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Coach's Corner

β€œIt never ceases to surprise me at the infinite capacity of the human mind to resist the introduction of useful knowledge.”
- Thomas Raynesford Lounsbury

Inspire Initiative, Not Dependency (Pete Newell, Part I)

2/26/2019

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Hall of Fame coach Pete Newell (1915 –2008) coached men's basketball for 15 years. He led USF to the NIT Championship in 1949, the University of California to four consecutive conference championships and the 1959 NCAA championship, and a year later coached the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 1960 Summer Olympics. After his coaching career ended, he ran a world-famous instructional basketball camp. Newell was considered "America's Basketball Guru". His contributions to the game of basketball have been so great that according to many, Newell has perhaps had as much or more influence on the game of basketball as any person in the modern era.
 
Coach Newell was fierce about Inspiring Initiative, not Dependency in his players. In the Bruce Jenkins book A Good Man: The Pete Newell Story, Coach Newell expanded on this idea:
 
"I wanted players with initiative, guys who could control a difficult situation on their own. People may not realize that years ago, you couldn't bring a player over to the sideline to talk to him. Players had to stand out in the middle of the court during your timeout. They changed that rule during my second year in coaching [1947] and I was angry about the change. I felt my team could always interpret what I was teaching; we didn't need all these darn meetings. The players have to know what they're doing, and why! I didn't want my players depending on me. I figured I'd teach them during the week, and when the game comes along, it's up to them. That's one reason I didn't like to call timeouts. I didn't want the players thinking that every time they got in a little jam, I'd bail them out. I wanted to make them figure it out"
 
Coach Wooden had the same approach. Newell described a game against UCLA that demonstrated the point:
 
"When I was at Berkeley, we were determined we weren't going to call a first time-out. John Wooden and I believed the same thing about time-outs, that it was a white flag, a last resort, almost an early surrender. At Berkeley, playing for the conference championship, neither one of us called a time-out in the first half. In the second half, with three minutes to go, UCLA called a time-out, because we "got them".
 
A parent doesn’t help their child when they constantly zoom in and fix things. A manager does more for his/her employees by asking them "What do you think?" as opposed to always being the answer person. A great teacher causes you to think rather than telling what to think. Abraham Lincoln said: "The worst thing you can do for those you love is the things they could and should do themselves."
 
The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu (600 BC) said: "A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves."
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What Makes You Come Alive?

2/23/2019

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Are you fully living your life or merely existing to make other people feel comfortable? Doing what you need to do must become a consistent habit. It is rarely a matter of "if," but “when." We confuse being busy with success. Restrain from allowing those things that matter least, get in the path of those things that matter most. Never forget criticism is a positive growth opportunity to learn, discover, grow and explore where you are and where you are going. 

Throughout my life, I have realized there is a plethora of knowledge to learn from our younger generations. I use them as mentors. Much of how we think is based on our emotions, beliefs, wounds, and personal biases. Our lives are a reflection of what we choose to connect with and concentrate on. Real communication only transpires when real active listening is taking place. Often we leave conversations with unexpressed thoughts. If the person you are conversing with leaves you more inspired and empowered than when it started, you have done your job.  

Much of our life is arithmetic. We add something and subtract something. I have come to learn all the things we want are not necessarily all the things we need. Trust is becoming more expensive. There are some things in life that you cannot put a monetary value on like genuine and authentic friendships. Friends are not found. Friends are made. Show me your friends, and I will show your future. In the age of information, there is no excuse for not being self-educated. Yet we must not become individuals that do not listen to reason, facts, truth, and evidence. 

Remind yourself every day to step beyond the box you have created for your life. The only limitations that ever exist are the ones you create and entertain in your mind. By learning from and letting go of the past, we can improve our future!
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Become Comfortable with the Uncomfortable

2/16/2019

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At sixty years of age, I am attempting to save myself from the follies of old age. I am running out of time, so I have no time to waste. I now recognize that acquiring material things and seeking sensory gratification is not a road map for happiness. Instant gratification is almost always the enemy of our personal growth. Our society has become conditioned to think that mastery in any craft can be attained overnight. Living in a time that endorses average and mediocrity confines us from challenging the status quo and exploring the true depths of who you are. 

I have learned throughout my journey always to confront the truth. No matter how uncomfortable it is. We can spend our whole lives resisting the truth. But luckily the truth does not care. It is always waiting to be set free. I have learned that you are never too old to change the course of your life. As painful as things might seem or get on the journey; time tends to heal all wounds. The light we reflect is the light we live in.

Many of my beliefs throughout life have crumbled upon more in-depth and deeper inspection. A great gift to give others is your attention. Attention is love. But understand you cannot change anyone that does not want to change. Each of us must show up daily and do the self-work. Learning to give guidance without judgment is the beginning of a new kind of relationship with ourselves and others.

You are never too important to be nice to people. Greedy people seldom examine the consequences of their actions. They do what they have to do, to achieve what they want. Everyday practice human kindness. When you enter any space, bring positive energy with you. Our humanity would be in a better place if we talked with someone instead of talking about someone. 

Be careful that your ego does not become a roadblock. Our character is defined by the level of integrity we display. No matter where you are, be there entirely. As long as you keep moving forward step-by-step, you are growing. Many of our sorrows arise when the mind disconnects from the spirit. So step outside your comfort zone and endeavor every day to look at the world around you with awakened eyes, a curious mind, and a heart filled with love. Don't just do it. Be It!
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Why Not?

2/13/2019

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Throughout my sixty-year self-discovery journey, I have learned the first rule of knowledge is never to stop learning and questioning "why not." True vision is the art of seeing the invisible. I have allowed my curiosity to be my wings in my life which has allowed me the unique opportunity to explore the depths who I am and who I am not. I have come to learn life truly does humble you deeply as you age. You realize how much nonsense you entertained and wasted time on. 

If you are wrong at the start, be right at the end. Every day we must spend time operating outside of our comfort zones. Never allow others to decide who you are. Celebrate your journey and share your voice. When you speak, see it in your mind and feel it in your heart. Your truth must be lived. You can no longer postpone your truth to make other's feel comfortable. 

If life closes a door. Open another one. It is a door. That is how they work. Do not worry too much about what you have to lose. Focus on what you have to gain by taking the first step towards authentic and purposeful change. Trust the discomfort and trust the process while keeping the vision. Wherever your eyes go, your body will follow.

Know we have greater control over our lives than we think. Rejoice in the present moment while leaving reservations, fear, and doubt behind. The thoughts you believe, the information you consume, the people you surround yourself with today will create the life you have tomorrow. When you discover something worthwhile, share it with others while striving to have at least one real conversation a day. Engage in dialogue that challenges and awakens you to see your world and the outside world through different lenses.

Remain mindful of living in an era where technology dictates our empathy for ourselves and others. Pick up the phone and call people. Make the time to visit in person. Tell them you love them. Create a daily I love you list and never allow a day to go by without them feeling your appreciation for them. When in doubt, say thank you to everyone and everything!
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Key Trait of a Great Coach (Jack Clark, Part VIII)

2/12/2019

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-In an interview with Jan Stenker for Unconditionally Strong Jack Clark, who has led the UC-Berkley Rugby program to 28 national championships in 33 years discussed one of the key traits of being a Great Coach:
 
"Strong Technical Knowledge and a Strong Technical Approach"
 
"In coaching, I think it's important to have really strong technical basis where you're applying science in the right way. You're using notational analysis, you're using video analysis. You're effective at teaching motor learning skill. You follow best practice in all of those things. You're not going to take the team's talent to its potential without a really strong technical approach.
 
This includes everything from the overall strategies that the team employs to match-day tactics to the preparation of the team. We are neurotic about capturing, sorting and publishing data — at least internally. You can't do anything around here where we're not going to rank it 1 through 65 on this team. That rank might be in your unit, it might be in overall rank, it might be both. But everything gets captured and ranked and internally published. We're always auditing our efforts to assess if we are on the right track. Where can we get better? That's created a real honesty to the team — we're OK talking about what we don't do well.
 
There's a term in coaching called fence-posting. If you can imagine building a fence, you dig a hole and you put the post in there and you walk about 10 feet and you dig another hole, you walk another 10 feet and dig another hole. That's kind of what you do in coaching. You've got to consistently talk about checkpoints in a collaborative fashion with the team and have the team talk about them. You've got to make the values and the mindsets surrounding them come to life. You've got to make them real and not some slogan on the wall — a very real belief system and value."
 
The result of posting individual detailed statistical results is that team members know specifically their strengths and weaknesses and where they stand. The checkpoints are real, not a slogan. I have had some businesses that are reluctant to post individual stats because they don't want to offend anybody. When I polled the employees they said they liked everybody's stats being posted because they knew where they stood and could seek out superior performers for advice in an area they were struggling in. They liked this much better than a management speech telling them "You just have to be persistent, hustle and work harder."
 
In the appendix of Practical Modern Basketball, written by John Wooden, you will find samples of detailed individual statistical results from his practice scrimmages during the 1961-62 season. The statistics are from more than 20 specific areas and most were posted on the player's bulletin board.
 
If you played for Jack Clark or John Wooden you didn't have to wait for a game or a speech to know how you were doing.

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3 Keys to High Performance (Jack Clark, Part VII)

2/5/2019

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In a podcast for the Orrick Law firm, Jack Clark, who has led the University of California's Rugby teams to 28 National Championships in 33 years, described three of the keys to a high performance team:
 
1. NO BLIND SPOT
 
I don't think that the very best teams can have a blind spot, can have an area that's important that they don't have competence in. I don't believe that there's shortcuts. I believe you have to check all the boxes. If you just want to be in the upper half of the table; you want to maybe not be just mediocre. There probably are a few things. Just don't do this, and do that, and you know you're going to be okay. The requirements for being among the best teams are different.
 
2. NO BAD APPLES
 
Now, with that said, talent becomes important. There was a legendary football coach that died about 10 years ago named Bo Schembechler at Michigan. He had this quote that I think is great. It had to do with recruiting and who you want on your team. He said, "Well, if you ever really want a guy and you don't get him, that's OK. He'll only beat you once a year." I think that's kind of catchy. Then this old boy cleared his throat and said, "On the other hand, if you get the wrong guy on your team, he'll beat you every day." We want talent on the team, but one wrong guy? That can really hurt you.
 
3. MAKE STRESS YOUR FRIEND
 
There is a debilitating stress that we don't wish on anybody. That's a serious condition that we have to protect people from. But there's also a friendly stress, the stress of wow, I don't have all the answers. Wow, I'm running out of time. Wow, these other guys are pretty good. It helps us grow. It puts us under a pressure that once we repair ourselves, in the same way a muscle repairs itself. It grows. It gets stronger. And I think you becomes acclimated to it. You can make friends with stress. I think that there's a healthy amount of stress that helps us grow. If I don't have any stress I'm probably not trying very hard. I think we should have a big appetite for more, we should feel like that we're out over our skis, and we don't have all the answers all the time, and that we grow from that.
 
Does your team have a blind spot? Is there a bad apple? Has everybody made stress their friend?
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Leadership

2/2/2019

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You do not need to have the title of a leader to think and act like a leader.

The most meaningful purpose in life is to be helpful. No leader does anything remarkable alone. Be somebody who makes everybody feel like somebody. Know your presence can help people feel more empowered and less alone. Displaying vulnerability will always be one of your most courageous leadership traits. Failed leaders tend to have only themselves to blame. The best leaders excel at ego management. 

Remember, before you can lead others you must lead yourself. Change starts first with you. Nothing meaningful comes free. We will not excel by remaining the same. Never allow your self-worth to be determined by other people's approval. Be your own advocate. The more you love and accept who you are, the less you will seek external validation and approval.

The outstanding leaders and coaches must fall in love with the problem and not the solution. We are presented with unique opportunities every day to explore and discover the outer depths of who you are. But we must find time to disconnect and look up from our devices to appreciate and seize them. Never forget hard work is not a strategy. Goals are lovely to have, but habits and systems are what makes those aspirations become a reality. Strategic visioning is having a clear image of what you want to achieve, which then organizes and instructs every step toward that goal.

On your self-discovery journey, you must spend a significant part of your days listening and learning. Be a truth seeker. Your truth must be lived in the here and now. Listen more with your heart, and talk less with your mouth. Look around and see what is not happening and imagine what could. We all can be the change, it starts within and transmits out!
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    Author

    Dave Edinger has been coaching basketball for 37 years at the high school, middle school. and international levels. As a head coach, his teams have won 572 games.

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