A GREAT TEAMMATE

Legendary Hall-of-Fame baseball star, Mickey Mantle died on August 13, 1995 after a long and difficult battle with cancer.  When it came time to bury "the Mick" many things could have been said about his incredible baseball career.  After all, he had hit over 500 home runs, captured the Triple Crown, won 3 American League MVP awards, made 20 All-Star Game appearances, and won 7 World Series Championships while leading the famed New York Yankees.  Although he was considered one of the greatest baseball players the game has ever known, Mantle requested that his tombstone simply read: "A Great Teammate." 

Practice ... Patience ... Perseverance!!

SMALL CHANGES CAN TRANSLATE INTO BIG GAINS

Significant progress often starts with what we might perceive to be insignificant changes. The Gold Medal performance of Aries Merritt in the 110m hurdles at the Olympics is proof of this fact. In 2008 Merritt finished a disappointing fourth at the US Olympic trails which meant that he lost out on the opportunity to represent the USA at the Olympics in Beijing. Merritt turned this disappointment into the motivation for his eventual success. He went back to the drawing board and started the painfully slow process of making small changes to his technique which he eventually credited for his success at the Olympics in London this year.

 

 

Merritt changed the way he starts a race by starting with his left rather than his right foot and shortened his strides to the first hurdle from eight to seven strides. These small changes might have gone unnoticed in a race that took less than 13 seconds, yet it made all the difference in the outcome of the race. When he was asked whether he had now perfected his technique, he answered that his technique will never be perfect. He believes that he is too high when he sails over the hurdles. This reduces the changes of him hitting the hurdle, but if he is lower, he would spend less time in the air and more time on the ground which would translate into a faster time. Merritt has now set his sights on breaking the world record in the 110m hurdles, which he believes is possible by making small changes.

Aries Merritt’s performance is definitely admirable, because he was brave enough to look beyond his immediate performance in 2008 towards his ultimate goal and to commit himself to make the changes necessary to achieve this goal. Most of us will admire his performance and maybe even dream of achieving our sporting or life goals in a similar fashion. The truth is, we do not have to merely admire Merritt, we can learn from him and apply the same principles to achieve success.

However, few of us are willing to make the commitment require to eventually experiencing the results we desire. In today’s fast pace society many of us struggle to wrap our minds around the fact that if we want bigger gains we might have to commit time and effort to refining the small details. In sport this translates to making the required changes to our technique to eventually achieve the results we want.

Steve Robson (2012) argues that the popular belief that “practice makes perfect” is actually not true. He believes that it is probably more accurate that “perfect practice makes perfect”. If we want to improve our sport performance, merely putting in the hours will not lead to better results. Training and/or practicing is important but the difference in performance is determined by how we train. If we train haphazardly and reinforce poor techniques, these movements will be etched into our brain. The more we reinforce the poor technique through our training, the more we reinforce these techniques in our mental pathways that control our movement. Therefore, if we continue doing the same things, we cannot expect different results. If we want different results we must be prepared to do things differently. This means that, as triathletes, once we are fit and able to do the basics of swim, cycle and run, we need to hone our technique if we want to see significant improvement in our times. The good news is that in terms of our motor skills and sporting techniques, there is nothing that cannot be changed (i.e., improved), the bad news is that it will not be easy because it will require practice, patience and persistence.

 

We are not all equally gifted in terms of genetics, but we can all improve our performance if we are willing to put in the hours. Those of us who are serious about producing better results need to realize that we cannot continue to train aimlessly, reinforcing our mental pathways for poor technique and then be surprised at our lack of improvement. Many of us know this, but few of us are willing to do what Merritt did and commit to the process of relearning skills and techniques. The process of relearning a skill or improving a technique is often slow and exceptionally frustrating, because we feel as if we are going nowhere despite doing everything we need to do and more.

First attempts at learning new skills and/or improving our techniques are often clumsy and feels unsuccessful but if we trust the process and continue to train with good technique, we will reinforce new mental pathways which will eventually lead to improved performance. Initially it will require a lot of attention and effort but if we continue to reinforce the new technique, the movement will become easier and smoother and will require less effort and concentration to initiate and carry out the activity. Merritt would probably tell us that he initially had to focus all his attention on remembering to start with his left foot and to only take seven strides to the first hurdle. By the time he reached the Olympics, I am convinced that he would have reinforced his new technique to the point that he would not have to think about it anymore. It would have become his autopilot. This is why many top sportsmen and woman will say that they think of nothing when they compete because the mental pathways responsible for the technique have become so much part of them that they no longer needed to focus on any aspect of their technique. This is when we refer to athletes being in the zone.

It sounds simple, but it is a frustrating process, which is why many of us do not commit to the process or give up before we see results. The brain needs time and practice to reinforce new mental pathways. This is why it is important to persist with your training drills despite the frustration at what appear to be either lack of progress or even deteriorating performance.

It is also important to remember that the mental pathways for your old bad habits or techniques remain in your brain’s filing system for the rest of your life. As such, particularly in the early days of new skills or technique training, the old pathways will switching on and initiate the old faulty movements, the moment we allow our minds to wonder – this is especially likely when we get tired and frustrated. This is why we tend to have a few good days and then a bad day when we start the process. The bad skill and technique remain our autopilot and the moment we take our eye of the ball, it switches on.

The good news is that persistent practice of the new skill will eventually reinforce the new mental pathways to the extent where it becomes part of our mental fabric and ultimately, our new autopilot. The old mental pathways do not disappear, but they do get weaker due to reduced use and activation, rendering them less likely to “fire” and causing the memory for the movement to fade. However, if we slip back into practicing the unwanted technique, we switch the mental pathways back on and strengthen them once again. There is no shortcut, but if you want it bad enough, you will tolerate the slow progress and frustration because the eventual success will be worthwhile.

 

PRACTICE ... PATIENCE ... PERSEVERANCE!! 

How are you coming back this season? Do you have the resolve to pursue the goals you've set for our team this season?

It's all about that extra effort--that ONE MORE inch--that little push.  How will you respond when things don't go your--OUR--way?  Will you have that commitment to dig a little deeper than ever before?  In every season--in fact, IN EVERY GAME--there comes that moment that makes the difference.  Will you be ready?  Can you be counted on? 

NBA Kings' Jimmer Fredette Talks about Working to Reach Your Goals!

Jimmer Fredette is a 6'2" shooter from a very small town in upstate NY.  Coming out of high school, he was largely unnoticed by the top basketball universities on the East Coast.  He attend BYU in Utah and led the Cougars to a 25-2 record his senior year.  He was the 10th pick of the 2011 NBA draft.  Jimmer credits his success to GOAL-SETTING and WORK ETHIC.  Listen to Jimmer as he tells his story ...

2011-12 Evansville Basketball Home Game Intro at Ford Center

A GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAY: TAKING THE CHARGE

Six Good Reasons to "Take the Charge" ...
1. Helps us get one foul closer to shooting the bonus!
2. Discourages opponent from driving the ball!
3. Opponent gets one foul closer to fouling out or may put him on bench with 3rd or 4th foul!
4. We get possession of the ball!
5. May take away an opponent's basket!
6. Becomes a rallying defensive play!

Dwyane Wade - The Art of the Bankshot

Dwyane Wade - Art of the Shot Fake

Dwyane Wade Shot Fake -- Part II

2010-11 Northridge Senior Night Video

Derrick Rose's Key to Success

The following quote by BJ Armstrong describes Derrick
Rose's greates asset:

"I have said his greatest asset, his greatest quality, is that he is a phenomenal, phenomenal listener," BJ Armstrong says. Armstrong, who played on three of those Jordan championship teams, is now one of Rose's closest mentors. "He listens. He is able to take information, decipher what is important, decipher what is not important, and gets to the crux, right to the heart of what is going on right there."

Why Chris Paul Dribbles With Force

Chris Paul believes, AS WE TEACH AT NRP, that the ball must be dribbled HIGH AND HARD. He calls it "Dribbling with Force" ... same idea. As we often tell our dribblers, you must "POUND THE BALL WITH AUTHORITY!" Chris explains quite well in this short video segment the advantages of dribbling high and hard. In addition, dribbling high and hard enables you to move quicker on the floor. There are times when a lower dribble (below the knee) is advantageous, such as when entering the lane on penetration or splitting through a gap; however, the game's best dribblers Paul, Nash, Rose, et al, are all high and hard dribblers. Just watch and study them!!!

Stephen Curry - PULL BACK HESITATION CROSSOVER DRIBBLE

Steph Curry demonstrates the use of a PULLBACK HESITATION CROSSOVER DRIBBLE to combat a defensive switch of the Pick & Roll.

Ricky Rubio - GLIDE DRIBBLE, ATTACK OPEN SIDE, and EURO STEP

Ricky Rubio demonstrates the GLIDE DRIBBLE to get ball im position to play Pick & Roll, then ATTACKS THE OPEN SIDE, and finishes the scoring move with a patented Manu Ginobili EURO STEP.

Deron Williams - GLIDE and HESITATION STEPBACK DRIBBLE MOVES

Williams demonstrates the GLIDE DRIBBLE to get himself in position for Pick & Roll play. Once he attacks the defense, he uses a HESITATION STEP BACK to attack the switch created by the pick.

Russell Westbrook - Split Pick and Roll

Russell Westbrook demonstrates the split of a defensive hard hedge. This is a place where the dribble must be LOWERED below knee level and pushed out ahead of the defense with a change of direction move and EXPLOSION.

Chris Paul with a Pick & Roll Nugget

Pick & Roll Part II: More of the Phoenix Suns' pick-and-roll attack

A good explanation of the Suns' Pick & Roll Offense: SIMPLE, PRECISE, UNSELFISH, and EFFECTIVE!

Steve Nash Pick and Roll 2004-2010

No guard in the NBA executes the pick and roll more efficiently than Steve Nash. Notice the precision passing, usually a bounce pass off the dribble much like the backdoor pass.

Stephen Curry Workout

An little known student-athlete at Davidson University, Stephen Curry burst into the national spotlight after he led his college team on an amazing run as a 10th seed in the 2008 NCAA tourney. Steph is another example of a player who has reached a level of excellence through WORKING HARD and having a PROPER MENTAL ATTITUDE. Steph's younger brother, Seth, currently plays at Duke University.

Chris Paul Workout I

Chris Paul never played high school varsity basketball until his junior year. An All-American student-athlete at Wake Forest University, he is one of the NBA's best point guards. Only 6-0 and 180 pounds, Chris relies on COMMITMENT, RESPONSIBILITY, and WORK to compete with the best.

Chris Paul Workout II

Chris Paul on Dribbling

Stan Jones, Assoc. Head Coach - Florida State

As the college basketball season nears its half-way point, and teams are on the verge of beginning their run in conference play, no team will stay the same. Either they will get better or they will decline in improvement and disintegrate into a team that is easy to defeat. Whether a team improves usually depends on the depth of competitive talent they have on their roster. As coaches, we continually look for players with skills and athleticism that fit out program’s style, but how often do we research the competitive talent of a prospect. All programs tout how they develop their players, but in the reality of a world that demands competition; improvement only happens when one is competitive with oneself, success only happens when one is competitive within the system, and becoming the best only happens when one is competitive with their competition.

It has been my experience from coaching at all different levels, the teams with the most talent win a high percentage of all games, but if you evaluate their roster, you also find the team with the most competitive talent wins the championship. There are five attributes that I have observed over my career in true competitors:

1.They play at the same level every game.

2.They handle mistakes – their own and the mistakes of others.

3.They show enthusiasm and desire for every game.

4.They are the team catalyst.

5.They never quit, no matter what.

Play at the same level every game: This behavior is easily observable but what most people aren’t able to see is that they play that way almost every day in practice. The year I coached in the NBA, veteran coach Johnny Bach, told me how when he was coaching the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan would not ever let his team have a bad practice. He demanded everything be competitive and got more focused if it appeared the coaching staff was stacking the competition against him. I truly believe this saying that I tell our players continually, “Good players show up in big games, the best players show up in every game.”

Handles mistakes – his own and those of others: My dad always told me that the best lessons in life were learned from your own mistakes. But he also added to that, that a person will not live long enough to make enough mistakes to prepare themselves for great success so the truly great successes were wise to observe and to learn from the mistakes those around them were making. Legendary football coach, Jimmy Johnson once said, “A losing team looks for excuses. A championship team looks for solutions.” And I truly believe when you lock in on studying great competitors you will see a different look in their eyes and with their countenance that ‘ok’, you got me on that one but let’s see what happens on the next play. I also believe that when a teammate makes a mistake the great competitor knows how to channel that mistake toward the betterment of himself and the betterment of his team.

Shows enthusiasm and desire for the game: It has been my experience that the great competitors truly love the game and rarely get enough of it. They are constantly watching others play. They cannot go too many days with working on their own game. And when you watch them play, you can see that they are purely passionate and take great enjoyment from being in the competition. I tell our players all the time, the great entertainers before a performance, no matter how many nights they were on the road, before the curtain went up found a way to get amped and loved putting on a show for their audience. They took no performances off because of the love of their craft and not wanting to let down anyone who would take time to come be a part of their performance. Vince Lombardi put it like this, “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength or a lack of knowledge but rather a lack of will and desire.” I agree with the old Packer coach!

Is the team catalyst: The dictionary defines the word catalyst as, a person or thing that precipitates an event or change. As well as a person whose talk, enthusiasm, or energy causes others to be more friendly, enthusiastic, or energetic. I don’t think I have ever seen a great competitor who was unwilling to step to the front to do what it took for his team to be in a position to win. A great moment that I observed, happened in the ACC tournament back in the 90’s when Wake Forest was locked up in a classic battle with North Carolina that would determine the conference champion. Deacon great, Randolph Childress was having a terrific game and during the overtime period one of his teammates took somewhat of an ill-advised shot that caromed out of bounds leading to a time out. And as the camera panned to head to the commercial, Childress is shown talking to his teammate and you can read his lips as he said, “Give me the ball and I will decide if we win or lose.” That comment took the pressure off his teammate and they went on to win the game for the ACC title. A great quote to share with a player you have that is growing into a catalyst was said by NBA player, Shane Battier, “One day I had an epiphany. I said to myself yes I am different. But instead of that being a bad thing I can have the best of both worlds. I learned to love to be unique.” Words of a great competitor.

Never quits, no matter what: Louisville head coach Rick Pitino said, “The difference between average teams and the very good teams is that good teams do not surrender to fatigue.” That is also true of great competitors. They have a motor that does not let them get tired, either physically or mentally. In fact, when the struggle gets this most intense or the more desperate, great competitive people find almost a superhuman resolve. They become more resilient to adversity and more inspirational to the people they are in the battle with. When you find this characteristic in your team or in one of your team members, cherish it. It is the rarest of all the characteristics of great competitors. This never say die attitude usually carries a team through those moments in tournament play where you are taking the very best shot of your opponent and you have to find a way to survive and advance. Look back on those championship seasons you have enjoyed, you will find this characteristic will jump out at you along the journey of that season and it will bring a smile to your face.

So having said all that, I truly believe competitiveness is a talent. I do believe that it can be developed but that process must start at a young age. In today’s basketball, I think we are losing some of this talent due to the playing of too many meaningless games with no emphasis being placed on becoming competitively great. My challenge to those coaches reading this blog is to lead by example with your own competitive spirit and by developing a teaching method in your program that demands your team members to maximize their competitive talent. Be the best!

Sport Science: Jeremy Lin – Faster than John Wall?

Jeremy Lin has taken the NBA by storm in recent weeks. Is he a flash-in-the-pan or a hidden talent waiting to emerge as one of the league's all-time greats? Besides possessing the heart of a lion, Lin seems to have a very unique "skills package." ESPN's Sport Science examined Lin's game up close and discovered some absolutely remarkable facts about his talent. How did two other NBA teams miss on this guy?

Click here: Sport Science: Jeremy Lin – Faster than John Wall?