P’S YOU WILL FIND SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE COACH’S SEASON
PURPOSE- Take a look at your previous season’s practice plan. Do the drills match the way you wanted your team to play? As you begin the pre-season, look at drills that can improve on last season. If it doesn’t fit the way you WANT TO PLAY, get rid of it and find another option. ?’s to ask: Are there better drills? Is this benefitting my players/team/our philosophy?
PRESSURE- Most athletes struggle with the idea of “failing” in front of their peers. It is important that you let them know ahead of time about the big moments and what they will feel like (a dose of adrenaline, increase in HR, palms sweaty, loud arena), so they can have confidence going in. Make it so they have already visualized it before it happens. ?’s to ask: Have they experienced this in practice? How can I create this in practice? Do your players know you love them regardless of outcome?
PRACTICE- How you practice is everything. Do your practices fit the way you play? Try looking at everything from FT’s, to water breaks, substitutions, whiteboard drawings, to ATO situations. Can you make them as realistic as possible? If you expect a high level of play from your players they better practice at that level. We challenge you to work to coach at that same level. ?’s to ask: Am I holding myself to the same standard I set for my players? How can I look at my practices with an objective frame of reference?
PLAN- Here are a few thoughts for what you could plan for. -Gear (Order way ahead) -How many coaches will be at practice? -How many players do I have for practice? -How many baskets do I have? -Who does the laundry? -What responsibilities do I delegate to coaches/players? Are the refs scheduled? Bus scheduled? Will you have pre-game meals? How long is practice? What is most important now/next week/next month?
PART- This is two parts. 1- Try teaching your team in parts. Forget looking at the entire whole. Teach the strong side or weak side actions. What responsibility does one pass away have? What parts are the most important to you, your philosophy, and to the success of this current team? Teach those in parts and progress up. 2- DO YOUR PART. Focus on your role. If it’s coach, asst. coach, manager, role player, or scorer, DO YOUR PART. Take pride in your PART. Your PART is crucial to the success of the team. ?’s to ask: Have you shared what each PART is? What parts are the staple of the O and D?
PROGRAM- Does your program know how much you care about it? Spend time talkin with players and coaches at all levels of the program. Creating these relationships gives them ownership and makes them feel as a valued member of the team. ?’s to ask: How might I try getting my staff together? Could I put together a clinic for my youth players and coaches?
PERSPECTIVE- This is crucial. Get perspective from your staff/players about what they see. When you allow your coaches to coach a portion of practice, take a different angle from where you normally coach and watch. As you observe, you will see new points where improvements can be made or see glimpses where you are stronger than you initially thought. ?’s to ask: How might you get feedback from your players, staff, and others that watch? What angle could you watch from that would provide you with different insight?
PERSONNEL- Have you looked at your assistants and determined where they excel at? What about the players on the team? Try making a list of every member of the program and add what value and greatness they can bring. ?’s to ask: What do you struggle with that another coach can do better or take off your hands? Who are your mentally tough players?
POSITIVE- Being positive with your players will go a long way. If they always remember how you made them feel, why wouldn’t you be intentional on delivering what you want them to feel? Positive attitudes lead to higher levels of production, effort, enthusiasm, and negative thoughts/worries. ?’s to ask: How could I be more positive with my staff/players? What is one thing I could do or say to someone who needs it?