Coach Ed Science
  • Home
  • Intro
  • PS (1-4)
  • PS (5-9)
  • PS (10-14)
  • PS (15-18)
  • PS (19-21)
  • Space Exploration
  • Warriors Hoops
  • Summer Basketball Camps
  • Flying Pumpkins, 2020
  • Literacy
  • #getBETTER Hoops at Home
  • Coach's Corner
  • NOVA Nation
  • Villa Drills
  • Improving Your Shooting
  • Footwork Drills
  • Bball Skills & Drills
  • USA Basketball Tips
  • Things to Ponder
  • Motivation
  • Sportsmanship
  • Thoughts from Paul Harvey
  • Cool Links & Games

Coach's Corner

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

Have You Practiced Your Backup Plan? (Don Shula Part III)

11/27/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Don Shula led the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl victories and the only perfect season in the history of the National Football League. He led his teams to six Super Bowls. He had only two losing seasons in his 33-year career as a head coach in the NFL (1963-1995). Shula holds the NFL record for most career wins as a head coach with 347.
 
As a Coach in Miami, Shula's teams were 28-8 in regular season games started by a backup quarterback. His teams always practiced their backup plan. Shula calls this being "Audible- Ready". In his book with Ken Blanchard: The Little Book of Coaching, Shula discusses the importance of the idea:
 
"An audible is a verbal command that tells your players to substitute new assignments for the ones they were prepared to perform. Part of readiness is the ability to shift your game plan at will. Prepare well with a plan - then expect the unexpected and be ready to change that plan. As a leader, you must preserve the right to change plans - even to change them at the last moment as circumstances may dictate.
 
There is no point in sticking with a game plan that's not working. The sun does not rise and fall based on one person's judgment.Effective coaches are continually out there scanning for data and advice that will make their decisions more intelligent. Good coaches listen to their staff, and once they've heard all of the important information, they're prepared to make the best decisions under any circumstance.
 
Audibles are not last-minute orders dreamed up out of nowhere. They're strategies your team knows about and has practiced thoroughly before the call is made. In the fast-paced technological world of today, organizations must be "audible ready" - not only to change a play or two, but to change the entire game plan if necessary."
 
Don Shula prepared thoroughly and then he would ask "What if?"and plan and practice for those contingencies. When his two star quarterbacks got hurt in the same game and he had to put a running back in at quarterback and change from a passing offense to a running offense, the change was seamless and they won the game because he had practiced the backup plan. Shula had already asked and prepared for the situation because he had asked "What if both our quarterbacks get hurt?"
 
If Shula was running a business he would ask: "What if our computer system crashes, the power grid fails, our battery backup system doesn't work and our phone system goes down? What exactly are we going to do?" Once he documented the plan in detail, he would make the team members practice it. That's being Audible-ready! When you're caught surprised or flat-footed you don't have the time to properly evaluate, and you end up making bad decisions. Shula never let this happen.
 
Have you practiced your backup plans? Are you flat footed or Audible- Ready?
0 Comments

OVERLEARNING = AUTOPILOT = PEAK PERFORMANCE (DON SHULA - PART II)

11/20/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Don Shula led the Miami Dolphins to two Super Bowl victories and to the only perfect season in the history of the National Football League He led his teams to six Super Bowls. He had only two losing seasons in his 33-year career as a head coach in the NFL (1963-1995) Shula holds the NFL record for most career wins as a head coach with 347.
 
In his book with Ken Blanchard: The Little Book of Coaching, Shula discusses the importance of Overlearning:
 
"Overlerning means that the players are so prepared for a game that they have the skill and confidence needed to make the big play. More than anything else, overlerning—constant practice, constant attention to getting the details right every time—produces hunger to be in the middle of the action. When players have absolutely no doubt about what they're supposed to do or how to do it, they thrive on pressure. Overlearning causes people to play at a higher level of expectations, raising the standards for everyone.
 
People in organizations should develop a fascination with what doesn't work. If you spend some valuable time concentrating on eliminating practice errors, you'll also eliminate a good amount of the second-guessing that goes on come performance time. Every mistake should be noticed and redirected on the spot. There's no such thing as a small error or flaw that can be easily overlooked. As a coach, if you let errors go unnoticed, you'll ensure that more of them will occur."
 
A coach should recognize the limit of how much information each student can learn and then execute without thinking. Shula refers to this as autopilot. Bill Russell and John Wooden both said: "If you have to think about it it's too late". Shula described how autopilot results in initiative and creativity which improves performance:
 
"If your people are worrying about what they should be doing, they have a tendency to hold back. You want them out there turning it loose. I wanted my players so familiar with their assignments that when the game started, they were operating on autopilot, the way you do when you drive a car. You're not thinking about what your hands and feet are supposed to be doing, you're just doing it.When an orator is really prepared for a speech, he or she is able to improvise and be creative in ways that significantly enhance the presentation. The goal of autopilot in the business world is to release people to do on their own what they've learned reflects the values, goals, and standards of the company—and to be creative the rest of the time."
 
Are you giving a team member too much to learn? What mistakes do you never ignore? Are your team members operating on autopilot or are they thinking first and holding back?
0 Comments

Humble Yourself Along the Journey

11/17/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Our mind was once an empty attic. Over time it has been filled with the furnishing of knowledge, stories, and beliefs. Protect yourself from falsehoods and lies. One of the greatest lessons to be learned is how to distinguish between fact and opinion. We need to cultivate well-developed habits of keen observation. Becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable is essential even if it means seeking alternative viewpoints on what we believe, what we do, and what we possess. Auditing our life, thoughts, and performance with an active, engaged and inquiring mind provides a unique opportunity for us to explore the outer depths of who we are.

During times of change, certain habits can hinder our personal growth and self-discovery transformation. Making a living is not the same as making a life. There might be times when you are in the dark as to why you are here on Earth. In those moments, clarity is waiting to emerge. Do not confine yourself to your comfort zones. Get out of your own way and holistically explore how you are feeling while shifting your mindset towards what is in your control at that moment. What we think, we create. What we feel, we attract. What we imagine, we become. 

Always humble yourself along the journey. Do not achieve a short-term victory at the expense of a long-term enemy. If a situation does not feel right, do not let logic override intuition. Promise yourself to enjoy every minute of your precious day. Seize the opportunity. Create your own possibilities while prioritizing making others feels good about themselves. Do not brag about yourself. Boast about others. No one has ever become poor by giving. The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention
0 Comments

A River Without Banks is a Large Puddle (DON SHULA: Winningest Coach in NFL History)

11/14/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
​Don Shula is best known as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, the team he led to two Super Bowl victories, and to the only perfect season in the history of the National Football League. He led his teams to six Super Bowls. He had only two losing seasons in his 33-year career as a head coach in the NFL (1963-1995) He currently holds the NFL record for most career wins as a head coach with 347. Shula was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
 
For Shula, the C in Coach stands for: "Conviction-Driven (Never compromise your beliefs)". The Ken Blanchard quote: "A river without banks is a large puddle" typified Shula's approach to coaching. His unwavering belief system provided the banks to his players (the puddle) to be transformed into a powerful unified force (the river). In his excellent book with Ken Blanchard: The Little Book of Coaching, Shula expands on this idea:
 
"Like river banks, a good coach provides the direction and concentration for performers' energies, helping channel all their efforts toward a single desired outcome. Without that critical influence, the best achievements of the most talented performers can lack the momentum and drive that push them into becoming champions.
 
A broad target that's easy to achieve leads to the "puddle" of mediocrity. Keeping that specific focus before the team and concentrating their efforts within narrowly defined limits are the tasks of any coach.
 
I wanted to make sure that my team came out of every meeting a little more intelligent than when they went in, that they came off the practice field a little better prepared mentally and physically to play the game than they were before practice. I wanted my players to make the most of every meeting, every practice, and every preseason game in order to get them ready for the regular season. Everything I did was to prepare people to perform to the best of their ability. And you do that one day at a time.
 
You can't be a successful leader if you don't have a clear idea of what you believe, where you're headed and what you're willing to go to the mat for. What do you stand for? If we asked your colleagues, team members, or clients what your principles are, would they be able to tell us? What is the main message you broadcast to people based on your daily actions and words? Remember, if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."
 
Is your team clear on the beliefs you won't compromise? Are you? Do you change with the wind of other's opinions? Are you managing a puddle or building a river?
1 Comment

The Only Real Failure is the Failure to Act

11/10/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Any person can ride a train. Only the wise person knows when to get off. It is difficult to solve new problems by using the same old tools. At times we can become prisoners of other people’s expectation and validation of us halting our growth in exploring the outer depths of who we are.

Never give someone power over your mind. It is a fatal strategy. Learning to be comfortable with being uncomfortable is the beginning of transformative and sustainable personal growth. Use your voice for good. Your actions to inspire. While actively listening to discover and grow. If you are not changing, you are not growing. 

Many of life's frustrations will arrive in a package labeled opportunities. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is start a real conversation with ourselves and others. Each day we need to find moments of solitude to reconnect our mind, body, and spirit. The quality of your questions will determine the quality of your life.

Too many people want to be bosses rather than teachers. Spend more time doing things for other people rather than talking about them. Make your world a better place for others to enter. Go out of your way to make those you encounter feel important.

Today's leader empowers their team to believe that the transitions they are facing is progress and in their best interest. It is always about getting it right not who is right.  You have a moral obligation to coach and lead the whole person not just a particular niche of who they are. Concentrate on making unique contributions to the lives of others. Focus your time and energy on the process and not merely the prize. 

Leading in the 21st century comes down to managing attitude, behavior, and performance. Leadership is not a rank. It is an action, mindset, and lifestyle. Remain a student of life while bringing a new sense of meaning and value to your craft every day. The only real failure is the failure to act!
0 Comments

FAIRNESS, RESPECT AND TRUST (JOE TORRE - PART VII)

11/7/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Hall of Famer Joe Torre was a major league manager for 30 seasons. From 1996 to 2007, Torre was the manager of the New York Yankees and guided the team to four World Series championships. He is one of only five managers in history to win four or more World Series titles and one of only two in history to win three titles in a row.
 
In his book Ground Rules for Winners, Torre writes about three essential qualities he felt any manager, supervisor or coach must have and develop to be successful:
 
"Fairness, respect, and trust are the three ingredients in any recipe for teamwork. Offer fairness and trust to your team players, and they will do in kind. Not only will your employees grant you the decency you grant them, they will begin to demonstrate these values with one another, which only cements the togetherness and commitment that fuels great team work.
 
For the most part—whether you're managing in the world of sports, school, or business—when you give workers ample amounts of freedom and responsibility, including a clear set of guidelines for professional conduct, they usually meet or exceed your expectations."
 
In his book, Torre provids five guidelines for what he refers to as "straight communication" which he believes is the foundation for maintaining fairness, respect and trust:
 
  1. "Identify individual needs: Figure out what each individual needs in the way of communication, be it support, motivation, technical help, or the proverbial "kick in the rear."
  2. Time your talks: Determine when the "door is open" for communication with a particular team player. Know when you have to nudge it open with helpful or directive comments.
  3. Acknowledge emotions: Let team players know that you accept the range of their emotions, including fear, uncertainty, and anxiety.
  4. Get issues out on the table: Managers and team players must be able to air grievances and deal with problems in an open manner, respectfully but without holding back. Otherwise, conflicts and resentments fester, sapping motivation and undermining teamwork.
  5. Use team talk to ventilate and motivate: Managers can use team meetings to air problems and motivate groups and individuals. In my view, team meetings have their place, but they're like chili peppers—a few add zest to your dish; too many and you're asking for trouble."​
 
Are you building fairness, respect and trust?
0 Comments

Tomorrow Belongs to Today's Curious Mind

11/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
There is no get smarter or get better quick plan. What is it you are willing to give up to achieve what it is you desire? Every day attempt to better understand how the world works and your role in it. If you want to change your life you have to do something different. Knowing is not enough. You need to understand how to apply the knowledge. Make positive thinking a habit and search for new learning opportunities that push you beyond your comfort zone.

Nothing changes until you do. The road less traveled is not a crowded place. You can make significant changes in your life with minor changes in your thinking and behavior. Personal growth means shedding old approaches in exchange for new ones. Success should never be seen merely as a destination. It is a lifestyle that we need to maintain through our habits and attitudes toward life. Execution comes down to doing what you said you were going to do. 

None of us are a finished product. On your self-exploration journey never allow external things, places, people or circumstances to determine your worth. Realize your self-worth can never be validated by others. You were not born to live in a box. Denying yourself the chance to be who you really are is selfish. Share your brilliance and gifts everywhere you go fearlessly. 

When in doubt, embrace your uniqueness. Clarity diminishes resistance. You have your own unique path in life to live. Be uncommon. Celebrate your narrative and your journey. Your job is to live your life in a way that makes sense to you, not the outside world. 

When in doubt, embrace your uniqueness. Clarity diminishes resistance. You have your own unique path in life to live. Be uncommon. Celebrate your narrative and your journey. Your job is to live your life in a way that makes sense to you, not the outside world. 

Tomorrow belongs to today's curious mind. Challenges are opportunities for growth. View all struggles as positive possibilities. You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. Do not be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.  Make each day count and make a positive difference no matter what you are doing. When I meet someone, the first question I ask myself is what I can learn from this person? Every person you come in contact with has something to teach you. Empower others to find their voice as you continue to uncover yours.

In living comes obstacles of opportunity. Sorrow prepares us for joy. The next time you are faced with something that is unexpected, unwanted or uncertain, it just might be a gift. A precious present to explore the outer depths of who you are while having a conversation with yourself. How you think about a particular situation and how you feel about yourself matters more than what you might be experiencing and the opinions of others. Time is precious. Make every moment special!
0 Comments

    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.

    Archives

    January 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed