This is an application we use for team captains. Many teams look for captains to lead off-season and summer workouts and others yet give captains a huge role during the season. This page contains our "job description" for what it means to be a captain. The Word document which you can also download includes the "job application" which will be completed by those players who are desiring to be a captain. Team Captains Job Description Captains should have great character and emulate … [Read more...]
10 Steps to Basketball Stardom
From her book, "Basketball for Women", Nancy Lieberman shares her 10 steps to stardom. As she says, these steps "can help you achieve and handle the success that will come with your hard work and dedication". Ten Steps to Basketball Stardom Competitive Greatness: Includes patience, your mental attitude, faith, determination, and fight. Coachability: Be hardworking, loyal, enthusiastic. Listen well. Have the ability to adapt to different systems. Be a leader. Skill Development: Have a will to … [Read more...]
The Will to be Great
I am sure that most of you watched the BCS Championship game a few weeks ago in which Alabama manhandled Notre Dame in extraordinary fashion. Being from Alabama, I am blasted with Alabama football for most of the year which is tough being a basketball guy and an Auburn fan to boot. But I think, as coaches, we can learn a lot from Crimson Tide Head Coach Nick Saban. What he has done and accomplished in his profession is nothing short of remarkable in this day and age, not just in college … [Read more...]
The Elite Team Mindset
A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals. (Larry Bird) When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet him he will win.” (Ed Macauley) The mindset of an elite team, and a team with a goal of a championship is one of complete focus by all the members of that team. Everyone a part of this team knows their role, and knows that their role is … [Read more...]
12 Basketball Team Covenants
Use this list of 12 team covenants with your basketball team to help instill values such as togetherness, selflessness, hard work, and more that will lead to a winning team. We will accomplish what we do TOGETHER. We share our success and we never let any one of us fail alone. We are fully grown adults. We will act as such and expect the same from the people around us. We will not keep secrets. Information that affects us all will be shared by all of us and we will quickly and openly work to … [Read more...]
The Underachiever
“You really don't know how good you can be.” I'm sure this phrase has been echoed by coaches all across the state at some point in the season. It's a phrase that alludes to the player in your program that has all the potential in the world, but can't seem to see it within themselves. They can jump out of the gym. They see the court like a hawk. They can get down the length of the court in 4 seconds or less. But they just never really put it all together. Recently I read a great resource for … [Read more...]
6 Things To Know In Recruiting: A Guide for Players, Parents, and Coaches
As our recruiting coordinator for the last two years I've often had coaches, players, and parents ask me about the best way to get noticed and begin the recruiting process. The obvious answer is to be able to play – but assuming you have that part covered, here are 6 little things that can go a big way in attracting the attention of coaches. Research the school. This is number one because it's something you should do BEFORE contacting the coaching staff. Learn about the school and what makes … [Read more...]
15 Ways to Communicate With Your Teammates
Effective communication is critical in building a great basketball program and it begins from the ground up! Young players MUST learn how to communicate; whether it is with their parents, teachers, siblings, coaches or teammates. Communication is the glue that holds most relationships and teams together. When I first started coaching, I found myself at a loss for words at times and didn't know exactly what to say to my players. Sometimes I would get to the huddle and I had a difficult time … [Read more...]
10 Commandments of Basketball Practice
This list of 10 Commandments for Practice makes for a great handout or addition to your player handbooks. Use it as-is or tweak it to fit your philosophies. THOU SHALT PRACTICE HARD we will come each day with energy and enthusiasm we will put supreme effort into every drill because we know that the habit of practicing hard will carry over to playing hard we will finish by pushing through fatigue for we know the best improvement comes upon the heels of being tired THOU SHALT PRACTICE … [Read more...]
5 Principles for Basketball Success
There are many paths you can take to achieve success as either a basketball coach or player. No one path is necessarily the best as there are many twists and turns along the journey to success. The following 5 principles, however, can guide you to greater success on the basketball court. If these 5 principles are a part of your foundation, you will be able to withstand the bumps along the way. These 5 principles will give you the best opportunity to succeed; not only in winning games, but in … [Read more...]