The Building a Program Series

Lesson #9 of the Building a Program Series - Excuses and Body Language

This lesson is one of ten in our Building a Program series. This series focuses on a combination of off-court and on-court ideas that can take your program to the next level or build it from the ground up. These ideas have been built through 25 years of running a highly successful high school basketball program.

Each course in this series is a 2,000 word article that includes highly specific examples and ideas that can help you build your program. These writings are easy to read and are downloadable PDFs, so you can always save them. 

Here is a short excerpt from this lesson, titled Excuses and Body Language

The varsity players realized quickly that making excuses would lead to a stoppage of practice and a very brief running session. Here are a few examples of the types of excuses we typically encountered early in a season:

“I got picked.” - after giving up an open shot 
“It slipped.” - after badly missing a shot
“____________ wasn’t where he was supposed to be.” - after messing up execution of a play
“Where was my help?” - after getting beaten off the dribble
“Nobody is moving.” - after over-dribbling or turning the ball over

Unless you are a first-time coach, you’ve heard these excuses and many more."

This course is all about the power of eliminating excuses and poor body language within your program!

Lesson #1 of the Building a Program Series - Have a Plan and Sell that Vision

This lesson is one of ten in our Building a Program series. This series focuses on a combination of off-court and on-court ideas that can take your program to the next level or build it from the ground up. These ideas have been built through 25 years of running a highly successful high school basketball program.

Each course in this series is a 2,000 word article that includes highly specific examples and ideas that can help you build your program. These writings are easy to read and are downloadable PDFs, so you can always save them. 

Here is a short excerpt from this lesson, titled Have a Plan and Sell that Vision:

"You can see that these plans are usually a combination of on-court and off-court qualities. By no means is your plan a catch-all for everything you’ll do as a program. But, the overall plan should provide a hook or a big picture for everyone associated with your program to hold onto.  You’ve probably heard of the “elevator pitch.” Well, imagine yourself in an elevator with someone who asks you what your program or team stands for. You should be able to start with your one-sentence plan and then expand on it for no more than 20 seconds. When that person steps out of the elevator, he should know your plan. He might not believe in it and could have a totally opposing viewpoint on how things should be done, but he at least should understand clearly what your vision is for your team or program. "

This course is all about the power of identity within your program!

Lesson #4 of the Building a Program Series - Do Extra and then Talk About It

This lesson is one of ten in our Building a Program series. This series focuses on a combination of off-court and on-court ideas that can take your program to the next level or build it from the ground up. These ideas have been built through 25 years of running a highly successful high school basketball program.

Each course in this series is a 2,000 word article that includes highly specific examples and ideas that can help you build your program. These writings are easy to read and are downloadable PDFs, so you can always save them. 

Here is a short excerpt from this lesson, titled Do Extra and then Talk About It:

"Until last year, he held the school record for most threes in a game with nine and still holds other three-point shooting records. He did extra. And, I talked about it all the time. I am convinced he made so many shots for two reasons: first, he made himself a great shooter, and second, he actually believed that he DESERVED to make every shot because of all the extra time he put in.  His morning shooting was the impetus for me to make a point to do extra whenever possible and then to talk about it later. These things gave us an edge. They gave us a reason that we should win. They gave us belief."

This course is all about the power of doing extra within your program!

Lesson #7 of the Building a Program Series: Timing and Picking Your Spots

This lesson is one of ten in our Building a Program series. This series focuses on a combination of off-court and on-court ideas that can take your program to the next level or build it from the ground up. These ideas have been built through 25 years of running a highly successful high school basketball program.

Each course in this series is a 2,000 word article that includes highly specific examples and ideas that can help you build your program. These writings are easy to read and are downloadable PDFs, so you can always save them. 

Here is a short excerpt from this lesson, titled Timing and Picking Your Spots:

"Two specific situations from the last couple months stick out to me as examples. First, I officiated one game where the coach yelled “Close out! Choppy feet!” on every single close out for an entire game. I could not believe it. I’m sure he said it close to 250 times during that one-hour summer scrimmage. You could tell he was a very good coach because of how his players competed, and they definitely closed out well. But, there is absolutely no need for him to yell “Close out! Choppy feet!” every time one of his players comes from help or rotates to guard someone. I’m sure his players do not even hear it any more. He certainly could be using his time and voice differently."

This course is all about the power of timing and picking your spots within your program!

Lesson #3 of the Building a Program Series - Say Less, But Say It More Often

This lesson is one of ten in our Building a Program series. This series focuses on a combination of off-court and on-court ideas that can take your program to the next level or build it from the ground up. These ideas have been built through 25 years of running a highly successful high school basketball program.

Each course in this series is a 2,000 word article that includes highly specific examples and ideas that can help you build your program. These writings are easy to read and are downloadable PDFs, so you can always save them. 

Here is a short excerpt from this lesson, titled Say Less, But Say It More Often

"Coaches are teachers even if that’s not their day job. Coaching is teaching. And, teachers love to hear themselves talk. So, as coaches, we have to understand and be empathetic of our athletes’ situation. They are at practice to be active and engaged and physical. Sitting in desks all day is tough on a teenager; sports practice is their chance to get moving and active. Long, drawn out, repetitive talking from a coach usually does nothing to motivate, energize, or inspire your players to compete at their best level."

This course is all about the power of being concise and detailed within your program!

Lesson #6 of the Building a Program Series: Inclusion - Coaching Everybody

This lesson is one of ten in our Building a Program series. This series focuses on a combination of off-court and on-court ideas that can take your program to the next level or build it from the ground up. These ideas have been built through 25 years of running a highly successful high school basketball program.

Each course in this series is a 2,000 word article that includes highly specific examples and ideas that can help you build your program. These writings are easy to read and are downloadable PDFs, so you can always save them. 

Here is a short excerpt from this lesson, titled Inclusion - Coaching Everybody:

"Time after time — in situations similar to this one — I’ve seen coaches blow the whistle, approach the offending player, and take some time to privately explain and demonstrate the correction to that player while the 10-14 other players stand idly either losing focus, staring blankly ahead, or even beginning to take a couple shots and pass the ball around. This coach is making an already difficult task (coaching) more frustrating. His goal is clear, and the fact that he’s willing to stop practice to quickly and directly correct the player is admirable. But, his approach is setting himself up for many frustrating coaching moments later that season."

This course is all about the power of inclusion within your program!

Lesson #8 of the Building a Program Series - Communicating with Parents/Players - Openly, Honestly, and Often

This lesson is one of ten in our Building a Program series. This series focuses on a combination of off-court and on-court ideas that can take your program to the next level or build it from the ground up. These ideas have been built through 25 years of running a highly successful high school basketball program.

Each course in this series is a 2,000 word article that includes highly specific examples and ideas that can help you build your program. These writings are easy to read and are downloadable PDFs, so you can always save them. 

Here is a short excerpt from this lesson, titled Communicate Openly, Honestly, and Often:

"Knowing up front that your parents will have bias means that you can take one of two stances: communicate openly and often with an understanding of this bias, or avoid communication with parents at all costs. I highly recommend Option #1 even though it will be uncomfortable and awkward at times. And, of course, it requires boundaries."

This course is all about the power of communication within your program!

Lesson #2 of the Building a Program Series - Delegating Power to Assistants and Leaders

This lesson is one of ten in our Building a Program series. This series focuses on a combination of off-court and on-court ideas that can take your program to the next level or build it from the ground up. These ideas have been built through 25 years of running a highly successful high school basketball program.

Each course in this series is a 2,000 word article that includes highly specific examples and ideas that can help you build your program. These writings are easy to read and are downloadable PDFs, so you can always save them. 

Here is a short excerpt from this lesson, titled Delegating Power to Assistants and Leaders:

"A valued and committed assistant coach is a better assistant coach. My assistants helped with scouting and game planning and were certainly an important part of every practice. What was the result? They were more engaged overall and more likely to make constructive comments and adjustments that helped the team succeed. If your assistant coaches spend most of practice just watching and making a comment here and there, I urge you to rethink how you’re utilizing them."

This course is all about the power of delegating responsibility for the good of your program!

Lesson #5 of the Building a Program Series - Control and Minimize Slippage

This lesson is one of ten in our Building a Program series. This series focuses on a combination of off-court and on-court ideas that can take your program to the next level or build it from the ground up. These ideas have been built through 25 years of running a highly successful high school basketball program.

Each course in this series is a 2,000 word article that includes highly specific examples and ideas that can help you build your program. These writings are easy to read and are downloadable PDFs, so you can always save them. 

Here is a short excerpt from this lesson, titled Control and Minimize Slippage:

"On the first day, everyone is counting together, doing the same stretch at the same time, and clapping in unison after every stretch. As days go by, the circle gets sloppy, the counting quieter, and the clapping grows less enthusiastic. This is slippage — and slippage in your pre-practice stretching sends this very clear message to the players: slippage is acceptable. If slippage is fine in your pre-practice routine, then how can you expect your players to execute their plays correctly or handle defending a ball screen appropriately?"

This course is all about the power of controlling slippage within your program!

Lesson #10 of the Building a Program Series - Balancing the Negatives with the Positives

This lesson is one of ten in our Building a Program series. This series focuses on a combination of off-court and on-court ideas that can take your program to the next level or build it from the ground up. These ideas have been built through 25 years of running a highly successful high school basketball program.

Each course in this series is a 2,000 word article that includes highly specific examples and ideas that can help you build your program. These writings are easy to read and are downloadable PDFs, so you can always save them. 

Here is a short excerpt from this lesson, titled Balancing the Negatives and Positives

"Playing for an angry coach does not improve performance. It might improve effort or intensity in the short term (out of fear), but it does not lead to better passing, shooting, or ball handling. These are activities that require skill and practice and confidence. Being constantly yelled at actually makes executing these fine motor skills more difficult."

This course is all about the power of balancing the negatives and positives within your program!