Everyone has tired, overused quotes. Quotes won't get us off a desert island or out of a deep hole. But now and then they resonate.
"Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson My All-Time favorite basketball quote encapsulates the 'raison d'etre' of games. Shared vision, shared sacrifice, shared success.
"How you play the game reflects how you live." Define yourself on and off the court.
"Always do your best." You heard it a thousand times from your parents, your coaches, your teachers.
"TRY is a word of failure." Don't use the words TRY or CAN'T.
"The ball is gold." Games sum possession of the ball and the efficiency of each possession. "Possession and possessions." Do not give away the gold. Take care of the ball. Value the ball.
"The quality of the pass relates to the quality of the shot." - Basketball is a game of cutting and passing. Great passing is a lost art.
"Impact winning." Players must understand how their actions impact the game. Actions off the court matter, too.
"Be a possession ender." Finish plays.
"What you do, you do to everyone in this room." - Nick SabanGreat teammates are great by making everyone better. You can be a productive player and a sociopath. But nobody wants sociopaths around because they are unpredictably destructive to team culture.
"I believe in you." Nothing inspires a player more than four sincere words of trust.
Everyone needs mentors. Society hasn't provided enough women mentors for young women.
Get to know Anne Lamott, a writer and teacher who wrote Bird by Bird. Her brother delayed doing a report on birds. He lamented to their father about how he could possibly finish it. Her father answered, "bird by bird."
That's how we complete tasks, grinding them out, bird by bird. That's how you improve at volleyball, writing, or relationships. Work at them. Find joy in the work amidst the setbacks.
“The very first thing I tell my new students on the first day of a workshop is that good writing is about telling the truth. We are a species that needs and wants to understand who we are.”
There's no shortcut to 'becoming'. Have a plan, do the work, see progress, and revise the plan. Life is editing.
Lagniappe. Think back to the 'Elevate Yourself' jumping video. This looks familiar although with different terminology.
Adam Grant says "have a 'To Don't List'. Your "To Don't" list matters, the list of actions that interfere with top performance. "Control what you can control." Success is a daily choice.
1. Don't be a pain toward your parents. Take care of business at home. You know what you have to do.
2. Don't be a slacker. Be your best version at school. "There is no ability without eligibility." If you can learn volleyball, you can learn the three R's - reading, writing, and 'rithmetic.
3. Don't neglect the machine. Make time for eight hours of sleep nightly. Studies show athletes perform better with more rest. Hydrate. Eat right. Subtract the junk from food.
4. Don't let up. "Pound the rock." If it takes a hundred hits to break the rock, keep hitting the rock. "Don't skip steps."
5. "You own your paycheck." Skip the skill training, learning the game, explosiveness and conditioning, and resilience training and suffer the regret of fewer minutes, role, and recognition.
6. Don't be a malcontent. "Don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses." - John Wooden Excel in your role while working to expand it.
7. Don't be a bad teammate. "Never criticize a teammate." You will know some of your teammates throughout life. Enjoy shared vision, shared sacrifice, shared success.
8. Don't waste time. "Invest your time, don't spend it."
9. Don't neglect your habits. "We make our habits and our habits make us." Develop a winning routine.
10.Don't forget to check your work. Be intentional. Tell them what you're going to say, say it, and remind them what you said.
Learn across domains. Basketball coach Pete Newell taught footwork, balance, and maneuvering speed. He explained that you play one hundred percent of the game on your feet. Where do volleyball players use specialized footwork?
I've shared numerous videos this 'offseason' using specific examples.
Attack runup. You need runway to generate powerful attacks. Daily viewers have seen it. Watch again.
Blocking. The middle hitter has to get to the outside to 'erase' (wipe) outside attacks. Every strong team has at least one dynamite outside hitter.
"Use the wall." Use the exercises taught.
Passing. Players must 'get to the spot' and be positioned to pass and/or set.' Coach Donny shares types of basic defensive footwork.
Key point. You don't need a net, teammates, or a court to practice proper footwork. Sure a wall helps.
"A culture that is created from the team builds accountability. “The fact that the players have input into this system heightens their awareness of how they can affect one another to make the correct decisions. The peer intervention motto is, ‘What you do, you do to everyone in this room.’”" - Nick Saban in How Good Do You Want to Be?
"Culture eats strategy for breakfast." How do you define culture? I consider it the ecosystem of how teams function - shared vision, shared sacrifice, and shared results.
Culture relies on great communication. Culture includes shared language and unconditional support.
Culture energizes.
Teams can win without great culture. The Yankees "Bronx Zoo" was an example. Winning with flawed culture is a lot less fun.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich lives a culture of inclusion. In Australia, "Eddie Mabo Day" celebrates land rights for indigenous peoples. One of Popovich's players, Patty Mills has aboriginal roots.
The Golden State Warriors won four titles with Steve Kerr at the helm. Kerr's philosophy emphasizes mindset, mentors, and culture. He is no stranger to loss, as his father, a State Department official, was murdered by terrorists. Nevertheless, Kerr preaches that actions have consequences.
Lagniappe. Drills that you can work at home. One arm ball control, alternating, and traveling. "TRY is a failure word. DO."
Big themes resonate. Gratitude increases happiness.
Coach Don Meyer preached gratitude among core values:
Passion (for the game)
Unity (teamwork and togetherness)
Servant leadership
Humility (thinking about yourself less doesn't mean thinking less of yourself)
Gratitude (thankfulness)
Mentoring shows gratitude. Mentoring elevates everyone including the mentor. As mentor, listen without judgment.
Harvard Professor Shawn Achor recommends a 21-day gratitude exercise. Before sleep, write out three things that you are grateful for that day. At the end of three weeks, you have 63 happiness-inspiring gratitude pieces.
Share. Share attention, energy, focus, knowledge.
Say, "thank you." Everyone likes appreciation. I thank the girls at the end of practice for working hard. Positive reinforcement for positive behaviors.
Summary:
Gratitude increases happiness.
Mentor.
Use the 21-day gratitude exercise.
Share.
Say, "thank you."
Lagniappe. Digging the hard spike. Make it "10-15-20."
There's no perfect list because reading is a matter of taste. Currently, I'm reading James Patterson's 4th of July which I picked up from a neighbor's "book birdhouse." A NY Times article suggested reading fiction is important for preserving brain function and who doesn't need that? Off we go.
It is better to reread a great book than to finish reading ten bad ones. Excellent content with poor writing won't make the cut. Get excited by lifelong learning.
Game Changerby Dr. Fergus Connolly. Connolly shares both the big picture of how sports are organized and the granular details that impact winning. It's a must read for serious coaches.
Legacy by James Kerr. Kerr examines the ethos, culture, and leadership of the legendary New Zealand "All-Blacks" rugby team. Players learn to 'sweep the sheds' and "leave the jersey in a better place." There's no place for players unwilling to sacrifice for the good of the club. I've read it more than three times.
The summary on the back of the book really emphasizes the key themes of the book:
“Champions do extra. They sweep the sheds. They follow the spearhead. They keep a blue head. They are good ancestors. In Legacy, best-selling author James Kerr goes deep into the heart of the world’s most successful sporting team, the legendary All Blacks of New Zealand, to reveal 15 powerful and practical lessons for leadership and business. Legacy is a unique, inspiring handbook for leaders in all fields, and asks: What are the secrets of success – sustained success? How do you achieve world-class standards, day after day, week after week, year after year? How do you handle pressure? How do you train to win at the highest level? What do you leave behind you after you’re gone? What will be your legacy?”
How Good Do You Want to Be? It's impossible not to have cognitive dissonance about Nick Saban. He's charming and obnoxious, warm and sanctimonious, generous and flawed. But "How Good" shares a lot of what's under the hood for maybe the greatest college football coach in history.
The Smart Take from the Strong by Pete Carril. The Princeton legend shares his thoughts on hard work, relationships, and the value of finding "lightbulbs," players who light up the court with their presence.
Toughness by Jay Bilas. Toughness is a skill for life. Bilas' book evolved from a classic ESPN.com article. He shares many 'specifics' that apply to every game ever played. "It's not your shot, it's our shot."
The Politics of Coachingby Carl Pierson. Coach Pierson lays bare the subterfuge and conflicts of almost every imaginable situation. Parents use protective behaviors like preventing rising freshmen from working out with the team. Coaches seek to undermine other coaches to steal their job. Carl discusses the value of objective measurements of strength and conditioning so when parents ask why Susie didn't make the team, you can say, "she was 45 of 45 in speed, jumping, and strength testing."
Basketball: Multiple Offense and Defense by Dean Smith. If stuck on a desert island with one basketball book, I choose this.
Making Decisions by Ed Smith. Smith shares his detailed thought process as English cricket selector. He has invaluable insight into personnel selection, psychology, and applying analytics from differing leagues.
Leadership in Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Who has time to read books with 900 plus pages like her Team of Rivals about Abraham Lincoln. "Leadership" is the Cliff Notes to her books on FDR and Teddy Roosevelt, Lincoln, and Lyndon Johnson, warts and all. Coaches are leaders and nobody is entirely self-taught.
Lagniappe.
Here's an excellent AI take...
Certainly! Here's a summer reading list for sport coaches that covers a range of topics including leadership, psychology, strategy, and personal development:
"The Inner Game of Tennis" by W. Timothy Gallwey - A classic that explores the mental aspects of sports performance and the role of self-awareness and focus.
"Wooden on Leadership" by John Wooden - Insights from legendary basketball coach John Wooden on leadership, character, and achieving success on and off the court.
"The Power of Positive Leadership" by Jon Gordon - A guide to cultivating positive leadership skills and creating a winning culture within a team.
"Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol S. Dweck - Dweck explores the concept of growth mindset and how it can transform the performance and potential of athletes.
"The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest Teams" by Sam Walker - Investigates the characteristics and behaviors of successful team captains and their impact on team performance.
"Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life" by James Kerr - A study of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team and their culture of excellence, emphasizing values, leadership, and teamwork.
"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman - Explores the dual processes of the mind and decision-making, offering insights into cognitive biases and how they can affect coaching strategies.
"The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How." by Daniel Coyle - Investigates the science behind skill development and offers practical strategies for unlocking talent.
"The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership" by Bill Walsh - The late NFL coach Bill Walsh shares his leadership philosophy and strategies for building successful teams.
"The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups" by Daniel Coyle - Examines the importance of culture in creating high-performing teams and provides practical tips for fostering a positive team environment.
"The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance" by Josh Waitzkin - A memoir by a chess prodigy and martial arts champion, exploring the process of learning and achieving mastery in any field.
"Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't" by Simon Sinek - Investigates the role of leadership in creating a culture of trust and cooperation within a team.
Remember, this list is just a starting point, and you can tailor it to your specific interests and coaching style. Happy reading!
AI generates an impressive list (I've read nine of these). Professor Kahneman answered an email sharing, "I can't believe anyone read the whole book." (Tedious)
I came across a box of cards in my home office called TableTopics Family. I don't know where they originated. The last card asks, “What makes a good loser and are you one?”
“Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser.” I disagree. Some of the harshest critics I know aren’t winners.
Losses dispense lessons. We all lose. We lose loved ones, fail at relationships, in the workplace, and on the court. Good losers leave with valuable questions and better answers.
Was I physically and mentally prepared?
What went well?
Where did I not do well enough?
What could I do better next time?
Did I compete?
Although he eventually won a pair of National Titles, Dean Smith said that he never felt like a loser prior to winning one.
Be a worthy opponent. Prepare and practice well, compete, and bring our best version to the court. Years ago our seventh grade girls played the top team in the league, whose players won the state championship in the top division in Massachusetts this winter. We lost 47-43 in a hard fought game. After the game, the girls said that the Andover parents told them they competed harder than any other opponent that season. That game was the highlight of our season.
Good losers don't give games away. Good losers can be beaten but not defeated. Good losers do not quit.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
The best motivation is intrinsic, the desire to be the best student, the best athlete, the best at your passion.
Jeff Dunham got his first 'dummy' as a pre-adolescent and became the best ventriloquist in the world. But his key was not just throwing his voice, but doing so with engaging comedy.
You say, "I want to improve." What does that mean?
1. Be specific.
2. Build better habits.
3. "Pick, stick, check." It takes over two months to build a habit. Pick it, do it every day, and monitor your adherence to the habit.
4. "Don't miss twice." If you miss a day, be sure not to miss the next.
5. Write it down. It makes it real.
6. "You earn your paycheck" - minutes, role, recognition.
7. Success is a cruel master. It steals from 'fun'... but winning is fun.
Driving to work, legendary UNC soccer coach Anson Dorrance saw Mia Hamm in a park, running sprints. Nobody was watching as she put in the work to become America's greatest and most renowned soccer player.
A few examples:
Larry Bird shot 500 free throws before school.
Kobe Bryant took 1,000 jump shots a day in the summer.
Bill Bradley practiced three hours a day and all day Saturday.
Kevin Eastman reads two hours a day.
Billionaire Steve Forbes reads at least fifty pages a day.
You want to be better? You want to be great? It's your choice.
Lagniappe. Hips, shoulders, arm. Hit harder. Be aware of core strength and rotation.
Everyone wants to make better decisions. What's the research, our process, our limitations, and how can we improve?
Let's start with an AI summary of Decisive?
"Decisive" is a book written by Chip Heath and Dan Heath, published in 2013. The book focuses on providing practical strategies and insights to help individuals and organizations make better decisions.
The authors argue that decision-making is often hindered by common biases and flawed processes. They introduce a four-step framework designed to counteract these limitations and enhance the decision-making process.
The first step is to "Widen Your Options," encouraging readers to explore a broader range of possibilities rather than settling for limited choices. The authors emphasize the importance of generating more alternatives to increase the likelihood of finding better solutions.
The second step is to "Reality-Test Assumptions" to challenge existing beliefs and gather more accurate information. By seeking out diverse perspectives and actively seeking feedback, individuals can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the situation and identify potential pitfalls.
The third step is to "Attain Distance Before Deciding." This involves creating a mental and emotional distance from the decision at hand, allowing for clearer thinking. The authors suggest various techniques, such as considering the advice you would give to a friend in a similar situation or conducting small-scale experiments to gather real-world data.
The final step is to "Prepare to Be Wrong" by considering the potential consequences of each decision. By adopting a mindset that embraces learning from mistakes, individuals can reduce the fear of failure and become more open to new possibilities.
Throughout the book, the authors provide numerous real-life examples and practical tips to illustrate their framework. They also address common decision-making challenges such as decision paralysis, confirmation bias, and overconfidence.
In summary, "Decisive" offers a systematic approach to decision-making, guiding readers to overcome cognitive biases, broaden their options, gather diverse perspectives, and embrace a more open mindset. By following the book's principles, individuals and organizations can improve their decision-making processes and make more effective choices.
First, frame a decision. Framing effects emotion and opinion. "How long have you been neglecting your homework" differs from "explain your homework process."
Let's use a historical framing, "how should the US approach the ongoing conflict in Vietnam?" Framing is part of influence.
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger suggested three choices to President Richard Nixon, "withdraw, escalate, or muddle along." "Widen" options to include peace negotiations as another alternative.
Reality-test. In diplomacy, leaders sound out political supporters, opposition leaders, and foreign policy allies. Once a saying applied, "politics stops at the waters' edge." Far less so today.
Attain distance.Perhaps in the future, whether in politics or sports, we consult artificial intelligence to generate conventional and "out of the box" decisions. Hollywood and ad agencies uses "test audiences" to evaluate films and commercials. Programs exist to assess the likelihood of songs becoming hits.
Prepare to be wrong. Skill and luck shape results. "Good calls" go wrong. Bad luck yields "bad beats." Early season lineups lose luster. Players move up and down the pecking order. Analytics reveal more effective lineups. Sometimes consultants suggest changes. Former Patriots assistant Ernie Adams earned a reputation as "Belichick's Belichick." Nobody's perfect.
Lagniappe. Develop the skills to play the serve receive however your coach recommends.
Tear down our existing structure. Make it as simple as possible. That can't mean starting with a list of hundreds on our 'to do' list. It's the Kondonization of basketball.
A patient told me, "I throw out that which doesn't give me joy." Another approach is to "tidy a little a day."
"Simplify the process." Traffic in specifics. Keep, give away, throw out.
1. "Every day is player development day." - Dave Smart Develop your 'minimum skill set.'
Finish at the net. Footwork, armswing, platform skills, service, timing.
Become more consistent and more efficient with attacks and defense.
Develop "go to" and "counter." What's your defining skill to get on the court? Everything else is gravy. Ask every player, what is your 'go to' and 'counter'?
2. "Think shot first." - Don Kelbick When you have the receipts (skill), find your shot. Make scoring your priority.
3. Become more athletic. Sport rewards explosive athletes who can separate and finish. A jump rope and jump exercises can do that. "Nothing works unless you do." Athleticism helps:
Front and back row play improve.
Play "longer for harder."
Get lateral and vertical advantage.
4. Stop fouling. Paring fouls was a key part of the Porter Moser program and is one of the Four Factors.
Get out of the net.
It's a mindset.
5. "Possession and possessions." Become a 'possession ender' with scores and stops.
Opponents get "no easy points."
Attack.
Pass better as architects of quality shots.
Take care of the ball. No 'campfires', no communication errors, fewer shanked balls.
Games become 'math' with higher attack efficiency. Fewer errors means more shots. Forced mistakes and more balls kept up means more possessions for us and fewer from opponents (Pete Newell's "more and better shots than our opponents.")
My high school French teacher, Mr. Benoit said, "Ecoutez et repetez." Listen and repeat. Great advice remains great advice.
Bill Parcells folded a paper in three and labeled columns as MUST, NEED, and WANT. That helped him prioritize for the coming season.
That works for teams but also for individuals. Consider your portfolio of:
Skill
Strategy (game understanding/tactics)
Physicality (athleticism, strength, and conditioning)
Psychology (the mental game, resilience)
Skills needed by front and back row players overlap. High volumes of practice attacking at the net make little sense for short but athletic back row players. If you want to play all-around, then you must devote time to all volleyball skills:
Serve/serve receive
Net attack/block
Setting/passing
Everyone benefits from endurance, jumping, strength, and developing some platform skills.
1) Take inventory of your strengths and improvement needs.
2) Confirm that your assessment matches the coaches' assessments.
3) Find a mentor.
4) Develop a specific plan for improvement.
5) Work out with a teammate and develop two players.
6) Track progress (e.g. measure your vertical jump with chalk on a wall)
7) Find activities that you can perform yourself at home.
Lagniappe (a small sample of possibilities)
As a coach, I ask players, "what do we need to improve?" and expect the answer, "Everything." Every position is important, every role is important, and value the triad of "teamwork, improvement, and accountability." Accountability means holding yourself to high standards. That means home duties, academics, and sports. When you set up the nets before practice, set them perfectly.
Lagniappe. Study your footwork on video and work to improve your consistency.
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.
Winning a title is hard. Repeating is harder. Melrose has won ten sectional championships since its first in 2003.
First dynasty - 2003, 2004, 2005 They say 'tradition never graduates' but tradition didn't exist coming into 2003. Senior leadership and an influx of young talent loaded the springboard of success.
Second dynasty - 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 A fourpeat takes remarkable resilience. The lead actors from the first title are long departed for the last. A loss in the state championship in 2011 set the stage for the 'wagon' that won in 2012.
Third dynasty - 2021, 2022. It's hard to graduate your best player and repeat with a new libero, a rebuilt defense, and new setter. But Melrose accomplished that during the second season of the new statewide playoff format.
Is there a secret?
"Maintaining success is difficult: “…champions lose focus because of the distractions that success brings. The championship becomes the focus—not what it takes to be a champion… The best advice is to go back and prepare as if the success never happened.”" - Nick Saban in How Good Do You Want to Be?
What promotes or compromises continued success?
Player development/lack of preparation
Focus/distraction
Strong culture/dissent and selfishness
Good fortune/bad luck (injury, illness)
Leadership/diffusion
Determination/apathy
Tenacity (grit)/softness
Resilience/quitting
What specifics forge success?
Play each point in the moment ("be here now").
Have a short memory. "Be a goldfish." Don't let a lost point bleed into the next point.
