YOUR SEASON JUST ENDED. WHAT NOW?

Your team just got beat in the playoffs, and your season just ended. What now? In the first few days that follow the last day of a the season a coach's emotions are still all over the place. Coaches constantly wonder what they could have done differently in that last game that could have helped their season continue. Hindsight is still 20/20, right? As coaches, we typically struggle with the end because we all want to win. We want to advance as far as we can in the playoffs. It's part of our competitive nature that we strive to win, win, win. These emotions will eventually settle, and that is when coaches gain a clearer perspective of the experiences of the season. 

To keep moving forward, after the completion of your season, coaches should consider the following:

1. Keep things in perspective. Whether your team won 30 games, or finished in last place, remember the big picture. 

• How much progress did your team make during the season?
• Did your team follow and live by the core values of your program?
• Did your players enjoy the experience?
• In twenty years do you think your players will say they are glad they were part of this team?

 2. Even though the season has ended your job as a coach has not ended.

• What message/theme do you want to have for your post-season meeting with your team?
• Have your planned your team banquet?
• Will you have exit meetings with each of your players? 
• What kind of off-season opportunities have you planned for your players?
• Workouts
• Strength Training
• Camps
• Leagues and/or tournaments
• What teams do you want to add/delete to next year's schedule?
• Will you be making an changes or additions to your coaching staff?
• Are there any style of play changes you need to make with the personnel you have coming back next season?

3 STEPS TO HELP YOU ENJOY COACHING

3 SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU DO

Step 1: Surround yourself with good people.

Step 2: Serve others.

Step 3: Repeat.

THE IMPORTANCE OF "GLUE" PLAYERS

Glue players are needed.  They are vital to a team's success.  They contribute things to your team that don't always show up in a box score; things that can't always be measured with a stat. 

SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF A GLUE PLAYER

• Sprints the court in transition
• They might night receive a pass in transition, but the fact they sprint could draw a defender to them and open up a teammate for a score
• Talks on the court
• Call out screens on defense
• Makes sure the team is in the correct offense or defense
• Makes sure the team is matched up on defense
• Motivates their teammates
• Dives for loose balls
• This can be contagious 
• Forces the person they are defending to give extra effort just to get open
• This tests the will of the person they are guarding.
• Makes the extra pass on offense
• Pass up a good shot for a great shot
• Forces the defense to work extra hard
• Follows the game plan.
• They understand the game plan.  
• They execute the game plan. 
• Takes care of the ball on offense
• They aren't careless with the ball.  They are poised with the ball in their hands.
• Genuinely cares for their team
• Speaks positively of their team, teammates, and coaches
• Represents their team to the best of their ability on and off the court
• Serves others

SUCCESSFUL TEAMS NEED GLUE PLAYERS

Any player can be a glue player.  I think some coaches see glue players as players on their roster who maybe aren't the most talented.  This can be the case, however your most skilled players can be glue players as well. If your most talented players are glue players then chances are your team has a great chance to reach its full potential.

The average fan sitting in the stands watching a game might wonder why certain players are getting so many minutes if they aren't scoring, rebounding, or filling other stat columns.  Most likely those are glue type players they are wondering about.  In a team sport like basketball we have to remember that we don't always play our five best, we play our best five. Your best five are the five players that play best together.  Many times a glue player or two are part of that best five.

CELEBRATE YOUR GLUE PLAYERS

I encourage coaches to celebrate their glue players.  In a film session point out an example of a player running the court in transition, setting a great screen, or making the extra pass. Stop play on the practice court to point out an action of a player that makes them a glue type player.  While in a huddle during a timeout you can let your team know how important a dive on the floor for a loose ball was for your team because it gave you an extra possession.  While talking to the media you can highlight players that do these glue player type things that are keys to your team's success.  Your glue players need to be celebrated so let them know how important they are to the team.  

REMEMBER:  Not all of the players on your roster are going to have the same skill, BUT they can all be glue players.  

SHARE YOUR IDEAS

I'd enjoy hearing from other coaches on how they celebrate glue type players.  If you have suggestions, please share with me.  You can reach me by email at dietelgreg@gmail.com

RECOMMENDED BOOKS FOR COACHES

This is a list of a few of the books I took the time to read so far this summer that I feel can help us as coaches. Happy reading!

Toughness by Jay Bilas
I recommend you put this at the top of your reading list. You want a tough team, this is the book that can help you start implementing strategies to use with your players/team. Bilas shares his own thoughts along with other people, from a variety of professional backgrounds, to share their thoughts on toughness.

The Golden Whistle by Jim Burson
Coach Burson uses a story of an up and coming coach to share his thoughts on how a coach can be successful.  He shares his own experiences from a variety of situations that can help coaches make a positive impact on their team on and off the basketball court.  Coach Burson has put this book into a format that makes it easy to read, and easy for coaches to apply strategies with their own team.

The Politics of Coaching by Carl Pierson
This is the actually the second time I've read Coach Pierson's book. And it will not be my last.  His book is a must read for younger coaches, but is equally as beneficial for veteran coaches.  Pierson provides so many helpful hints that will give coaches a great opportunity for longevity in the coaching profession. I have given this book to new coaches coming into our program.

The Hard Hat: 21 Ways To Be A Great Teammate by Jon Gordon
I'm a big fan of all of Jon Gordon's books, but this one blew me away.  This is what I call a Wow! book.  It will make an impact on you not only as a coach, but as a person.  This is Gordon's first "true story" as it is written about about a former Cornell lacrosse player named George.  So many valuable lessons for coaches, players, and people in general in this book.  It's a quick read, but it is one that you will no doubt refer back to many times.

Leadership Lessons Of Abraham Lincoln edited by Meg Distini
This book is full of quotes and thoughts from Abraham Lincoln.  The author does a nice job of organizing them into different topics such as discipline, communication, leadership, conflict resolution, and determination.  This is a book you can pick up and read for a few minutes at a time and pick up some valuable gems to get you to think.

COACHES: WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS OFF-SEASON TO GET BETTER?

Coaches provide their players with multiple opportunities throughout the off-season to help them improve as basketball players.  Coaches need to do the same to improve at their craft. We owe it to our players and our program to continue to learn and grow as coaches.  Here are 14 ideas that might help you continue to grow as a coach.  Nothing real groundbreaking here, but hopefully something will ignite a spark or thought that will help.

1. Attend coaching clinics.Some valuable information can be learned.  Clinics are also great for networking and sharing ideas with other coaches attending the clinic.
2. Get together with coaches in your area to have roundtable discussions. Share thoughts and ideas. I have taken part and even organized roundtables and found them extremely valuable. 
3. Contact college coaches and set up a time to visit with them. Most are willing to do so when their time allows. I would encourage you to have specific topics or questions ready for the college coaches ahead of time.
4. Work basketball camps. Not only is this a chance to work with players other than your own you will get a chance to observe other coaches work.
5. Coach a travel or club team. Working with kids outside your program can be refreshing.  Or coach a youth team in your own program.
6. Watch game film of your last season.  Focus in on what hurt your team in your losses, and what helped during your victories.  Make note of these and figure out what needs to be a focus for your team as you continue throughout the off-season and prepare for next season.
7. Watch games.  Attend AAU or summer league games and write down your observations. What did you like?  What did you dislike? What could you use with your own team or program?
8. Watch games on TV or online.  You can catch some FIBA games online during the summer.  I like to DVR college games throughout the winter and then watch them over the summer with more of a coach's eye. Have your notepad ready when you watch them and take notes.
9. Read as much as you can that can help you as a coach.  As you read each book, take notes on them. Coaching books have so much information in them that some things can get lost in your memory.  Writing down, or highlighting, tidbits you find important will be helpful in your recalling of this information. 
10. Use the internet.  There are many great websites and blogs on the internet that focus on coaching basketball, the game of basketball, and coaching.
11. Learn something new about offense, defense, and philosophy.  Put a list together of what it is you'd like to learn more about, then find the information needed to learn. Take action.
12. Organize your own files.  If you're like me, you have a ton of files stored away in a file cabinet, on a shelf, or the computer.  Take time re-organize them all so that you can be more efficient when looking for this information in the future.  You might even find something you forgot you had and decide it is something you can apply to your team this upcoming season.
13. Breakdown the toughest teams in your conference, section, or in the state.  What makes them so good? What do you have to do to beat them?  Start formulating a plan now.  Don't wait until you only get two days to prepare for them during the actual season.
14. Relax.  Take some time for yourself.  Connect with family and friends that you don't get to see as much during your season.  Coaches run 100 mph during the season, so don't forget to take a little time for yourself when you have the opportunity to do so.

5 OFF-SEASON TO-DO'S YOU SHOULD BE DOING...NOW!

1. ANALYZE YOUR PERSONNEL
One of the first things you need to consider when your off-season begins is personnel.  Figure out what the strengths and weaknesses are of each one of your potential returning players.

2. ANALYZE YOUR X'S AND O'S
Once you have a good grasp of they type of players you have returning, now you have to see how your next team will fit into the X's and O's you are currently using.  You may have a 'system' or a way you always do things, but based on personnel some changes may be needed.  These changes might be large or possibly a small adjustment is needed.  The fact is that you need to have X's and O's that will help put your players in the best position to be successful.  When personnel changes, so might your X's and O's.

3. MEET WITH YOUR PLAYERS
Schedule time to have exit interviews with your players after the completion of your season.  This is a time for player can coach to share thoughts on the previous season and where to go from this point on.  Coaches can also use this time to give players guidance on what they need to work during the off-season.  Also, check in with your players from time to time when you see them in the gym or at school. 

4. SCHEDULE YOUR OFF-SEASON ACTIVITIES
This should be done sooner than later.  Give your players a calendar with all of the off-season opportunities your program offers.  Getting this calendar of events earlier gives your players a chance to start planning their own summers. 

5. MEET, SHARE, LEARN, GROW
One of the great things about the coaching profession is that coaches are willing to share ideas.  If you are interested about a certain concept or topic, contact a coach who might.  Or plan a get-together with a group of coaches and share thoughts and ideas.  This can be as easy as sitting down at a restaurant to diagram X's and O's or share philosophies of coaching.  Coaches will share.

4 EASY TECHNIQUES ON HOW TO GET YOUR PLAYERS TO "WANT" TO PLAY HARD

Have you ever wondered what you have to do to get your players to "want" to play hard for you as a coach?  Here are four easy techniques to use that can help develop a connection with your players that could lead to a stronger desire to play hard.

1. Use a player's name out loud when they are getting praise.  Use their name in a smaller voice when you are pointing out a mistake.  People naturally give you their attention when they hear their name.  If players hear their name loudly when it is connected to positives it can inspire them to continue to do the right things.  You are at risk of having them go in a shell if you constantly have them them hear their own name with negatives connected to it.  There is a time and place for harsh tones, but pick and choose those times instead of doing it often, and it will have more of an impact.    names + a positive = desire to succeed.
2. Expectations should be set for players and the entire team.  Letting your players and team know what is expected for each drill helps them understand what is to be done.  Be clear in the expectations you give and you will see your players play quicker and stronger because they know exactly what is to be done.  Spending an extra minute before a drill explaining the expectations might save you more time in correcting during the drill.
3. Learn from mistakes and losses.  Nobody likes mistakes.  Nobody likes to lose.  Coaches have to realize that there are teaching moments after mistakes have been made or after you have experienced a loss.  Take time to teach so the possibility of it happening again is less than before.  This may require the coach to take a moment, step back, take a breath, and think about why it happened.  Analyze it quickly and then speak.  A loss is only a bad thing if you don't learn from it.  Your players will see that you aren't reacting out of anger and will work hard for you as a result. 
4. Let your players know you appreciate them.  Take a quick moment to let your team, a player, or a group of players know you appreciate something about them.  Point out something to them that might be something different than their basketball abilities.  Let them know you notice they are a good teammate.  Let them know you saw them try to pick up a teammate that may be having a bad day.  You have to see your players as people too, not just basketball players.

HAVE TO LOVE THE MENTALITY OF THIS PLAYER

Have you ever coached a player or players that had a competitive spirit you wished every player had?  I'm guessing your answer is "yes."  All players have a sense of competitiveness in them or they wouldn't be involved with your team.  But there are always a few that have a higher level of competitive spirit than the average person.

I was reminded of this during a recent season when I was having a pre-game discussion with one of our players.  I was also reminded how special it is to be able to coach people like this.  I'm sure some of you reading this can connect with this story.

Our opponent that night had been struggling in recent games, and we were in the middle of a winning streak.  On paper were supposed to win, but my way of thinking never allows me to feel too confident going into any game no matter who our opponent is.  

As I watched our team go through warmups I was thinking about the defensive assignments I was going to give our players when we went back into the locker room.  I thought we had an overall advantage, but their star player was going to be a tough matchup for us.  Their star player is a taller and stronger guard that could attack the basket and shoot from the perimeter.  One of our starters usually was assigned the opponent's best perimeter player, and more often than not our player did a great job in containing that player.  For some reason though I didn't like this matchup for us.

So I called our player out of the warmup line and the following conversation occurred:

Coach:  "I'm kind of concerned about our matchup on their #15 tonight."
Player:  "Why?"
Coach:  "You know normally I assign you to the other team's best perimeter player, but the size of this
                player concerns me.  I'm not sure it's a good matchup for you."
Player:  "Ok. What are your saying, Coach?"
Coach:  "I'm thinking we should have someone else guard that player."
Player:  "Why would you want to do that, Coach?  I'll be fine."

Needless to say that is all the convincing I needed to give this player of ours the tough defensive assignment.  Our player went out and played another spectacular defensive game and helped us to a win.  The win was great, but what I will remember the most from that night is how one of my players looked me straight in the eye with total confidence and conviction that they would do what was needed for our team to be successful. 

A coach's job can be a bit easier when we get a chance to coach players with a competitive spirit like this player has.  I can tell you this coach sure is thankful.

4 METHODS TO HELP DECIDE ON TEAM CAPTAINS

Teams need leadership from its players.  The fact of the matter is that leadership can come from any player on your roster, but more often than not the captain(s) of your team are the players who will provide it on a daily basis.  It cannot be stressed enough how important good leadership can be for the overall culture and eventual successes of your team.

The following are four possible methods to help decide on your team captains:

1. The Coach Decides 
The coach has been around the program, knows the players, and will have a grasp of the leadership ability of each player on the court.  If the coach really does have a good idea of each player's leadership qualities then they should be able to choose the best captain(s) for their team.  The one caution is that the coach may not have insight to the feelings the team members have for each player.  For example, you don't want a captain that the rest of the team won't respect at a high level.  Many times that respect is earned or lost off the court just as much as it is on it, and the coach won't completely understand the off the court stuff because that is a separate world for players.

2. Players Vote

Each player on the team has a vote and they can decide on captains.  This is a quick and easy system to use and it gives your players a voice in the decision making process by writing on paper the names of the players they want to be captains.  One red flag with deciding on captains this way is that it can become a popularity contest.  Our most popular players aren't always our best leaders.  Players should be voting for the person they feel can provide the necessary leadership through their actions, by what they say, their ability to be vocal with the group, and the respect they have for them.  If you use this method allow players vote for themselves.

3. Players Apply

Using this option requires players who are interested in being a captain to write on paper the reasons they feel they would be a great captain for the team.  It's almost like writing a letter of application when applying for a job.  Players should include

• The reasons why they would like to be captain.
• Experience they have had in leadership roles (other sports or clubs/groups they belong to)
• Qualities they posses that make them a good leader

The coaching staff will then review each letter from the candidates to decide on who the captain(s) will be for the team.  This is is a good way of doing things because it forces the players to put a lot of thought into being a captain.  It also helps them understand the importance of it.  The one caution with using this method is that not every player has the ability to express their thoughts in writing as well as others.  And being a good writer doesn't always equal being a good captain.

4. Players Verbal Vote

Using this method would require having individual meetings with each player on your team.  Coaches have these meetings with players anyway so this can be a perfect time for the players to vote verbally for the team captain(s).   Players will not only name the player or players they feel would be great captains for the team, but they will also tell "why" they feel that way.  This gives coaches some great insight into the reasons why players feel someone would be a good captain.  One red flag with this method is that some young people won't feel as confident speaking their vote as they would for example writing it down on a piece of paper.  Allow players to vote for themselves.

OLD SCHOOL

Player: Hey Coach, why isn't the gym open this week?
Coach: This is a no contact period.  It's high school league rules.
Player: Well I guess I'll just shoot in my driveway then.

One Ingredient For A Successful Coaching Recipe

A coach can be compared to a chef.  A chef has to use the right ingredients, and the right amount of each ingredient to create a meal they feel is a success.  A coach is like a chef in that they have to have a variety of the right ingredients to have a successful season.   There are so many different ingredients (characteristics) a team must possess to have a successful season.  You could ask hundreds of coaches for the ingredients they feel are needed to create a successful team and you would get many different answers.   

There are coaches who say time and time again, "I need more talent if we are going to be successful."  Having talent can make things easier for coaches.   But if anyone coaches long enough you know there are going to be years when the talent level isn't going to be as high.  The challenge for coaches is to find a way to be successful during those years when the talent level might be a little lower.  Whether your team is full of talent, or talent-less, there is an ingredient (characteristic) that will give your team the best chance to reach their full potential.

Leadership. Leadership from the coach and players.  Leadership may not trump talent every single game, but it can some nights.  And all things being equal between two teams, the team with the best leadership will often times come out on top.

COACHING LEADERSHIP
1. Be organized and prepared. Always have a practice plan ready for each practice.  Write it down and post it for the team to see.  This shows the team that you are putting thought into and have a plan for each practice. Be organized for each game.  Have a scouting report and know the tendencies of your opponents.  The great John Wooden said it best when he said, "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."
2. Expect the best from each player.  Not every player possesses the same amount of talent, but the coach needs to expect each player's best.
3. Respect. Treat the players with respect.  Treat your staff with respect.  Treat officials with respect. Treat your opponents with respect.  Respecting everyone doesn't mean each day is all "flowers and rainbows."  A coach can demand a lot and still treat everyone with respect.

PLAYER LEADERSHIP
One of the beautiful things about the coaching profession is you get to work with people.  It also makes it one of the challenging aspects of coaching because each person is wired differently.  Each and every player on your roster can lead.  It's important to remember this, but also remember that each player can lead in a different manner.  Some of your players can be vocal with their leadership.  Others can lead quietly through their actions.

Regardless if a player leads quietly or vocally, the key to this ingredient (characteristic) is that the player who is leading must "walk the walk".  Talk is cheap.  If a player is all talk then their words mean nothing to the rest of the team.  One of the all-time best leaders on a college basketball court was Duke's Christian Laettner.  Laettner was known to be very demanding on his teammates to try and get the best out of him.  If you ever get a chance to read the book The Last Great Game by Gene Wojciechowski, do it.  He goes into great detail throughout the book how Laettner was constantly demanding and expecting the best from his teammates.  His teammates did follow his lead, and the result was Duke winning back to back national championships in 1991 and 1992.  The thing that made Laettner's form of leadership effective was the fact he didn't just throw jabs at his teammates to pick on them.  He was also "walking the walk" as he was a hard worker himself, and also expected the best from himself.

As coaches we have to keep an eye on how our players are attempting to lead.  We need to make sure that players are doing it in a way that can help our team.  If a player's attempt at leading is coming across in a way that is detrimental to the team the coach needs to step in and talk to this player.  Encourage your leaders to continue to raise the bar in a way the rest of the team will want to follow. There may be years when your team can handle a Laettner-type of leadership.  Other years may require a different style from a player or players.

LEADERSHIP INGREDIENT IS SPECIAL
The leadership ingredient is important because when times are tough each team needs to have that person or group of people that they can rely on.  There is no fool proof way to measure leadership, but we know it has value.  There isn't a coach reading this that wouldn't take that ingredient and add it to their own team's recipe for success.

Value leadership.  Commend players who provide it. Encourage and teach others to do the same.