Monday 28 December 2015

Playing in Paradise

With one of the warmest winters on record here in Ontario I got thinking about other times when I experienced warm winters in the past. When I was in my final year of high school I moved to Hawaii to play basketball and to finish my Grade 12 year.  It was February and the new term was just starting.  It was so strange to be in a deep freeze one minute in Southern Alberta, where I was born and raised, and then a few hours later walk off the plane where a wave of warm humidity just took over.  Going a winter jacket to tank tops and from boots to slippahs (sandals or flip flops) was a welcomed change.  

The summer prior I had been staying with my Aunt and Uncle who live in Hawaii.  I was taking care of my cousins during summer vacation and so as payment my Aunt and Uncle sent me to a basketball camp on the other side of the island from where they lived at the time.  It was at a basketball high school where they held really great summer development camps.  From when I got there I really loved the atmosphere of the school.  It wasn’t pristine or perfect by any stretch but what it had was a lot of character!  The doors of the classrooms all faced out, which was weird to me, there were also palm trees and flowers everywhere. 

As fate would have it the Head Coach of the girls’ basketball team ended up being one of the counsellors at the summer camp that week. I guess over the course of the week he really liked how I played.  At the end of the camp he asked if I would consider coming to school there the next year.  I never thought in a million years my parents would agree to it but they eventually did.  They knew that I was mentally ready for the challenge and also thought it was an amazing opportunity for me they didn’t want me to pass up.    

Over the next couple of months arrangements started to take shape.  My Coach and I would talk weekly about my progress with my team as well as different plans that needed to be made over the course of the next few months.  Since my Aunt and Uncle lived on the other side of the island from the school it wasn’t possible for me to live with them so I stayed with a host family on the weekdays and on the weekends when I didn’t have basketball I stayed with my family.

Now, I want to say that this wasn’t an easy situation to go through. The experience was definitely extremely challenging but one of the most rewarding opportunities I have had. It shaped my life in many profound ways.  My parents had always raised me knowing that if they did a good job I wouldn’t need them anymore.  They taught me to think on my feet and to make good decisions.  I was as ready as I was every going to be and made the move to leave home at seventeen.  

I learned to be independent as well as self sufficient.  I also learned a great deal about challenging myself and bringing my best every time I stepped on the court.  The school where I was coming from was a fraction of the size of this school in Hawaii. The competition level was through the roof here.  I would say the equivalent of going from high school to college level basketball in the span of days.  The learning curve was steep and very intense as expectations were very high.  

I was used to playing games that consisted of me scoring 43 of the team’s 52 points. I dropped a lot of weight when I first arrived because the practices, games and competition level was at such a higher level plus I was a bit home sick as well as experienced some culture shock.  I also found it hard to play in the heat.  I was going to have to go from being a starter who played all the minutes I wanted to play to being at the end of the bench working my way up by earning the trust of the coaching staff.  It got to a point in the season when I was the “6th man” or the first sub off the bench which I was incredibly proud of. My coach told me at one point he thought I should be starting but one of the girls would be shattered to lose her spot and we needed her contribution for the team. Starting didn’t matter that much to me as long as I was contributing and he knew that.       

Since I was living with people I barely knew I had to also learn to trust strangers and be open to new opportunities. I was really grateful to them for opening up their home to me to live there because without there contribution living my dream wouldn’t have been possible.  They were incredibly generous and understanding but it was challenging living with other people and getting used to a different culture.  I often wonder about what they are up to now and if our paths will ever cross again.  

I also had to get used to my new coach.  Although he was really nice when he was recruiting me his demeanour changed during the season.  He was a coach that was very vocal and demanded excellence every possession.  He was so loud when he coached that I found myself just only listening to him and so afraid to make a mistake when I got on the court. My former coaches were intense too but in a very different way than this coach.  The volume of his voice and how he expressed himself was really scary so when I played I would be looking at him which didn't work well.  It is hard to react when you are waiting for instructions.  

It got to a point when the sound of his voice was something I learned to drown out.  I had to learn to play my game and not get scared when he screamed every thought that came into his mind. I had to learn to play through mistakes and not expect to have the perfect game every time.  If I made a mistake I had to let it got and learn from it quickly.  He was the first coach that ever explained to me that I couldn’t just focus on scoring offensively.  If I was a liability on defence I wasn’t going to get any playing time.  This forced me to develop my defensive presence which I would rely on when I played at the next level. 

While I attended school I found it so interesting that I got to take Marine Biology as well as Cinematography.  Those were courses I wouldn’t have had a chance to take in Southern Alberta.  I also thought it was cool to learn American History.  Even though initially we thought the academics would transfer to my college education it turned out they weren’t able to.  I had hoped to get recruited to an college but I probably didn’t stand out enough. Plus, I also found out that the colleges and universities in Hawaii mostly went to the Main Land to recruit their players.  Very few players were recruited from my school to play at colleges in Hawaii.  Even two of our best players were overlooked from getting recruited to play in state.  They ended up playing on the Main Land when they graduated. 


As a team we managed to win our division title but we didn’t do that well when we got to the State Tournament.  When the experience was over I ended up coming back to my small town school and challenging my exams from the semester.  I passed them all and enrolled in college where I walked on to the team there.  I know for sure this basketball experience and being away from home definitely helped to take my game as well as my life to the next level.  I know it was an experience in which I learned so much from.  I will never forget the impact it had on me for as long as I live.  Playing in paradise was the opportunity of a lifetime and I am so grateful that I was able to experience all that it had to offer in such an complete way.     

Sunday 20 December 2015

Being a Good Teammate

Since basketball is a team sport the success of a team depends quite profoundly on the ability of the teammates to connect with one another.  Everyone has had teammates on their team that they just love to be around.  They make you feel great and really help the team to be much more cohesive.  Generally speaking, cohesiveness helps to increase the success of a team. It is an “X Factor” that can help to gauge how well the season will go as well as the longevity of the team.  

On the other hand their can also be teammates who can be very divisive and damaging to the group.  After being involved in teams as a player and coach I can see the importance of developing these types of positive relationships.  It can be such an effective way to maximize the ability of each individual because when good teammates do more their is a multiplier effect within the team.  It often causes a chain reaction of reciprocation.  

There are some simple things that can be done to solidify being a good teammate:

1. Be Positive - 
There is a reason this one is number one and that is because it is the most important one.  When things aren’t going the way you want them to in a game or practice the fastest way to turn them around as a teammate is to remain positive and encourage.  I remember reading an article once about giving 3 positive statements for each criticism.  This way when the criticism is made it is like making a withdrawal against some deposits that have already been put in the relationship’s bank account.  If you start making withdrawals first it can be tough to build a relationship.  

It is just like that old saying goes you catch a lot more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. 

2. Be Happy - 
One of the most important things to remember is that when your teammate is successful you are too.  This is how it works in team sports.  Celebrating the success of your teammates in a game or in practice is one of the most solidifying things a team can go through.  When a teammate makes a great pass and thanks the passer the team gets stronger.  When a teammate makes an incredible shot and gets dog pilled by the team the bonds solidify.  When a player gets a great steal and teammates chase him down the court to make the sure the shot goes in the team becomes a unit.  It is all of these little things that make a team great.  

If a teammate does well you should never feel like they are taking away from you. Each player is the reason that success was able to present itself. Players who are being singled out should recognize this as well. On a team you never accomplish anything alone.  

3. Hand out Encouragement - 
Possibly one of the most consistent qualities of great teammates is that they are expressive with their encouragement.  They give out high fives and encouragement freely without holding back. When the tides of the game are going against the team they are the ones that help to spark the change by providing the right amount of positivity to help the pendulum to swing in the opposite direction of where it is currently going. Great teammates don’t hold back on encouragement they give it out knowing fully that when they need it they will get it right back.     

4. Sacrifice 
Teammates that sacrifice themselves for the good of the team are great teammates.  Other people recognize this and it becomes contagious.  Soon members of the team are doing all sorts of extra things to reciprocate such as making the extra pass, sitting on the bench so someone else who doesn’t get to play often gets some playing time (this could be during a game when there is a big lead) and then cheer them on when they do something positive.  

5. Remind Don’t Reprimand 
Being a good teammates requires that you understand you are not the coach.  If you want excellence from your teammates then remind them don’t reprimand them.  There is a fine line here because one helps to create bonds while the other one creates walls.  Reprimanding when you are a teammate is risky.  There is resistance that is formed when you try to tell someone else what to do in a nasty way.  If you tell them in a way that makes them feel like you are reminding not reprimanding it makes a big difference.  Remember body language matters too so make sure your words and non-verbal communication are coinciding. When you remind with the proper tone it makes it look like you are trying to make the other person look good. Whereas reprimanding with the wrong tone makes it seem like there is judgement and you are trying to make your teammate look bad. Try to use reminders in a way that you are solidifying what your coach has said without judging or criticizing.    

(I will say this last statement as a bit of a disclaimer for teams as they get older.  Sometimes players who are the leaders of the team can speak up towards there teammates in order to get them to pull together at an opportune time.  During a season it can't always be rainbow and butterflies sometimes things don't go well.  Getting upset is a tactic that is used in order to solidify what the Coach is saying.  It is probably a good idea for players to keep it positive until they are mature enough to handle the fallout that may come from a teammate being upset about being called out.)  


In closing, there is a great John Wooden quote that says “It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.”  Great teammates live that quote day in and day out.  When you see a team full of great teammates it is really something special.  The most important thing great teammates do overall is make their teammates feel great about themselves.  They care and show it on a consistent basis.  

Sunday 13 December 2015

Success Takes Time - An Unsung Hero's Story


This is dedicated to one of my players Jason a member of my York South Silver Knights team.  
He sat there quietly on the bench as usual.  I called his name and he eagerly checked into the game.  The play went back and forth a few times as it settled in on the offensive end. The ball shifted around through his teammates and all of a sudden he found himself outside the 3 point line, all alone and wide open.  This time he didn’t hesitate, he didn’t over think it he just shot the ball and watched it sail through the mesh.  It was GOOD a perfect shot!  His teammates cheered on the sideline. I heard things like “Nice shot Jason!”, “Oh Yeah!” and just overall cheering.    

He ran back on defence and our team got a stop.  Again the ball bounced around to his teammates and he was wide open again so he shot the exact same shot he just hit moments before and it was in again!  Now the team was really getting into it.  His teammates were on the edge of their seats and cheering him on with more energy than before.  A few more possessions passed and he found himself wide open for a third time after the ball moved to him again.  This time when he got the ball his teammates were all watching collectively holding their breath.  Some of them had their arms outstretched intensely examining and silently thinking “Is he going to hit the shot too?”  Just as he caught the ball and let the shot go it rotated through the air and went right into the hoop hitting nothing but net for the third time in a row.   

His teammates and our fans in the stands exploded to their feet.  They were jumping around like he just hit a buzzer beater in game 7 of a championship series. It still only the first half of a game in the regular season tournament but that didn’t matter to his teammates much at all.  They were loving it and he was hearing about it.  It was a very impressive moment and I still remember the goosebumps rising up on my arms.  

To see a team celebrate a hard fought battle of one of their own is something incredibly special but in all honesty very few players have the ability to gut it out the way Jason did.  For about 2 years he didn't get much playing time to speak of.  His commitment and loyalty to his teammates helped to keep him coming back to practice where he just continued to keep getting better.  Some players are naturals they do things incredibly fluidly from the way they run to the way their natural instincts kick in when they play.  They seem to make the right pass or hit shots whereas other players take years to develop, learn, grow and evolve.  Some players can experience “easy come, easy go” syndrome meaning that when they have to work too hard they lose interest and give up.  Every player has their own path and the longer the player takes to give up usually indicates how much they will end up evolving individually.  

There are always those who have big dreams of what they plan to accomplish with basketball at the next level.  Not every player who steps on the court is setting out for that though.  I hope they achieve a personal form of greatness by following their own path.  Jason, like many other players, is extremely bright and has a lot going for him in terms of academics.  Whatever he decides to accomplish in life I sincerely hope that basketball helps to shape his journey.  

Jason is a great teammate in that he celebrates the accomplishments of others which is why when he lit up that game other people celebrated him.  He is a hard worker that doesn’t cut corners or skip the steps he doesn’t feel like doing.  He is above all a leader of self that is willing to look at himself honestly and continue to strive to get better. Being that introspective is hard because it can be painful.  If he was upset with his playing time as the coach I never heard about it.  He just continued to earn my trust in practice and over the course of the minutes he got in games and he did the little things that made him stand out. 

I have no doubt that players like Jason have great lives ahead of them no matter what they decides to aspire to.  All of those on his team are fully aware of his capabilities now and I know he isn’t the only one out these types of players out there. If you have a player like this on your team please be sure to celebrate their greatness.  Unsung heroes are incredibly important to every team they are apart of. At opportune times they can be incredible difference makers as we have witnessed with Jason.  

Sunday 6 December 2015

Playing Too Much


There are a lot of opportunities for many athletes now.  Summer teams, travelling teams, summer camps, spring clinics, personal training sessions, speed/agility/quickness sessions, provincial teams, and so on.  Every single one of these items can be very important for the development of your athlete. It is very important to learn which ones are the priority for your individual child.    The trouble is when the amount of training becomes too much for growing bodies.  Many young athletes are playing games all year round and are on a very high impact schedule which can be a crash course in overtraining and increased risk for potential injury not to mention premature athlete burn out.  

There are many athletes that are in this very same boat in that they are playing for their school team, a club team and sometimes are doing additional training either with a trainer or another group during the year.  The average athletes now plays for at least 2 or 3 teams every year.  If there is one coach involved in all of these teams they can help to guard against overtraining. However, if the athletes are dealing with many different coaches then parents are tasked with looking after the overall wellness of the athlete.  Players shouldn’t be tasked with doing this on their own because they are too emotionally invested and may lack the decision making abilities.  This can be a very challenging task for adults who: 
1) May not be former athletes or have limited interest/knowledge in sports
2) May not know the signs or symptoms to look for when it comes to overtraining or identify when an athlete is at risk
3) May have their decision making impacted by their interest in seeing their athlete succeed 
4) May be a source of anxiety for their athlete due to the undue pressure they are putting on them to succeed 
4) May not want to disappoint the athlete by turning down opportunities they view as very important 
5) May be interested in getting their child “exposure” to be seen by high profile coaches
6) May be worried about being the one to decide when to take it easy and let the athlete relax and recover

It seems there are young athletes that are playing the equivalent of an 80 game NBA schedule.  Plus, they continue to train all year round with no breaks or end in sight. It should be acknowledged that this level of activity is hard for a fully grown freak of nature professional athlete to endure (and they get an offseason) never mind a growing athlete that is also going through puberty.  These athletes also have the pressures of school assignments and tests, family obligations and requirements, playing other sports, hanging out with their friends, and tasked with also being a child or teenager as well as growing. 

It is completely understood that parents want the best for their kids (and coaches want the best for their athletes) but unfortunately this also entails having athletes not feel the pressure of taking on too much.   When the parent’s focus gets blurred by seeing only the opportunities but not the risks of overtraining it is dangerous.    This catapults the athlete into a tough position because now they are limited in terms of someone looking out for their best interest.  The adults in their life need to have the perspective to prevent overtraining in these circumstances.  Unfortunately, many times this is not the case and as an outside observer it can be very challenging to weigh in.      

No one wants to have their playing career cut short due to injuries especially due to over use injuries.  Even more so when they could have been prevented by resting or taking care of it with the help of healthcare professionals or sometimes even the use of common sense. Parents please keep in mind that higher level athletes are used to pushing through pain in order to achieve their personal best.  It is very rare that you will find an elite athlete that wants to just be lazy (with younger kids this may be harder to govern as they will have different reactions to injuries).  Athletes are more likely to resort to hiding injuries or not telling the full story so they can continue to play.  During the process it is important to learn to protect the athletes from themselves even if it means they get upset over your decision. 


It is also critical to prioritize and evaluate the most important opportunities.  One of the ways to evaluate is taking a look at the places the athlete is being fulfilled, growing and challenged.  There are so many potential opportunities so this is one way to narrow down the most valuable opportunities.  This is also one of the ways to cut out extraneous activities that take extra time and don’t give much in the way of progression.  There is only so much time in an athlete’s schedule so it’s important to maximize that time by using quality opportunities to feed them going forward.  

Sunday 29 November 2015

How Invested Are You In Your Team?

There are a many players (and parents) that are always looking for the next best opportunity.  They will leave their team at the drop of a hat trying to find the next best place to play.  They can be easily persuaded to situations that they think are greener pastures.  I have seen players play for a new team every single season for a few years in a row and notice that over time they really haven’t improved that significantly. It is very tough to build continuity that way and even worse to develop any type of loyalty and skill base over a period of time.   This also isn’t the best message to send to the coaches that have invested in the player, the club that has supported the athlete and the teammates that have bonded and depend on each other. 

I always think when it comes to developing great players at the younger age levels it is always better to be a leader on your own team than a follower on someone else’s team.  Leadership qualities need to be developed and practiced and it needs to be worked on consistently.  It is these lessons that play a big roll when joining a team at the next level.  Some players value joining “All-Star” teams because they want to win.  Many of these players end up sitting on the bench watching their teammates play and don’t have all the opportunities they could have had if they stayed with their own team.  There is something so special and rewarding when creating a winning team versus just joining one.  It's this type of development that is priceless and the lessons that come with it that go far beyond the basketball court.      

When it comes to your teams success are you “All-In”?  If the answer is yes then players will demonstrate this through their actions by buying in completely to the concepts the coach is teaching.  They work on their game on their own and find ways to work with others in challenging situations.  They will talk with their coach to figure out ways they should be getting better.  They have a good idea what they need to improve on over the course of the season and also during the off season.  

Nothing stops athletes that are All-In.  They plan their homework, social plans and even jobs around the practices, games and team events.  Even when they are injured these athletes still show up to practice not only because they want to be in the gym to see what is going on but they want to support their teammates, be supported by their teammates, continue to learn what the coach is teaching and help out where they can.  There are some injuries or ailments when it is best for the athlete to stay home to recover but for the most part it is a good idea to be around the team when going through challenging circumstances that injuries might bring.   

If you are invested properly in your team when a teammate has a break out game or achieves a personal best you are genuinely happy for them.  All-In teammates don’t get jealous or upset about the success of others. They know that that each individual teammates success is good for the entire team.   Sometimes this can be a very hard realization to come to.  However, if you are invested in your team you can quickly transition to the value of that player and what they are adding to the team overall.  

During a huddle athletes that are All-In have their hand all the way into the pile as the team does the cheer.  I have seen athletes be way out of the circle, walking away as the cheer was being shouted and completely disengaged.  This makes it very clear what their intentions are and where their heart is at.  


One of the last things that is a giveaway for athletes that are invested in their teammates is their ability to continue to work on their game.  If they bring things back to their teammates that they have learned in other programs  they might be a part of and genuinely care about working together as well as improving that can something really special to witness. It is this type of culture that can help the players and the team as a whole to go a long way.  All-In players are an extension of the coach and really help to make the team succeed overall because they work to enforce and remind other teammates of the message the coach has been working to get across to them.  The more of these types of players that are on the team is usually an indication of how successful the team will become.    

Sunday 22 November 2015

The Limp

When playing high school basketball one of my teammates had such an interesting mistake response.  After shooting the ball if she made the shot she would run back on defence and everything was great.  However, if the shot was missed she would begin limping back like her leg hurt.  It was almost as though unconsciously saying to those watching “I missed the shot because my leg hurts so forgive me. I am playing through an injury. ” Just to be clear there was nothing physically wrong with her leg and I don’t think she even knew she did that.  By the very next play her phantom injury was gone but every single time she missed a shot the same response happened where she would start limping.  

The other day I was thinking about it in the context of owning the mistakes that are made on the court.  You can only fix what you choose to acknowledge. We all have moments where the wrong call, read or decision is made.  The most important thing is working on figuring and analyzing further why certain situations happened in the first place.  The next step is to figure out how to correct them in order to move forward and continue to improve.  This can also involve avoiding the situation entirely going forward.  

These mistake responses can be very natural and engrained.  I can recall one player that I used to coach when given the ball he would dribble to the corner and then turtle over the ball.  Anyone who knows basketball knows that is probably one of the worst things to do because it significantly decreased the ability to make a good decision. You are completely at the mercy of the defence and your options are limited exceptionally fast.  Over time he worked on getting comfortable and took steps to stop doing this.  It took time to get him to change his behaviour which is true for any amount of change that is undertaken. It just doesn't happen instantly.  

On the other hand, one of my university teammates had one of the best mistake responses that I have ever witnessed.  When she made an unforced error she didn’t react she just focused on the next best thing she could do in order to help to fix the mistake.  She didn’t retaliated, get upset, pout down the court or waste energy instead she just got back on defence as fast as she could and focused on doing her part to stop the other team from scoring off of her error. Sometimes I think when players react it is more about them acknowledging to others that they made a mistake or in some situations a way to deflect the responsibility off of themselves.     


There is something so powerful about taking ownership of the mistakes you make.  Something so freeing knowing that going forward you can make a new choice when a similar situation arises.  Taking the power back that you aren’t a slave to the situations of the past is such an incredible feeling.  Taking a good hard look at yourself in moments of weakness, poor judgement or pain can really help to make you better.  Especially, when it isn't necessarily that pretty to look at. This is exactly how good people become great.  

Sunday 15 November 2015

Pressing Mentality

One of the staple items coaches use over the course of a season is the press.  Presses are often used to change the tempo of the game and increase stressful situations for your opponent.   The increased tempo forces teams and players to have to think more quickly which in turn speeds up their judgements.  Against the right team and in the right situations it can really change the course of the game in terms of changing the momentum.  A good well executed press is probably one of the most difficult things to simulate in practice.  Pressing can really give your team such an advantage.  

No matter what the press looks like there are always some standard staples that should be included in pretty well every press.  

Hustle: 
Presses simply do not work without players getting to the spots on their court where they need to be.  The most successful pressing teams are the ones that can crank the level of pressure and intensity level up to the next level.  This is when the offensive team is really challenged and may be pushed beyond their capacity to deal.  Even when the offensive team thinks the press has been broken great pressure teams force them into taking poor shots which achieves the same result since you get a stop if the rebound is secured.  

Pressure the Ball: 
The first part of ball pressure is forcing the person with the ball to make quick and uncomfortable decisions.  They cannot look around and over the press to be able to reason it through.  With someone right on them it helps to force the ball handler into make poor choices including putting the ball on the floor.  Make sure when you are pressuring that you aren’t fouling.  This can take away the entire purpose of the press as you are stopping time, allowing them to think as well as potentially getting players in foul trouble.   

Anticipate and Rotate: 

When pressing you cannot second guess and wonder what is going to happen next.  There are only a limited number of options that opposing players can execute at any given moment and perhaps one of the most important points is to be able to work on not letting the other team beat you by breaking the press the same way twice.  One of the ways to read effectively what is going to happen next is to look at the eyes and body positioning of the passer.  There is a very important point in making educated guesses at where you think you can take a chance and get a steal.  Some players make the mistake of gambling a lot but remember if you are wrong that could lead to the opposing team breaking the press and scoring.  Make sure to learn from mistakes and the wrong decisions of others in order to maximize the effectiveness of your press.  If you do make a wrong decision communicate while hustling back because someone will have to cover and rotate for you so you will probably have to pick up another check in the process of getting back.  

Sunday 8 November 2015

Receiving Feedback

One of the most difficult parts of being a great player is being able to take feedback and sometimes criticism put it into action in order to get better.  High level athletes have an incredible gift at seeing coaching as exactly what it is and work on improving in the way they have been told.  The level of accuracy used by the athlete will definitely determine the level they will achieve over the course of their career.    

Some athletes are incredibly sensitive or disinterested in learning how to get better this way.  They seem to be more interested in being right and protecting themselves than in improving.  

Resist the Urge for Excuses - Sometimes it is hard to resist the urge to explain why something has happened the way it has.  When a coach is fixing something it's important to not make excuses or explain away a situation by simply dismissing it.  This is a really bad habit to get into.  Instead own what has been done even if the coach or the referee is wrong and learn the lesson from it.  Always explaining away the problem really develops a poor mechanism to take direction and just adapt.  On a team this is a very valuable characteristic to develop because if one player starts to make excuses other players start thinking that is normal or acceptable behaviour. It is a mess when an entire team starts showing this sense of entitlement and weakness.  

Listen to the Feedback  - Probably the biggest urge when feeling threatened is to block out the feedback or just make it seem like you are listening until the information can be dismissed. Some of the hardest things to hear are the most valuable items to pay attention to as a player.  If your coach starts in on something you feel you have heard a thousand times maybe ensure you are actually doing it.    

Put the Feedback into Practice - The sooner you can put the feedback you have received into practice the better it is.  Focus on solutions rather than obstacles.  If other teammates see you saying "Yes Coach!" and you then turning around and doing it then it will help to encourage them to do the same.  Overall, your team will be a lot more cohesive and chances are more successful as a result.  

Ask Questions - Players that really make the biggest strides are those that go one step further and when appropriate ask questions for further clarification.  Sometimes it is the wrong time to ask a coach a question because there just isn’t time to stop and answer.  But, during a break, before or after practice it is a really good idea to get further clarification.  It is really important to take the right tone when asking the question. The wrong tone can really escalate the situation in a bad direction.  If you think it is appropriate try to ask the coach in that moment though so that you can try to get the right answer when you need it.  


In closing, coaches have to know that often the level of trust they have developed with an athlete will determine the level of their willingness to implement what they are being asked to.  Delivery from the coach and the aptitude of individual athletes is or course important to take into consideration as well.  Coaches are often prepared to adapt to their players.  However, players definitely need to find a way to adapt to their coaches too. This is critical for the success of the team long term.  

Sunday 1 November 2015

5 Ways to Find the Silver Lining in an Injury


High level athletes hate being injured. If an athlete is okay with having a serious injury and it isn’t that challenging for them to get through then I would say their level of desire should definitely be questioned.  Injuries break many athletes apart. It isn’t just the physical pain, it may not be the process of recovering either.  I would venture to say that the hardest part is the withdrawal of not being able to play.  Not being able to do something that you really rely on to get through.  There is nothing worse than knowing you can’t play because you are hurt or someone decides for you that playing needs to put on hold.  There are many lessons and important skills that can be developed when a player recovering from a serous injury. 

1) Get To Know Your Body Better - Injuries help you shift to a place where you can learn more about the inner workings of your body.  Many athletes push through a lot of pain on a continual basis and by doing so they learn to block out important messages that are being sent in order to keep going.   Knowing how to come back from an injury is a very different skill set. You have to learn how to work with your body to get back to a place where recovery is complete.  It can be a very delicate balance.  Push too hard and you take steps backwards in the process.  Don’t push yourself hard enough and you may not be able to return because your body isn’t ready. Who knows, the work you do now might save you from future injuries or help you on the road to recovery.  

2) Gauge What You Are Made Of - This lesson rings true for many fallen athletes.  Dealing with adversity really is such a powerful tool in being able to strive for your personal greatness. There is nothing like an injury to help you to dig deep and find parts of yourself that that you didn’t even know were there.  The recovery back to playing can be a very time consuming and a very unique personal journey.  Injuries contain lessons and lessons help to unlock very important parts of what is required for the next phase of life.  Getting through tough injuries is a test and a badge of honour once on the other side. 

3) Analyze Your Teammates And Opponents - Being injured is an excellent way to take a step back and look at your teammates and opponents for weaknesses and tendencies you potentially didn’t see before.  It can help to give you an advantage when you are ready to return to play. You can learn how to push them to become better and uncover ways to compete very differently against them.  

4) Increase Your Mental Capacity for the Game - While injured no doubt strive to become a student of the game. The mental side of basketball is one of the biggest parts of the game that is also probably the most under developed in the majority of athletes.  It is critical for long term success to become knowledgeable in common situations.  It never hurts to work on elevating your game by trying to learn more about it when you aren’t able to go to full capacity. Even just visualizing and working on your game that way can really show some improvement.  

5) Provide Leadership and Spirit - One of the most important things to do when you are injured is to maintain a positive outlook.  Being around the team to provide leadership on how to get through challenging circumstances as well as providing spirit and energy is very important.  Whenever possible do your best to be around basketball and your teammates.  You will give them positive energy and they can provide you with support.  Be the spark they require in times of need.  Share your thoughts about what you are seeing from the sideline to help your coaches.  Be the teammate they need you to be while you are out.    

Sunday 18 October 2015

Basketball Journal

Developing a basketball journal is an outstanding way to get the best out of yourself as an athlete.  Now you may be wondering what exactly is a basketball journal? A basketball journal is a notebook used to write down anything that comes to mind from things you want to develop with your game, to drills you have learned or plays that you are working on with your team. You can write down your goals and the habits to develop so your goals can be achieved. Another thing that is a good idea to use a basketball journal for is for tracking progress such as shooting or workouts.  It should be mentioned that it doesn’t have to be done in a paper notebook.  A basketball journal can be created on another type of device so you can also create a space on a computer, tablet or even your phone to do this as well.

As an athlete it is always a great idea to focus on ways to improve especially when it comes to developing your weaknesses.  You should know your strengths so you can emphasize them to stand out but also have a clear idea of your weaknesses to come up with an action plan so they can be minimized.  It is easier of course to focus on strengths but when it comes to the desire to get better weaknesses need to be developed. A journal can help with that because you can look back and see if you have progressed and by how much.  A couple of examples might be your shot has improved at the foul line by 25% or your weak hand layup percentage has improved by 5% over a 8 week period.

Elite level athletes can be very particular about their performance so a basketball journal can help you to analyze the game and your performance.   It is using this information that can help you recreate the state of mind you were in for when you had the best game of your career or avoid situations so you don’t repeat a terrible performance.  It can help you to analyze what happened in the game or practice so that a situation can be processed and dealt with.

A basketball journal can also be used for inspiration or creativity. It is recommended to put pictures of athletes or people you admire within its pages. Really focus on making it your own.  These admired individuals have qualities you possess in order to draw you to be interested in them so there is nothing wrong with using them as inspiration to becoming a better person. Goal setting can be a very visual endeavour so by using pictures it can help to make those aspirations a reality.    Write down the goals you are aspiring to reach because when they are written down they are much more likely to be reached.  If nothing else it may become an interesting  time capsule to revisit later in life.

Outstanding athletes always go to their workouts with a plan and they also track their progress so they can tell if they have improved quantitatively not just anecdotally.  Anyone can go to a workout and come back saying they got better but a journal is a way to be able to track for sure by measuring the level of improvement over time.  Developing these habits helps to set you up for success over the long term.  

Sunday 11 October 2015

Attitude of Gratitude

Upon thinking about Thanksgiving it brought to mind the importance of being grateful and counting the blessings in your life however big or small they may be.  Possessing an attitude of gratitude is one of those things that really makes a big difference.  Not only in the state of mind you possess on a consistent basis but also when bad things happen it is within your ability to respond in a constructive way. There are so many times when it is easy to see the negative and pick situations apart.  When someone has a positive attitude it really stands out for the right reason on a team whether they are a parent, player or coach. 

As a coach it can be challenging because sometimes your harsh tone or your negativity is meant to influence a player or team to get the best out of them.  Coaches don’t have the luxury of being positive all of the time because they have to be able to change gears in order to influence their team to respond depending on the situations they are being faced with.  Parents have moments like this with their kids too.  

With that being said have you ever noticed that when you are thankful for something how more things situations seem to keep happening?  Some say where your focus goes energy flows.  When you are grateful and give your appreciation to the coach it really helps them to give their best.  The energy flows the other way too when as a coach you are grateful to those around you they pick themselves up as well and tend to give you their best.  When players are positive and grateful to both their parents and their coaches well that is something that is truly special and often a rarity in a generation where things are expected.    

I often wonder if Dr. James Naismith had any idea what he put into motion when he invented the game of basketball to be an “athletic distraction” during cold Massachusetts winters back in 1891. Originally it was a way to keep track athletes active when being cooped up inside during the cold winter months.  I wonder now if he would even recognize the game he conceived such a long time ago. There are so many people’s lives he has touched in such a meaningful way by developing this game.  It is incredibly to leave a legacy on such a global level.  I am incredibly grateful for his creativity.   

It also brings to mind the countless coaches that put so much time, effort and passion to help their players develop.  It doesn’t seem to matter if the goal is to enjoy the sport for recreation or at the highest level.  There are also those that play for a short time or those that play for a lifetime. Developing a player takes years of work as well as many different coaches that help in different capacities along the way.  There is a famous Phil Jackson quote that says “Not only is there more to life than basketball, there’s a lot more to basketball than basketball.” The life lessons that are available within this game make it so incredibly rich and inspiring.

A parent of one of my players once told me he wondered if his son knew what he had in his coaches at this stage of his life.  As a former player I think that appreciation was definitely realized for me far after my career was over.  When thinking back to each of the coaches that took time out of their busy lives to help me get better and develop my team it is truly inspiring.  Coaches really give a lot to their players and years later I am inspired by those that impacted my life in their own unique way.  There is no doubt it was through their combined efforts that I got a lot out of the game of basketball and it is no wonder why I feel such a willingness to give it back to the athletes I work with now.   


When I look at the time over the years I have been coaching I think about how at the end of the season there is often this big influx of thank you’s and sometimes gifts of appreciation when the team is about to part ways.  It is no doubt very nice to receive these items but one of the most powerful things I remember are the players who take the time to thank their coaches after each practice and every game. They extend their hand, give a nice firm handshake, look me in the eye and simply say “Thanks Coach!” It is extremely consistent by a handful of players and I really give their parents credit for instilling that in them.  It stands out incredibly well and really is something simple and genuine that means so much. Developing the attitude of gratitude and making it into a habit they use so consistently is amazing.   

My last point is the learning and developing as a coach never ends and there are challenging situations that often come up that have to be navigated.  No matter how many kids I have coached over the years I never get tired of the wonder of learning from them too.  There is something so exciting about getting to know someone new and helping them reach a level in their play or master a new move that they never knew was possible for them.  It is one of the things that keeps me going and striving to continue to grow and learn more.  

Thank you to the players I have coached in the past, the parents that selflessly support them and the coaches in my life that contribute to the journey with this great game!  I am grateful to all of you in some many ways that are far to numerous to mention.  I am definitely feeling very blessed!  Happy Thanksgiving!  

Monday 5 October 2015

The Voice of Reason

Coaches can get caught up in the game, players can get caught up in the game and so it is fair to say that parents can be guilty of this as well. When it comes to parent behaviour there can be some very shocking events that transpire in the heat of the moment. After the fact the participants involved in these scuffles may feel bad about their behaviour but by then it may be too late to do much about it.    

Many of us have witnessed parents lashing out at referees, other parents and even the coach of their own child’s team.  It seems like when tempers flair no one is really safe from the wrath of a scorned parent who is attempting to protect their child. This is what makes this particular situation I witnessed that much more inspiring and impressive. 

It was 9:00am on a Saturday morning in April of 2015. The team I was coaching was playing up in a tournament and facing  teams in grade 10 that were a full year older than the players on my team.  This was the host team of the tournament and the game started a bit late due to some issues with the game clock. My team got out to an early lead and was leading by a comfortable margin from the beginning of the game until late into the second half.  The opposing coach had already been charged with one technical foul for lashing out at the referee on something he thought should have been called.  With less than a minute left in the game and my team up by about 10 points the referee called a foul on my centre.  As the referee approached the scorers table to report the foul the Head Coach of the other team started the slow clap to let the referee know its about time he called something worthwhile in his team’s favour. It should be noted that all throughout the game the calls didn’t seem one sided and the game was definitely not out of hand by any stretch. Calls were missed going both ways but not to a staggering degree.  So it came as a surprise when this opposing coach was showing so much outrage especially at this point in the game.  

The referee gave the coach a chance to calm down and stop what he was doing which was incredibly generous on the ref’s part.  When the coach continued on with his disrespectful display the referee ended up charging him with a second technical which ejected him from the game.  Once the team’s parents saw this they also started reacting as well which led to the referee also ejecting some of them too. 
It was what happened next that was truly inspiring.  As the players were lining up for the foul shots, the other team’s point guard made his way over to me and said “I am so sorry for how my coach and our parents are acting.”  My team captain team heard what he said and put his hand on the players’ shoulder as a non-verbal gesture to say it’s okay.  I told him not to worry about it we didn’t blame him.  

Due to the parents reacting to this call and some of the parents refusing to leave the game was called early. As both teams lined up to shake hands each of the players from the opposing team said to myself and my assistant coach “sorry for our parents and our coach”. I was so touched by such a sportsmanlike attitude by the players in light of such a contrasting viewpoint of they parents a few moments earlier.  Even as the boys shook our hands some of their parents were still charging towards the referees and insulting them. 

There are so many lessons basketball can teach when people take the opportunity to learn.  It is so refreshing when players learn things their parents haven’t quite grasped.  Here are a few lessons to take into account:

1) Players often learn more from losing than from winning - think back to the failures you have encountered in your life and remember the important lessons that came from that.  So, when you lose don’t lose the lesson. Often when a team wins they feel great and don’t take time to self reflect on what they can do better.  Losing often makes people stop and think often due to the pain that comes with not succeeding.  

2) The game is extremely difficult without referees - anyone who has ever played a pickup game without referees knows that it can sometimes turn into a courtroom where no one is ever guilty.  Especially when the call isn’t respected.  Pretty soon people are standing around arguing over whose ball it is and whether the infraction transpired of not. When this happens it can take a long time to get the game back on track again.   

3) Lose the attitude and keep the gratitude - Never forget being a referee is hard work! There are 10 players on the court and it is hard for 2 or 3 people to see every transgression that might happen.  Referees in many instances are keepers of the game in that they help to keep both teams in check.  We have all seen referees do a terrible job at times but always try to remember they are human and can make mistakes just like we all can.  Be as grateful as possible for their contribution and do your best to keep it positive. Also, keep in mind that many times referees at tournaments do many games in a row so sometimes fatigue can play a factor in their calls as well.  


4) Try to keep perspective in the stands - focus on the importance of enjoying watching your child and their team play.   Worry less about controlling the environment they are in. 

Sunday 27 September 2015

The Kia Nurse Factor

Coaches can get caught up in the game, players can get caught up in the game and so it is fair to say that parents can be guilty of this as well. When it comes to parent behaviour there can be some very shocking events that transpire in the heat of the moment. After the fact the participants involved in these scuffles may feel bad about their behaviour but by then it may be too late to do much about it.    

Many of us have witnessed parents lashing out at referees, other parents and even the coach of their own child’s team.  It seems like when tempers flair no one is really safe from the wrath of a scorned parent who is attempting to protect their child. This is what makes this particular situation I witnessed that much more inspiring and impressive. 

It was 9:00am on a Saturday morning in April of 2015. The team I was coaching was playing up in a tournament and facing  teams in grade 10 that were a full year older than the players on my team.  This was the host team of the tournament and the game started a bit late due to some issues with the game clock. My team got out to an early lead and was leading by a comfortable margin from the beginning of the game until late into the second half.  The opposing coach had already been charged with one technical foul for lashing out at the referee on something he thought should have been called.  With less than a minute left in the game and my team up by about 10 points the referee called a foul on my centre.  As the referee approached the scorers table to report the foul the Head Coach of the other team started the slow clap to let the referee know its about time he called something worthwhile in his team’s favour. It should be noted that all throughout the game the calls didn’t seem one sided and the game was definitely not out of hand by any stretch. Calls were missed going both ways but not to a staggering degree.  So it came as a surprise when this opposing coach was showing so much outrage especially at this point in the game.  

The referee gave the coach a chance to calm down and stop what he was doing which was incredibly generous on the ref’s part.  When the coach continued on with his disrespectful display the referee ended up charging him with a second technical which ejected him from the game.  Once the team’s parents saw this they also started reacting as well which led to the referee also ejecting some of them too. 
It was what happened next that was truly inspiring.  As the players were lining up for the foul shots, the other team’s point guard made his way over to me and said “I am so sorry for how my coach and our parents are acting.”  My team captain team heard what he said and put his hand on the players’ shoulder as a non-verbal gesture to say it’s okay.  I told him not to worry about it we didn’t blame him.  

Due to the parents reacting to this call and some of the parents refusing to leave the game was called early. As both teams lined up to shake hands each of the players from the opposing team said to myself and my assistant coach “sorry for our parents and our coach”. I was so touched by such a sportsmanlike attitude by the players in light of such a contrasting viewpoint of they parents a few moments earlier.  Even as the boys shook our hands some of their parents were still charging towards the referees and insulting them. 

There are so many lessons basketball can teach when people take the opportunity to learn.  It is so refreshing when players learn things their parents haven’t quite grasped.  Here are a few lessons to take into account:

1) Players often learn more from losing than from winning - think back to the failures you have encountered in your life and remember the important lessons that came from that.  So, when you lose don’t lose the lesson. Often when a team wins they feel great and don’t take time to self reflect on what they can do better.  Losing often makes people stop and think often due to the pain that comes with not succeeding.  

2) The game is extremely difficult without referees - anyone who has ever played a pickup game without referees knows that it can sometimes turn into a courtroom where no one is ever guilty.  Especially when the call isn’t respected.  Pretty soon people are standing around arguing over whose ball it is and whether the infraction transpired of not. When this happens it can take a long time to get the game back on track again.   

3) Lose the attitude and keep the gratitude - Never forget being a referee is hard work! There are 10 players on the court and it is hard for 2 or 3 people to see every transgression that might happen.  Referees in many instances are keepers of the game in that they help to keep both teams in check.  We have all seen referees do a terrible job at times but always try to remember they are human and can make mistakes just like we all can.  Be as grateful as possible for their contribution and do your best to keep it positive. Also, keep in mind that many times referees at tournaments do many games in a row so sometimes fatigue can play a factor in their calls as well.  


4) Try to keep perspective in the stands - focus on the importance of enjoying watching your child and their team play.   Worry less about controlling the environment they are in.