A couple of discussions inspired me to reflect further about Dean Smith and delve deeper into his coaching philosophy and leadership style. Certainly, this post may have been timelier had I published it at the time of Smith’s passing in 2015 but I feel that the thoughts remain relevant because of his lasting impact on the game. When I began coaching, I was drawn to Smith’s methods because of his winning track record and the fact that he was one of the limited numbers of coaches who had published a book that was easily available in the 1990s. To me, …
Team Standards
Team StandardsPlayers and coaches collaborate to develop establish standards for each season so that they are meaningful and relevant. The specific standards may vary based on what the team aims to accomplish, the lessons the coaches wish to impart and particular behaviour that must be corrected. There is some flexibility because the standards are a process to help the athletes develop themselves. Nevertheless, there are four core values that are not negotiable and team standards should help support these principles. To keep it simple, there might be one or two standards in each category. The categories were chosen because they are ...
Building a Culture
Creating a culture that lasts from season to season is one of the coach’s most challenging tasks. When all team members buy in, significant successes can be reached so it is worth the effort. For a culture to truly come to life, the responsibility for its development must be shared by players and coaches alike. Give Players Ownership When New Zealand All Blacks coach Graham Henry took over after an unsuccessful 2003 Rugby World Cup, he began by making players responsible for the team. At first, the coaching staff identified some players who were negative influences in the clubhouse and …
Teaching Accountability
March 2015 Introduction To push each other to get better, players and coaches must hold each other accountable. Arriving on time, practicing all skills in a drill, not merely the featured element, attending additional workouts, playing tenacious defense in practice, and executing game situations precisely are principles that are not followed by every team but seem to be exemplified by teams that win championship. Some young players cannot traverse the gap between good and great because although they may speak about their aspirations to improve, their actions are incongruent with this objective. Dave Smart believes that success at Carleton “starts …
Communication with Players
Successful teams practice honest and open communication. Everyone is working together in order to improve as a team and within their individual roles. In order to promote this growth, assessments and the feedback that follows provide instructions for athletes. Throughout the year, coaches should continually develop, refine and communicate a plan of action to help players: Accentuate their existing strengths; Close the performance gap in their weak areas; Find a role on the team that satisfies their expectations and matches their level of commitment; and Provide objective non-judgmental feedback so players can master and expand their role. Finding an appropriate …
Coaching Integrity
Integrity is integral to a play: every player, coach, and staff member must say was that mean, do what they said they would, and acknowledge what they have done. Trust is a cornerstone of all team standards, the foundation of great success. Without trust, teams cannot reach their full potential and fulfill their self-actualization needs. Integrity Defined It is not a matter of morality. (Nevertheless, all teams should not only follow what defines ethical behaviour in their respective societies but go above and beyond in order to set the example.) Integrity is not synonymous with judging between right and wrong …
Creativity and Leadership
My friend Andy Higgins explains that part of his motivation for coaching is to expand what is possible. Problem solving, breaking down boundaries, and thinking outside the box are all methods to expand what is possible. Historically, basketball – and all sports – has always been fueled by creativity. In the Past Problem solving: James Naismith created the sport to provide a sport based on skill that could be played indoors. In the early part of the twentieth century, teams like the Original Celtics and the New York Renaissance developed offensive and defensive systems to achieve tremendous winning streaks. Breaking …
Why Are You Trying Out for the High School Team?
Not to criticize daily physical activity, nor playing for fun, nor a lifetime of good health. Not to demean those who shoot hoops in the school yard or play pick-up with friends, nor those who swim run, or play another sport to keep fit. Seeking instead to address those wishing to tryout for the next level (high school, Ontario Basketball, AAU, university or college) and excel. Anyone considering that step should ask themselves one question: Why am I doing this? Anyone can see the fans at the game more clearly than the name on the jersey. Anyone can play for …
Best Seat in the House
Spike Lee’s “basketball memoir”, Best Seat in the House, provides a unique perspective on the sport and frank commentary. Despite his film background, Lee is tremendously knowledgeable about basketball and how it is intertwined with New York City’s culture. He has attended hundreds of games, from Game 7 of the 1970 Finals when Willis Reed emerged from the locker room to deflate and defeat the Lakers to Game 7 of the 1994 Eastern Finals when the Knicks returned to the Finals for the first time in twenty years, and he describes the city’s euphoric reaction to these moments. Thousands of …
Clutch Performance
According to a study of collegiate basketball, the two statistics most correlated with winning are field goal percentage and free throws attempted. During Monday’s N.C.A.A. Final, Kansas made 53% of their shots, Memphis shot nineteen foul shots, and the Jayhawks won 75-68 in overtime. The game was close enough that a number of plays could have altered the outcome. Why did Kansas win? A student said that the result wasn’t fair, that the Tigers only lost because Derrick Rose performed below his normal standards. The reason that Rose shot poorly and went scoreless for so long was the Jayhawks’ defensive …
The Finishing Flourish of the Brush or the Canvas?
Vince Carter are his dunks are featured in a new add where he says that “Coach says a dunk is only worth two points” before disagreeing. “Coach” is presumably Dean Smith, winner of two National Championships and an Olympic Gold Medal. It’s true that dunks can change the game in a way that a lay-up cannot but their effect is over-rated by players with limited skill sets. After VC crowned Fréderic Weis in the 2000 Olympics, France was not coming back to win the game (they weren’t going to win in the first place). However, Lithuania wasn’t intimidated in the …