There are only two types of players. Players that will and players that won’t.

Will the player accept their role?
–Or won’t they?

Will the player put the team first?
–Or won’t they?

Will the player be coachable?
–Or won’t they?

Put whatever question you have as a coach and the player either will or won’t.

As a player, you have a choice to everything that is asked of you. You either will or you won’t, and at the end of each practice, game, season, and ultimately your career, you will either say “I’m glad I did” or “I wish I had.”

It is the same in your personal life. Either you do or you don’t. There is no trying. You will either say “I’m glad I did” or “I wish I had.”

At the end of the night you will give yourself just one test. The pillow test. When your head hits the pillow you will answer the question.

Will you be glad you did or wish that you had?

The more days you can say I’m glad I did the better off you will be.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#basketball #bebetter #beblessed

One of the lessons that can be learned, and taught, in education based athletics is honesty.

Des Moines Roosevelt volleyball coach Mark Steinbach teaches it by having a “touch policy”. If one of the Roughrider players touches the ball and it goes out of bounds, but it is missed by the official, the player will tell the official even if the ball would have been awarded to Roosevelt.

Last week in a freshman game we were playing, and I was coaching, the official awarded us a ball that we touched last. I told the official that and asked our player if he touched the ball, and he conformed it.
The official reversed the call.

Some of my players on our bench said, why did you do that? I said because it was the right thing to do. They smiled and nodded in agreement.

Later in the week, we were playing another game and a ball clearly went off of our opponent but the official missed it and awarded the ball to our opponent instead of to us. The opposing player actually smiled knowing he had touched it and it happened in front of the opposing coach.

Two different responses to the same situation. The point of this is not to judge, and I am not doing that.

You can agree or disagree, and make a case for whatever you believe the right thing to do is, but if honesty, and teaching honesty, is what we’re after, then the response is an easy one.

I side with Coach Steinbach.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#basketball #bebetter #beblessed

Good teams and programs have an identity.  The identity is usually based on what the coach believes in and their teams typically execute that identity consistently season after season.

People may describe a basketball team with a positive identity as “tough”, “defensive minded”, “shoot the three well”.  I always wanted my teams to be known for three things.  Play Hard, Play Defense, Play Together.

Every team and every program have an identity.  The good programs identity is well planned, effective and usually results in consistently winning. 

Programs that do not have a clear identity are easy to spot too.  Their identity is that they have no true identity.  They just exist and often look in disarray.

How about you?  When people see you do they know what you stand for?  How will they describe you?  Every day you are living your identity.  Make sure it is a consistent and positive (winning) identity.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#basketball #bebetter #beblessed

On the basketball court one of the most important things you can be is a good teammate. 

A good teammate

1.  Is an encourager.
2.  Does what is needed for the team by embracing their role.
3. Loves to see teammates have great moments and helps them have them.
4. Does the little things that the average fan does not notice.

An entire team of good teammates make great teams.  Good teammates get rewarded and experience success in the end.

Whatever you do be a good one.

1. Be positive and encouraging.
2. Use your gifts to make the world around you a better place.
3. Be happy when other people experience success and celebrate them.
4. Put others needs above your own needs. 
5. Do the little things that the majority of people will not do.

If you’re a good one, whatever that is, you will be impactful to those around you and you will be blessed as well. 

Be a good one.

I’m cheering for you.

#leadership #motivation #coaching
#basketball #bebetter #beblessed

My first book, The Power of One, is now available on Amazon. 

More is not always better.  When doing more gets in the way of being effective as a person and a leader we need to simplify and redefine who we are, where we are going, and how we are going to get there. 

We need “The Power of One”.  

Find strength in each chapter’s sixteen words and use the reflection questions to increase your leadership capacity. 

Don’t just settle in the chase for more.   Simplify and grow.