"CLIMBING MOUNTAINS"
Our lives are full of mountains, big or small, and we have a choice on whether we want to climb those mountains. Climbing mountains can be difficult and costly. But what happens in life is that most individuals, when given the choice between difficult or safe, will choose the safer route. However, if one wants to be great, they must be willing to do what others will not consistently.
"Meraki (may-rah-kee) is a Greek word that means doing something with passion and soul" (Medcalf, p. 105). Those that want to be great, you see them engaged in meraki in every aspect of their lives while most are disengaged and are just going through the motions. These individuals believe their development and growth are up to others when that is a lie. Their power lies within them, they just have given it away for the safer route.
A lot of people are going to be angry when you climb your mountain to the top and go against the crowd. They're going to tell you to sit down, shut up, and do what you're told. If you're someone who wants to be great, you have to be willing to step away from the crowd and take responsibility for your journey.
"Mediocrity is replaceable. Greatness is not" - Joshua Medcalf
Climbing the mountains may take longer and may require more effort, but it is more worthwhile than sitting on the sidelines because it is not what you are going to achieve that will make it this; it is who you will become through the process. We don't climb mountains for the world to see us, we climb mountains so that we can see the world.
So, whether they be big or small, are you willing to climb your mountains?
Foundation of Team Defense
The word foundation is defined as the basis or ground work that anything stands on or is supported by. However, we as individuals and as organizations sometimes struggle to embrace the word foundation. Do you have building blocks for the foundation of your team defense? We all have our own and I want to share some elements or building blocks that I personally feel are important to the foundation of a team's defense.
1. COMMUNICATION
Everything begins with communication. We can do everything right on the defensive end of the floor, but if we do not communicate, there is very little chance of success. Communication is the basis for how we connect with one another on the floor.
2. STANCE
Low player ALWAYS has the advantage. Too many times, we see players standing straight up or not being in a proper stance to play the game. Basketball is played low to high.
3. BALL PRESSURE
"The ball can't make a pass it can't see." Ball pressure is key to any defensive scheme. The more you can make an offensive player uncomfortable, the easier it becomes to take your opponent away from their offense.
4. HELP DEFENSE
Unless you are told to face guard a certain player, help side is essential to a team's defense. How are you playing away from the ball? What I think most don't understand is that most players are quick enough to recover to their man if they are forced to help or have a teammate rotate for them. It comes down to how we break down defense for our players so they understand rotations, help, and gap.
5. CLOSEOUT. CONTEST. BOX OUT
Too many players fly at the ball on closeouts. To be a really good defensive team, players have to buy-in to closing out with a hand above the ball or in opponent's vision and being on balance. Then comes finishing the defensive possession. The great Pat Summitt said it best, "Offense sells tickets. Defense wins games. Rebounding wins championships." Rebounding is an effort part of the game, if your team is more determined to box out than the offense is to crashing the boards, you win the battle. Every rebound is a 50/50 ball, usually the ones who want it the most are the ones who get it.
Accountability In Practice
https://basketballhq.com/accountability-in-practice
The link above is to an article that is about accountability in practice. All coaches, no matter their sport, want to hold themselves and their players accountable in practices and games. Accountability begins with the habits we create within our program that ultimately translate over to games and in life. But how do we, as coaches, develop these habits on a consistent basis?
The link shared, dives into how programs can develop these habits through various concepts in practices. For example, Mike Jones implemented a practice long competition called 50/50 at Radford University. "We have found that this method of accountability works better because peer pressure comes into play. Each individual’s actions affect the entire team and everyone is paying for mistakes not just the person committing the mistakes" (Kyle Getter).
How the 50/50 Drill works:
You have 2 teams and start the competition with each team having 50 points. Then throughout practice, every live drill will be scored based on the “50/50” scoring system. All point totals can be more or less points and categories can change depending on what you want to emphasize to your team that particular day.
It is a running score and at the end of practice, the losing team owes running sprints. We usually have 3 down and back sprints (9 seconds each) and a 30 second sprint (foul line, ½ ct, opposite foul line, and full court) as the penalty for losing.
Below is an example of their scoring system for 50/50
Offensive Points
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Off. Reb = +2
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2/3 = +2/+3
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Perfect Execution = +2
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No Execution = -3
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Turnover = -5
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No Talk = -2
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Common Foul = +1
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Shooting Foul = +2/+3
Defensive Points
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Deflection = +2
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Charge = +5
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Middle Drive = -3
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Show N Go = +2
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Launching Pad and Seal Down = +4
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No Talk = -5
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Team Block-Out = +2