Third Rails

"Social Security is the third rail of American politics. Touch it, you're dead." 

What are the third rails of coaching? What areas are so toxic as to foster fatality? 

1. Politics. Nobody can isolate politics from sports. Carl Pierson's The Politics of Coaching belongs on every coach's bookshelf. Carl examines how many in the sports ecosystem work to undermine others. 

2. Work-life balance. Finding a balance to maintain healthy family relationships challenges every coach. 

3. Isolation. Coaches need help. Whether it's formal like Coach Calipari's "Personal Board of Directors" or less so with mentors, assistants, or other confidants, hear other voices. Good ideas come from anywhere. 

4. Acrimony with parents. A state Coach of the Year coach told me a parent literally "bought out" his contract with a generous donation. Even a hired gun can get taken out by bigger munitions. 

5. Playing time. The Unholy Trinity of minutes, role, and recognition dominate perception. Despite the wisdom of Solomon, you will not divide the three to everyone's satisfaction. A coach who won multiple state championships told me he got a phone call from a parent FIVE MINUTES into the season complaining about his son's playing time. He turned off the phone from then on. 

6. Strategy. Unless your name is Krzyzewski or Summitt, you'll be second-guessed by people with only fractional sport knowledge and experience. That doesn't even account for game management. 

7. Lack of discipline. Players seldom work to undermine coaches through on-court actions. But all too often, off the court actions can be coaches' undoing. Academics, chemical health, and social media all require restraint. 

8. On-court player decisions. It's the math. Teams need a maximal number of winning possessions to succeed. Execution begins with vision and decisions. 

Lagniappe. Excellent video analysis of positioning and touches. Your coaches have the final word.