Imagine sitting in a gym at a clinic in Toronto getting ready to soak up some information from some high quality speakers. As you settle in and look around you see the keynote speaker that is set to speak the next day. He is a former NBA Coach and Olympic Coach as well as has coached in Europe and is in the front row taking notes right beside you. To witness that for one day is one thing but when you see that throughout the course of the entire weekend in something else entirely.
Coach David Blatt attended Canada Basketball’s Super Clinic at Ryerson and the University of Toronto this weekend. In his key note speech on Saturday he highlighted some of the items he learned from the other speakers at the conference. I can only imagine what that felt like as a speaker to be mentioned by him and have your information be taken in by such a captive audience. I learned some incredible things from him this weekend that I wanted to share:
1) “You can do more with less as long as you do it right.”
Apparently many of David Blatt’s highest performing teams were comprised of players who wouldn’t be considered superstars in their own right. For many coaches in the trenches this helps to work on how to get the whole team involved and contributing in their own way. Professional sports can be so much different than amateur sports so it is so nice to be able to hear from a coach that is so relatable. He emphasized that our primary jobs as coaches was to teach and lead.
2) “Excellence starts on the doorstep of your limitations”
Surround yourself with great people you really can find a way to work as a team. Learning what your limitations are is key to being able to fill in the gaps with other people who are better than you in those areas. As a coach I always want to be able to make my team function at a high level so if I can have people with me that can share the load and help my team improve than that is great. Especially, if they are better in my areas of weakness. He said that one of the best compliments you can have as a Head Coach is when your Assistant becomes a Head Coach in their own right. It means you have done your job properly in preparing them.
3) Reach Your Players on a Human Level
Sometimes as a leader there can be a lot of pressure to be perfect or not show your weaknesses. This makes it hard for people to relate to you sometimes. By being vulnerable and reaching players on a human level it really helps to improve the connection you have with one another. Holding each other to a high standard is critical but also realizing no one is perfect is humbling. Loving them and letting players see your heart helps them to dig deeper when they play for you.
4) Know your material
There are no shortcuts to any place worth going. If you are going to be a great coach you have to know the material. You really have to be effective in getting the message across. Being a master requires being able to show or explain in different ways for different audiences.
5) Get back up when you have been knocked down
Perhaps the biggest lesson I learned from Coach Blatt this weekend was how to get back up after you have been knocked down. He was unceremoniously fired a few months ago as the Head Coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. It must have been a painful experience to be in Toronto at the same time as when they were in town playing the Raptors during playoffs. When he signed up for this speaking opportunity months ago there was no way anyone could have predicted that would be the case and yet he still followed through. He handled the event with such class, humility and humour. Taking the high road at every turn and never bashing his former team. It was really incredible to witness. A prime example of a coach leading by example.
Thanks for the incredible lessons this weekend Coach Blatt! I have no doubt you will be back on the sideline at a high level again in no time. Best of luck!
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