Attitude is everything :)

 

I’m Not Coaching Today

I’ve decided not to coach today.

Well, not entirely, but I’m letting go of the wheel more than many coaches would. After losing a well played game vs. our biggest opponent 2 days ago, our girls have been frustrated. Practice wasn’t fun yesterday. We’ve put a TON of time into player development. We’ve been practicing since November, have scrimmaged a few teams, and generally worked harder than most other schools and players have. I’m proud of them.

But I think we’ve done too much. Girls are thinking about so many options. “Can I drive? Which way? Which move do I use to create space? How do I counter that defensive reaction? Wait – my teammate just cut, what’s the best passing lan – oh, gone. Dang, I stopped ripping the ball through the box!” Jump ball/Turnover.

So, we’re just going to let the girls play ball. I’m naming a starting 5 and letting them decide which offensive set to run, which defense to run out with, and just hoping they’ll ball. My assistant coaches and I will handle substitutions, morale, and managing the clock to some degree. But we want the girls to handle pressure, to make adjustments, and to use their knowledge of the game.

I have all the faith in the world that our girls know the game. We’ve worked hard, and they’re trained so well. However, they haven’t played with that knowledge well enough. They are not instinctive. They’re tentative and over-thinking. Since I believe this is a result of my “over-coaching” and own desire to do everything I can to help, I’m backing off. It’s all them!

Perhaps a successful update will follow.

 

 

 

“Work for what you want to become”

We kicked off our Varsity girls practice yesterday, featuring this video at the beginning of practice:

We then asked girls one simple question: why do you ball? What is your motivation, your reason for working so hard. These girls have invested a ton into basketball. Lots of Sunday butt-kickings @ Neuqua Valley, sweating in a hot Provi or Lemont gym, and attending any extra shoot around, camp, or clinic they can. For most girls, this season is the culmination of their Spartan Basketball experience. It’s not time to cruise, and assume all that hard work will just pay off. We’re a good team. Instead of just staying that good team, work for what we want to become.

 

An Example

LV Basketball is supposed to be a combination of hard work and fun. It’s supposed to be fun because it’s a game. But if you don’t bleed and sweat for the game, you’ll get nothing from it. Nolan Smith, 2010 National Champion at Duke and rookie guard for the Portland Trailblazers is a great example.

 

Play CRAZY Defense

Beat the girl to the spot! You don’t have to reach and steal the ball, just be in the right position to steal the PASS, or drive her crazy and make her screw up, thereby forcing a turnover!