Want to Succeed?

How do we define success? 

Coach John Wooden's "Pyramid of Success" does as good a job as any, recognizing you worked diligently to become your best version. Coach Wooden's UCLA basketball teams won nine national championships in a ten-year period. 

It's worth studying the pyramid, noting hard work (industriousness) and joy (enthusiasm) as the cornerstones, and the triad of conditioning, skill, and team spirit the core. Faith and patience (belief and time) flank the top. Greatness takes time. 

What's your goal? There is no 'right' or 'wrong' answer for an individual, but for the team, set the bar high. Without ambition, high achievement is unlikely. 

Actor Samuel L. Jackson advises that you, "present the best version of yourself." If you do that consistency, you might not land this role, but it increases the chance of getting the next. 

Making the team matters, but most players want a contributing role on the court. You should know that practicing hard every day to make teammates and starters better counts a lot. 

But why not train with the intent of becoming a starter? Coach Scott Celli plays the players who fit together the best to help the team win. That has always been the case. 

Why not compete to become an All-League player or even more? If that's important to you, go for it. 

What is your level of commitment? Elite athletes do not look like the rest of us or train like the rest of us. They "obsess the product." LeBron James spends a million dollars a year on nutrition and training! He sleeps twelve hours a day. 

Here's the deal. To maximize your chances improve:

• Skill - that gets and keeps you on the floor
• Strategy - know the game, what succeeds and fails
• Physicality - get quicker, faster, stronger, more explosive
• Psychology - maximize focus, resilience, competitive drive 

What does that mean practically?

• Play volleyball. 
• Build general (e.g. platform) and specific skills (e.g. attacking, blocking) appropriate to your position. 
• Work on the athletic skills (e.g. jumping) outlined here every day. 
• Consider a home mindfulness program of 10-15 minutes a day. It's online and it's free.

The Fourth Agreement is "always do your best." Our best may not be THE best, but it frees us from regret. 

Lagniappe. You don't need a full-sized gym and net to work on footwork. Challenge yourself to work on footwork and foot quickness every day. Success is your choice. 

Wilde Things - When the Gods Wish to Punish Us

For over two decades, young Melrose girls have competed to make the volleyball team. And when they succeeded, it got harder. 

As the new kid in town, the competition is better, the expectations higher. And yet, year after year, they're back. 

Winning isn't supposed to be easy. Joseph Campbell wrote a book, "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" describing the model for heroic adventure. Whether Odysseus in The Odyssey or Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, the narrative follows a similar course. 

Every hero doesn't get "supernatural aid," but you get superior coaching and critical helpers (teammates) to support you along the way. 

Stumbles occur, sometimes in the League and sometimes outside, but transformation turns untested rookies to seasoned veterans.  

And each season the journey refreshes and starts anew. Each new club has won nothing. You earn opportunity and ultimately see where the narrative goes. 

During the offseason, players begin the transformation. Celebrate the journey. 

Lagniappe. Get on your pogo stick. Melrose has had a lot of great jumpers. Are you the next? You don't need fancy equipment. Use your imagination to find a mini-hurdle. A book? A pair of boots? 

Challenge yourself to be your best version. 

Confirmation Bias: See What Is, Not What We Want to Believe

Adapted from my basketball blog: 

"If everything you see confirms your view of the world, you're doing it wrong. You're building a lawyer's case..." - Paul Krugman

Coaching is never boring. How can a job demanding excellence in organization, short-term and long-range decisions, teaching, communication, self-regulation, and more be easy? 

Three things is life are certain - death, taxes, and no coach has players and players' extended families who are completely satisfied. 

"She's turning the ball over too much. Why is she playing ahead of my kid?"

• Are we seeing with our eyes or our heart?"
• Are we ignoring strengths or overweighting negatives? 
• Maybe the positives outweigh the negatives.
• Maybe there's a "development" factor. Things are getting better. 
• Maybe, for all her flaws, our child's are worse. 

The list goes on. Parents should advocate for our children. If not parents, then who will? I have no children or grandchildren playing competitively, so no paternity prism filters the light reaching my eyes. 

As coaches, accept that. But at the same time, the coach's job is doing what is best for the team. As Brad Stevens says, each day ask, "what does our team need now?"

Everyone needs clarity. At the varsity level, winning and sustainable competitive advantage should be goals. How? 

• Add value."Every day is player development day." Competition paired with development strengthens the program. 
• Get buy in. Choose a consistent program philosophy and get everyone on the same page with it. 
• "Character is job one." - Etorre Messina. Character forges commitment, discipline, empathy, sportsmanship, and teamwork. Coaches set the tone and model excellence. An abundance of rules won't make people better. Player ownership of team behaviors fashions maturity. If smoking and drinking take priority over basketball, then feel free to leave. 
• "Obsess the product." The best players make everyone around them better and impact winning. Within that context, remember what Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says, "there is always a pecking order." Every player deserves coaching but every player may not get minutes every game. If the principal and the AD want it to be rec ball and everyone plays, then everyone in the community can't have championship aspirations. 
• Consider more transparency if not "radical transparency." Without transparency, people speculate. "The coach doesn't like me" or "I'm not getting opportunities at practice." Coaches can't co-coach with parents, but when parents observe parts of practices, education, and the direction in which the team is headed, there is less diversity and extremism of opinion. Ray Dalio said, "I think the greatest tragedy of mankind is that people have ideas and opinions in their heads but don’t have a process for properly examining these ideas to find out what’s true. That creates a world of distortions. That’s relevant to what we do, and I think it’s relevant to all decision making." Know that, "Transparency generates trust in both consumers and employees."

There are problems with more objective self-assessment.

• More objective people have higher rates of depression.
• We see ourselves through a harsher light of reality. 
• Objectivity can be soul-crushing for some. 

Finding balance between arrogance and doubt has a name - confidence. With a better process, consider outside opinions and both sides of an issue. Gain perspective and respect. Saying, "I hadn't thought of it that way" isn't always easy. 

Summary:

• Add value.
• Get buy in.
• "Character is job one." - Etorre Messina. 
• "Obsess the product." - Sarah Blakely
• Consider more transparency.

Lagniappe (something extra). Build skill, physicality, and psychology (resilience/competitiveness).

 

Speaking Greatness

What we say and how we say it matter. Relationships are more likely to flourish with high ratios of positive to negative communication.

No relationship is perfect. "Happy and healthy couples have a ratio of 5:1 positive to negative behaviors in their relationship. This means there are five times as many positive interactions between happy couples (i.e., listening, validating the other person, using soft words, expressing appreciation, affirmation, physical affection, compliments, etc.) as there are negative."

Both spoken and non-verbal communication matter. Better relationships have eye contact not eye-rolling. NBA teams that touch won more. A pat on the back counts. 

Coach John Wooden used the 'sandwich technique' inserting criticism amidst praise. Players knew that they had earned his wrath with his oath, "goodness gracious sakes alive." 

One word can change everything, consider:

"That was good BUT you can improve the footwork," or 

"That was good AND you can improve the footwork." The latter tone is softer, talking with less than talking to. 

Above all, players benefit from affirmation, "I believe in you." 

Lagniappe. From AI:

Nonverbal communication plays a crucial role in sports, as it can convey important information to teammates, coaches, and opponents without the need for verbal communication. Here are some examples of nonverbal communication in sports:

1. Body language: Athletes use body language to communicate confidence, determination, and other emotions. A confident athlete may stand tall, make eye contact with opponents, and appear relaxed. Conversely, an athlete who lacks confidence may slouch, avoid eye contact, and appear nervous.

2. Facial expressions: Facial expressions can also convey a lot of information in sports. For example, a smiling athlete may signal confidence, while a frowning athlete may signal frustration or anger.

3. Gestures: Hand gestures can be used to signal plays or strategies to teammates, such as pointing to a certain area of the field or indicating a specific route.

4. Posture: Posture can also convey important information in sports. For example, an athlete who is ready to pounce may crouch down, while an athlete who is tired or injured may limp or slouch.

5. Eye contact: Eye contact is an important form of nonverbal communication in sports. For example, a basketball player who maintains eye contact with their teammates may signal that they are open for a pass, while a soccer player who avoids eye contact with an opponent may signal that they are not going to challenge for the ball.

Overall, nonverbal communication in sports is essential for athletes to communicate with each other and convey important information to their opponents.

I attended a conference years ago where one of the speakers was Dr. Tom Hanson who was Derek Jeter's sports psychologist. Dr. Hanson discussed Jeter's confident, tall walk to the plate as part of his batting preparation.

Lagniappe 2. Upper body workout.

Being a Great Teammate

Everyone can't be a great player; everyone can choose to be a great teammate.

Great players emerge at the intersection of size, athleticism, and skill. Ordinarily, at least two are needed.

But everyone can become a better teammate. What are some 'dos' and 'don'ts'? 

• Realize that you represent the program 24/7/365.
• Respect teammates, coaches, opponents, and officials.
• Great culture requires great teammates. 
• Make being a great teammate part of your identity. 
• Share credit. Understand that you can't accomplish anything alone.
• If you're a top 10 percenter, get a workout partner to help both of you improve. If you're not, strive to be by working with one. 
• Recognize that you're on a bunch of teams - family, school, sports, community.
• Know your role and others on the team.
• Speak greatness. An African proverb says, "you can go faster alone but we can go farther together." 
• Be a role model for younger players. When a team's best player is its hardest worker, great things happen. 
• Don't "bigfoot" teammates. Confidence balances arrogance and doubt.

Here's the AI take: 

Being a great teammate in sports involves several qualities and actions that contribute to the overall success of the team. Here are some examples:

1. Positive attitude: A great teammate always maintains a positive attitude, even in difficult situations. They encourage and uplift their teammates, and never bring negativity to the team environment.

2. Support: A great teammate is always there to support their teammates, both on and off the field. They offer words of encouragement, provide assistance when needed, and celebrate their teammates' successes.

3. Communication: A great teammate communicates effectively with their teammates, both on and off the field. They listen to others and share their thoughts and ideas in a respectful and constructive manner.

4. Work ethic: A great teammate works hard, both in practice and in games. They lead by example and inspire others to work harder and strive for excellence.

5. Accountability: A great teammate takes responsibility for their actions and holds themselves accountable. They don't make excuses or blame others for mistakes, but rather take ownership and work to improve.

6. Adaptability: A great teammate is adaptable and willing to adjust to different situations and roles. They are versatile and can play multiple positions, and they are always willing to do what's best for the team.

7. Sacrifice: A great teammate is willing to make sacrifices for the good of the team. This may involve giving up personal accolades or playing time, but they understand that the team's success is more important than individual achievements.

Overall, being a great teammate requires a commitment to putting the team first and working together towards a common goal. It takes effort, dedication, and a willingness to support and uplift others, both on and off the field.

Lagniappe (something extra). 

Coming Attractions

Here are a few scheduled posts. They are subject to revision. 

 

Truth

 'The truth needs three things: number one, you got to live it. Number two, you got to be able to tell it. And number three, you got to be able to take it.' - Kevin Eastman, former Celtics Assistant

Comedian Steve Martin asked another great comedic mind, Carl Reiner, what he was going to say. Reiner answered, "the truth." When he went on stage, Reiner said something like, "I know you're all thinking, 'I hope this isn't long and boring.'" 

Tell the truth with humanity. 

Explain to players:

• Strengths and areas of need
• How they might improve
• What their current role is and whether they can increase it

Some coaches are brutally honest. Bobby Knight would say, "just because I want you on the floor, doesn't mean I want you to shoot."

 

"I would let you shoot it but your teammates don't think you should..." 

Video is "the truth machine." It confirms or disconfirms what you think you see. When the film came on, we'd think, "I hope I'm not getting roasted today." We all had our turn. 

What truths should players embrace? 

• Be on time. 
• Take care of business. "There is no ability without eligibility." School matters. 
• Be ready to go (stretched out, mentally focused) when practice starts.
• Know your responsibilities (e.g. assignments/coverages).
• Commit to excel in your role...put the team first. 
• Manage your body with proper diet and sleep and avoiding substance abuse.  
• Be a great teammate. Don't be a distraction. Don't 'bigfoot' teammates.

A lot of these relate to discipline. "Discipline determines destiny." Elite players are disciplined. They're in their notebook, know their assignments, and are coachable. They make both the team better, teammates better, and "impact winning." In basketball, they are possession enders as they score, rebound, or get stops of opponents. In volleyball, they either finish plays on attacks and keep plays alive on defense. 

Lagniappe. An expert shares advice on generating topspin.

Lagniappe 2. Second chance. One minute summary on attack.

 

Craft Your Plan

Jayson Tatum says Al Horford has had a tremendous impact on his development as a leader.

"My 1st year in the league, that's somebody that helped me out a lot. It kind of helped me realize that I need a routine of my own. Al has been very instrumental in my success as a player." pic.twitter.com/xgqMdfRq1R

— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 19, 2023

As a top NBA draft choice, Jayson Tatum chose a specific path. Some choose "the life" of celebrating the experience. Most "wash out." Others craft a plan to improve their body, their skill, game understanding, and leadership. 

High school athletes are younger, with fewer gifts and less maturity, but face the same choices. 

• What future do I want? 
• How can I identify the path? "Look for the helpers."
• How can I control my destiny (the metaphor of the rider and the elephant)? Does reason or emotion win? 

Tatum leaned on a mature teammate, Al Horford, to realize that he needed a plan to become great. 

Charles Barkley shared a similar story, as veteran Moses Malone counseled him to save his money and avoid an 'entourage' that would only siphon off his resources. When Barkley became a veteran NBA player, he advised young players the same way. Many said, "stop dogging me old man." In other words, don't put me down, I know how to live. 

Many professional athletes become bankrupt despite earning millions of dollars. 

As a young athlete, don't go figuratively, emotionally bankrupt as you seek the pathway to success. Craft your plan; you'll reap the rewards. 

Lagniappe. Reminders on approach:

• Study technique (become a technician)
• Practice technique to automate technique
• Watch (cellphone) video of your approach 
• Refine after study 
• Understand that sport rewards explosive athletes