Passion Wins & Make Something Happen

Be a sponge! In order to be successful, you have to be willing to learn from other people who have been successful. Most successful coaches will tell you that they created nothing, everything they know was taught, learned or taken from somebody else. To do this, I believe that you have to be willing to become a "sponge" and soak the information in. This goes for everything you do in life...no matter if you are an accountant, teacher, athlete, parent or coach. As coaches, we strive for our players to become students of the game, but we too must continue to be students of the game. I love to read articles from other people who have been successful, not just basketball coaches. You learn so much when you get the perspective of other professionals. Basketball coaches do not need to be your only resource for learning. Take Lance Armstrong for example, we can learn so much from him about his desire to be successful and his views on life in general.

Below is an article from a very successful Lacrosse coach, Diane Geppi-Aikens. A former coach at Loyola (MD) University, who unfortunately became a victim of cancer in her 30's, but her passion, courage and desire to teach were not effected by her cancer as she continued to coach, teach and inspire others. Coach Geppi-Aikens led her Loyola Lacrosse team to the NCAA Finals just before passing away at the age of 40. "Every morning after breakfast, I would see Diane pulling into the parking lot in her car. I'd see her and my day would get off to a great start. ... She made me want to bring more energy, more focus, more vision to my job," Loyola President Rev. Harold Ridley said. As a coach or a teacher, one of the greatest compliments you can receive is someone telling you that you were an inspiration to them. I don't know much about Coach Geppi-Aikens as I have just started learning more about her, but I do know that she was an inspiration to all that were surrounded by her. A book has been released on her, where her former players reflect by telling inspirational stories that teach about passion, making time, adversity, honesty, love and respect. The book is called Lucky Every Day, 20 Unforgettable Lessons From a Coach Who Made a Difference and is written by Chip Silverman who is a former lacrosse player and coach.

Also below, is a great quote from Astronaut, James A. Lowell, who talks about being successful. It is important that we teach our kids to learn and become sponges, but those that we learn from do not have to necessarily be professional athletes.

PASSION WINS!

"Passion is everything."
-- David Copperfield, magician

Diane Geppi-Aikens was an incredibly passionate coach. As women’s lacrosse coach at Loyola (MD), she preached passion and she won.
She didn’t let anything get in the way of her passion for coaching lacrosse.
She was diagnosed with brain cancer in her early 30s. She coached her last eight years despite the cancer.
Sometimes from a wheel chair.
Always in pain.
And she won.
She died at the age of 40.
In the book Lucky Every Day: The Wisdom of Diane Geppii-Aikens, author Chip Silverman wrote . . .
She made us close our eyes and hear the singers she was passionate about: Roberta Flack and Aretha Franklin.
“Listen to the joy in their voices,” urged Diane.
“It’s not the words or the music. They sing with such great passion, such heart and soul. You can feel how the singers love what they’re doing. It’s not just a job to them. If you want to excel at anything, you must be passionate. Otherwise, why waste your time?”
Passion wins.

ADVICE FROM AN ASTRONAUT:

Here is a great quote from Astronaut, James A. Lowell:

"There are people who make things happen.
There are people who watch things happen.
And there are people who wonder, “What happened?”
To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen."

"Be A Champion"

This weekend I was watching a college football preview show and they were doing a special segment on the University of Florida's football team and their strength and conditioning program. Watching the special segment, I happened to hear a comment made by one of the football players to another player during their workout. It was at a time where the player was visually fatigued towards the end of a specific workout and the other player motivated him by saying "be a champion". This short little modo or quote really caught my attention because as I started thinking more and more about the short little clip, I began to realize why the University of Florida has recently been so successful...they think and prepare like champions. After seeing this short clip on ESPN and then reading an article featuring Urban Meyer and Billy Donovan, Florida's head football and basketball coaches, detailing thier friendship and strong relationship, I believe Florida will continue to be college sports'...true champions!

Below are a few experpts from an article by Donald Trump, "Focus on the Top and You'll Get There". The article explains the same information on how to become a "champion" and what it takes to become a 'champion'.

"Some champions are born and some champions are made. A champion may be someone who shows marked superiority, who places first in a competition. A champion can also be someone who comes out on top, overcoming obstacles and beating the odds. Endurance, self-sacrafice and determination are the qualities of a true champion."

"Champions want to achieve something special. Ordinary wouldn't be enough for someone who has the mindset of a champion. Champions think big. Champions work toward big goals. Champions are focused. Champions are disciplined. Champions think like champions." As Jack Dempsey once was quoted, "A champion is someone who gets up when he can't."

You can learn alot from watching professionals, whether it is in sports, the arts, or whatever. One thing they all have in common is the same mindset- they WANT to win, they WANT to be the best, not the runner-up: the best! That's a very rare and important quality. I have seen very talented people fail because deep down inside they were afraid of winning. "Winning comes with responsibility." Champions rise to take on that responsibility. Are you ready to take on that responsibility?

Not everyone can be a champion, but you can strive to be the best you can be. Striving to be the best is the first step in becoming a champion. "Champions go the extra mile. We all know when we've done just enought to get by and when we have really exerted ourselves. Make an effort to exert yourself-every day. Don't fail because you never allowed yourself to get started!"

Any champion will tell you that preparation is the key to success. "The difference between someone who is successful and someone who isn't is not about talent; it's about preparation." A perfect example of this would be the Windber boy's basketball team in 1999, who advanced to the PIAA State semi-finals. Being faced with an extremely talented, athletic George Jr. Republic team, with several division I college basketball prospects, nobody was giving the Ramblers a chance against what many were calling the best team in the state! Who would...the Ramblers were out-sized, out-talented, they were slower and weaker than George Jr. But the Ramblers were not out-prepared or out-disciplined or out-worked. The Ramblers had more heart. The Ramblers believed in themselves and their coaches and overcame the odds to not only beat George Jr., but completely shocked the entire state of Pennsylvania by winning by more than 20 points. The Ramblers were able to win because of their preparation and belief in themselves and their coaches...they had mindsets of true champions! They prepared themselves, expecting to win. This attitude enabled them to achieve victory. They were not afraid to miss a shot or loose the ball or have their shot blocked...they were not afraid of failing because failing never crossed their minds.

What do team sports do for you in the 'game of life'? Those who were involved in athletics are taught how to handle pressure, control doubt, and come through in difficult times. "Some people are born with the confidence to win, but most people acquire that self-confidence through a powerful combination of ambition and discipline." These attributes can be achieved through participating in athletics. "The imagination to dream big combined with the focus and self-discipline needed to realize the dream is the mark of a true champion."

Champions also know how to handle losing better than the average competitor. When they lose they do not become distracted or demoralized. Instead, they turn failure into an opportunity to learn from it. A perfect example is the USA senior olympic team, coached by Mike Krzryewski of Duke. A team assembled last spring, made up of NBA superstars, failed to win the tournament last summer that would have guaranteed them a spot in the 2008 Olympics. This failure opened up a wave of criticism and questioned whether the rest of the world was passing the US by in basketball. However, instead of buying in to the critism and questioning, the USA team re-assembled this summer to prepare themselves for the preliminary tournament, that would give them another chance to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. The USA team did not become distracted and remained focused toward winning the tournament. They are more prepared and committed toward achieving success. A loss does not define the team or an athlete. Instead, it teaches them what they need to do next time.

So ho do you become a winner? As stated earlier, you have to be willing to put forth the time and sacrafice. You have to have the willingness to prepare. You have to have a goal and the ambition and discipline to keep you on path towards achieving that goal. You cannot be afraid of failure and willing to learn from previous failures. You also have to be willing to learn from those who have been winners themselves by studying their habits and routines. You must believe within yourself and your teammates and coaches. You must believe that you deserve to win. "To be a champion, you have to think like a champion!"

Coaches Corner: An Overview of the Point Guard

I have posted an article that was found in the New York Times about the point guard position. The article talks about how the game of basketball has changed to having a bigger emphasis on the scoring guard and post player. But what some people tend to forget is how important the point guard is to having a successful season. I tend to be biased when it comes to talking about the importance of the point guard position becuase I grew up playing the point guard position. Therefore, I feel strongly about the importance of having a good leader on the floor to run the offense, distribute the basketball and be an extension of the coach.
As we continue to discuss leadership and the attributes to becoming a good leader, the point guard position falls right in line with those attributes. You want your point guard, no matter what grade level, to have those same attributes. In order for your team to buy in to your system and philosophies, you must first get the buy in of your point guard. It is then up to the point guard to have the enthusiasm and discipline to get the buy in from the other players. No matter how the game has changed, one thing still remains..."all great teams, have a great point guard." If you look at the teams that have been successful in college basketball, they all have one thing in common...a solid floor leader at the point guard spot. For example, North Carolina's Ty Lawson; Texas A&M's Acie Law; Ohio State's Michael Conley Jr.; and Texas' DJ Augustine. To see the video that went along with the article, click on the link under the videos section to the right.

Lately, Guards Are Just Unable to Get the Point
By THAYER EVANS and PETE THAMEL
Published: March 22, 2007

SAN ANTONIO, March 21 — Great guard play wins games in March, or so the cliché goes. Teams like Texas A&M, Nevada-Las Vegas, Ohio State and North Carolina have reached the Round of 16 at the N.C.A.A. tournament on the backs of their stellar point guards.
Players like Acie Law IV, Kevin Kruger, Mike Conley Jr. and Ty Lawson have led their teams by looking to set up teammates for scoring opportunities, rather than by scoring themselves. Those players, however, have become more the exception than the rule in recent years.
Coaches, N.B.A. scouts and talent evaluators say there are a variety of reasons why the pass-first point guard seems to have gone missing. But the primary reason they point to is that a generation of players weaned on Allen Iverson crossovers does not value passing as an art.
“No one wants to set the table anymore,” Mount St. Mary’s Coach Milan Brown said in a telephone interview. “Everyone wants to eat.”
Before the N.B.A. established an age limit last year, high school stars — especially the taller ones — were flying to the pros, leaving the college game virtually void of talented big men. The impact of the draft rule has been obvious during this N.C.A.A. tournament, which has showcased players 6-foot-9 and above, like Ohio State’s Greg Oden, Texas’ Kevin Durant and North Carolina’s Brandan Wright.
But the less publicized and perhaps even more meaningful trend in the college game has been the absence of pass-first leaders at the point-guard position the past few years.
Traditional point guards like Bobby Hurley, Kenny Anderson and Mateen Cleaves, who dominated past N.C.A.A. tournaments, have become as rare in college basketball as thigh-hugging shorts. Since 2000, the number of players averaging more than seven assists a game has decreased from 11 to 2.
“They’re hard to come by,” Texas Coach Rick Barnes said of point guards in a telephone interview. “It’s a talent now.”
There are differing opinions among college coaches and N.B.A. personnel as to why there is a dearth of true point guards.
Barnes said the shortage had been caused by an increased emphasis on scoring. In an era of highlight dunks and a college 3-point line that has been called too close to the basket, the craft of running a team and distributing the ball is not viewed as being glamorous, he said.
Barnes has been lucky to be blessed with point guards while at Texas. He coached T. J. Ford, one of only three point guards in the past decade to win the Naismith Award, which is given annually to college basketball’s top player.
Since then, Barnes has sent point guard Daniel Gibson to the N.B.A. and has another potential N.B.A. point guard in the freshman D. J. Augustin. He averaged 14.4 points this season and led all freshmen with 6.7 assists a game.
True point guards, Barnes said, have common characteristics.
“They see things a little bit differently,” he said. “The ones that I’ve been around have been very, very unselfish.”
The Utah Jazz scout Troy Weaver, a former Syracuse University assistant, said the definition of a point guard for younger players had been clouded by those who looked to score first.
“I think Allen Iverson messed up the game,” Weaver said in a telephone interview. “All these little guys dribble around instead of passing the ball.”
Tennessee Coach Bruce Pearl said that many talented high school players avoided playing point guard to bolster their exposure to college coaches. Many guards, he said, believe the only way they can get noticed is by scoring points.
“There’s a lot of shooting guards out there that could be great point guards,” Pearl said in a telephone interview.
In high school, Conley said, there was a negative perception of being a point guard. He is averaging 10.6 points and 6.2 assists for the Buckeyes. “If you’re not a scoring point guard, people don’t think of you as highly,” Conley said. “They don’t think of you as the type that’s going to make an impact in college because you’re not trying to score 20 points a game. You’re more trying to get 10 assists.”
But Pearl said he believed that more young players would want to be point guards in the future. He compared the situation to an increased number of football players seeking to become cornerbacks instead of wide receivers.
“For years, everybody wanted to be wide receivers,” Pearl said. “Now, the guys that get paid the most are the cover corners. At some point, these shooting guards are going to figure out there’s a lot of guys that can score with the ball, but their best chance may be as a point guard.”
The N.B.A. draft last year showed signs of the lack of floor leaders; only one point guard, Villanova’s Randy Foye, was selected among the first 20 picks.
Law is projected to be the only point guard in the first 20 picks of this year’s draft. N.B.A. scouts say the Marist senior point guard Jared Jordan is the best passer in this year’s point-guard class.
“There’s immense value in having a true point guard,” Marty Blake, the N.B.A.’s director of scouting, said in a telephone interview. “It’s as important as any other position but center. Point guards don’t get traded very often.”

Friday Leadership Lesson: Areas of Emphasis

SELF…Being a leader that others will want to follow. First, you must have the ability to lead yourself.
- Recognizing all the different types of leaders
- Having the confidence to bring out the leader in you with good decision making.
- Self-discipline, self-respect and respect for others
- Integrity...do what you say; say what you do!
- Time management- be on time for all events

TEAM… Being a positive leader on your team.
- Being a good listener, communicator - How do you find your voice? - Respect leadership from others such as coaches and team captains
- Decision-making that can affect team chemistry - Establish good relationship with coaching staff - Team leaders must be the hardest workers on the team - Understand and promote the team philosophies and goals to others - Be positive and enthusiastic

SCHOOL/HALLWAYS…Setting an example of leadership on and off the field.
- Overcoming obstacles that may impede good leadership
- Become a mentor; Helping others deal with difficult situations
-Verbal leadership -Respect fellow classmates, teachers and administrators

COMMUNITY… Being a leader in your own community.
- good leadership = creating leaders around you
- Community Service- learning the value of giving back in life
- "Pay it forward" approach

Live. Lead. Pass it on!

Coaches Corner: 1 on 1 Player Development Drills

Known as one of the nations top individual skill developer, Kevin Eastman is the director of player development for the NBA's Boston Celtic's and was chosen to be the skills director of Nike's first skills academy offered to the nations most elite players. Below are a few drills demonstrated at a few Nike coaching clinics he has spoken at. All 3 drills focus on attacking the basket, 1 on 1 against a defender. These drills work on ballhandling, shooting and one on one offensive moves. The drills also help to work on the defensive side too, focusing on stop the dribble penetration before the offensive player gets to the paint area.

These drills are for guard workouts, but post players would also benefit from these drills since its always good to have them work on the same skills.


1 on 1 Attack Drill:

-Offensive player starts with the ball by speed dribbling from the baseline around the cone or chair.
-The defender sprints around the second cone or chair.
-The offensive player then looks to attack the basket against the defender 1 on 1.
-The defender attempts to stop the ballhandler before they get into the paint area.

2 on 1 Attack Drill:

-Same action as the 1 on 1 attack drill, with the addition of a second offensive player on the opposite wing.
-Offensive player will attack the defender and must choose to either attack the basket and shoot or pass off to the wing player.

Baseline Touch 1 on 1 Drill:

-Both players simultaneously sprint from the foul line to touch the baseline.
-The offensive player must work to get open to recevie pass from the coach or passer.
-Once the offensie player receives the pass, they look to go 1 on 1 against the defender.

Friday Lesson in Leadership: Vision

I am starting a Friday routine, that will post a topic relating to Leadership and Character Development. Leadership comes in many forms, however before you become a leader you must first learn to lead yourself. This can be done through self-respect, confidence, good decision making and a commitment to developing yourself, personally, academically and athletically.

Once you have learned to lead yourself, then you must gain the respect of others. You must respect others in order to be respected. Respect is gained by understanding leadership from listenting and communicating with coaches and team captains.

This first lesson on leadership talks about vision. It was taken from a article posted on another site. Vision is a great place to start understanding leadership because it is the foundation of leadership on all levels...business, athletics, polically, etc. In order to lead others, you must provide them with a vision.

Discovering Vision
"Where there is no vision, the people perish"

A vision is a direction—an attractive and attainable picture of the future. And it is important that every individual, group and organization have one that they can articulate. A vision isn't a statement on a laminated card that everyone is to carry. It is meant to solve real issues and move people to new behaviors. As a leader, if you don't know where you are going, you are irrelevant to you followers. With a vision you can inspire and lift individuals and groups to new heights—an important function of any leader.

It is not merely a dream but a realistic picture of what could be. It should be pragmatic. In addition, it should be something that you are sincerely passionate about. If you are not passionate about it, it will be difficult for you to get others to get on board and sustain it.

The very essence of leadership is vision. The greatest motivational principle in the world is this: people do what people see. People don't follow a dream itself. They follow the leader who has that dream and the ability to communicate it effectively. A well articulated vision in the beginning of any process will make a leader, but for that vision to grow and demand a following, the leader must take responsibility for it.

One of the desirable characteristics of diamonds is that they have the ability to refract light. That is, diamonds turn white light into the colors of a rainbow as seen in the sparkle of a diamond in the sun or under a bright light. That sparkle is eye-catching; it grabs people's attention as do visionary leaders. When we break up the light of our vision into a colorful rainbow, a preferred picture of the future that can be visualized and understoof by our followers, then we have begun the work of a leader- to cast vision. Never underestimate your diamond-like characteristic to bend your light and break it up into a colorful picture of what is in store for those who are following.