Coach's Corner with John Thompson

COACH'S CORNER with John Thompson of North Carolina Wesslyan

THE COMMUNITY

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with one of our local Kiwanis Clubs. These are always great situations for me because I get a delicious lunch out of it…More importantly, though, is I have a chance to promote our program and build the connection between our basketball program and the community.After having lunch with former Wesleyan history professor a month or so ago, I developed the premise of yesterday’s talk. Dr. David Jones, whom I respect greatly, and I have lunch twice or three times a year. He is an avid basketball fan and so knowledgeable…about everything. I always feel a little bit smarter after I have lunch with him. During the course of our lunch, which ended up being a couple of hours, the subject of teams performance and their practice preparation came up. At one point Dave asked, “Well, what are the three or four core things you try to teach?” I believe he expected shooting, defense and rebounding to be in there somewhere. Ultimately, my answer became yesterday’s Kiwanis Club talk.The 4 C’s…Commitment was number one. Our players must be committed to what they and we as a team are doing. Communication was next. The better job we do of communicating, player to coach, coach to player, and player to player, the better team we will be. The third C is Correct Decision-Making. (We have always discussed decision-making, but added the “correct” because we want the right decisions, good decisions….and the 4 C’s sounded better than the 3C’s and 1D). Ones life is full of decisions. Do you get up when the alarm goes off, or do you roll over and sleep in? Do you shoot a pull-up jumpshot on a 3 on 2 fastbreak, or do you drive to the basket, or instead, pass to a wing? Hundreds of decisions to be made on a daily basis. We want correct decision making. Lastly, we want consistency. We want to know we can count on our players for consistent effort and performance, consistently good effort and performance.When I finished, Dave said, “That’s what most employers want. That’s what most business’s want. That’s what most teachers want from their students. If you ever talk to a Kiwanis Club or something like that, you’ve got your speech right there.” So yesterday I tried it out and know I’ve given it to you. Hope it helps.

MUST READING

As most of you know I like books and I like to read. I like sports, so sports books always interest me. I also like books that somehow make me better, make me smarter. Two books that I have been reading concurrently are: How to be Like Mike (that would be Michael Jordan) and How to be Like Jackie Robinson. These are not biographies and they really aren’t sports books, although they are dealing with sports figures. These books analyze and detail what made these two people great. The things that separate athletes like Jordan and Robinson can help anyone be successful in life. Pat Williams, Senior Vice President of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, is the author of these two fine books. Through countless interviews with coaches, teammates, opponents and others, Mr. Williams gleans the information on what took these stars to unique levels of success on the court, the field, and in life. In no way are they depicted as perfect, but their special qualities are examined and offered as things to be incorporated into our lives as we pursue success. There are three more books in this series that I have not read, however, based on “Mike” and “Jackie,” How to be Like Jesus, How to be Like Walt (Disney), and How to be Like Women of Influence are sure to be outstanding. (Another of his books that I would recommend is Go For The Magic. It is about dreaming and working, attitude and focus, goals and motivation. Check it out).

THE POINT GUARD MUST HAVES – A Baker’s Dozen

1) Knowledge – of the Game, of the Program, of his teammates, of his Coach

2) Leadership Skills

3) Communication Skills – Knowledge, Ability, Willingness, Projection

4) Vision

5) Ball Skills – Passing, Dribbling, Shooting (Scoring)

6) Defensive Pressure

7) Good Decision Making Ability

8) Defensive Breakdown Ability

9) Reasonable Quickness

10) Selflessness

11) Presence-Poise, Confidence

12) Toughness-Emotional, Mental, Physical

13) Positive relationship and bond with coach

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Player development is something that is very important in every program and it is here, as well. We work very hard at trying to maximize a players potential. I try to talk with as many coaches and players as I can to get new ideas, new drills, maybe a different way to teach a certain technique. Sometimes these conversations (on occassion they become mini-clinics) cause me to pause and re-evaluate how I am doing something...sometimes they confirm what I already believe. I am convinced that you can always learn, and I try to do that.I also watch a lot of tape. I watch anything and everything: our games, other college teams, NBA games, the USA National Team and instructional videos by any number of coaches. I want to see how we can do things better. We believe in our philosophy and aren't trying to reinvent the wheel; we are trying to make the wheel we have better...trying to make it the best it can be. I also think that when you can introduce new drills or variations of drills, it keeps the players fresh and interested.Below is an example of a shooting drill that a player could do on his own (or with a teammate) between classes or whenever he has a small window of opportunity to get in the gym.

We call this our "20 Minute Workout" and if a player is working hard, shooting at game speed, he can get up 150 shots in that time frame.

1. 30 Shots-10 in front/10 right side/10 left side (1'-2')

2. 20 Layups-10 right-handed/10 left-handed

3. 20 shots-10 outside right block/10 outside left block (get angle and bank)

4. 30 Shots-10 from FT line/10 right elbow/10 left elbow

5. 50 shots-10 each from right/left corners, right/left wings, and the top of the key (all 3's unless a players position or ability mandates otherwise).

THE CHAMPION INSIDE
Adonis "Sporty" Jeralds has spent a career in the sports and entertainment business. Currently working with the Charlotte Bobcats Areana, "Sporty" has a book out that should be in the collection of every player and coach. The Champion in You is a collection of short, easy to read vignettes that provide valuable lessons for life and success. I have given many copies of this book as gifts and this summer I have been re-reading it. To order a book visit www.championinyou.com or call (704) 543-7150. I highly recommend it.
I am a big fan of quotes and themes. We start practices, meetings, shoot-arounds, and other events with a "Thought for the Day." This thought is often a quote from someone far smarter than me. French Renaissance thinker Michel Eyguem De Montaigne said, "I quote others to better express myself." That is precisely the way I feel. Hopefully I can get my point across to the team, but sometimes I may need help. Hearing the words of Larry Bird or Larry Brown, Michael Jordan or Mike Krzyzewski, or even a thought from Aristotle or Thomas Jefferson, sometimes helps the players understand what I am trying to teach. After George Mason's win over UConn, Coach Jim Larranaga used a quote that I love, from William Jennings Bryan: "Destiny...is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." Hopefully we are all making the right choice and trying to achieve all that we are capable of.

CONSISTENCY

This is an absolutely vital component to the success of any organization. A basketball team is no exception. Great teams are very consistent, in terms of their attitude, their preparation, their effort, and their performance.One of my favorite quotes regarding consistency is: Consistency is better than occasional greatness.It is important that everyone on the team be able to expect a certain level of performance from each other. If a guy gets 25 points and 10 rebounds in a game, that's great. However, if he doesn't score in double figures for the next three games and only gets 4 or 5 rebounds in the same series of games, the 25 and 10 fade in importance. A guy who can get you 18 and 9 every night out is much more valuable. His coach and his teammates know what they can count on when they hit the floor.A consistent approach to the game and consistent effort in practice and in games also leads to steady improvement. This steady improvement helps players and teams grow, and succeed. Joe Paterno, Penn State's iconic football coach, says that performing at a consistently high level is, "...the mark of a true professional." Consistency provides reliability, which leads to trust. When you get to that point you have a chance to flourish.

THE MENTORS
There are many coaches who have assisted me, taught me, guided me, and set an example for me in my career. All coaches are a mix of all of their experiences. They are influenced by everyone they come in contact with. They take something from every coach they play for, or work with, and figure out what works for them in their given situation. In some cases the influence is very evident and in others it is more subtle. I am undoubtedly in debt to a number of coaches who have helped me through the years.This is a small thank you to all of them.Herman Paschal -Durham, NC YMCA He taught me so much about the game playing 2 on 2, 3 on 3, critiquing my summer league games, watching games on TV and just sitting around talking.I was very fortunate to meet him as a seventh grader.John Avery -Jordan High, Durham, NC I had no idea how good a high school coach I had until I got to college. I realized it ten-fold when I became a coach. Coach Avery taught sound fundamentals, great team concepts, and really how to play the game, read situations, and adapt and adjust. A very good teacher and coach.Doug Riley -St. Andrews College, Laurinburg, NC Coach Riley taught me about organization and preparation. Ed Douma -UNCG, Greensboro, NC (now at Hillsdale College-Michigan) Positive feedback and flexibility dependent upon personnel are the top two concepts I learned from Coach Douma. Pete Gaudet -Duke University, Durham, NC (now at Ohio State University) Anyone who ever worked camp at Duke while Pete Gaudet was there knows what I know...every night was a clinic. The once daily coaches meetings covered the station teachings for the following day. No matter what station you taught, you got the information for all stations, and you got it from one of the best teachers in the game. I am so lucky to have started my camp and my coaching career there at that time.Mark Simons -St. Andrews College, Laurinburg, NC (most recently at Elon) Coach Simons gave me a start in this profession. Without making me feel stupid, he showed me how much I had to learn. I realized in that first year how little I really knew about the game and what it took to be a coach.Jack Jensen -Guilford College, Greensboro, NC This NAIA Hall of Famer has won a national championship and coached four players who played in the NBA. In seven years as his assistant I learned so much about the game, teaching, life...He is a tremendous coach, a great friend and has been like a second father to me.Mike Krzyzewski -Duke University, Durham,NC In 1986 Coach K gave me my start by allowing me to work all four weeks of the Duke summer camp. He has supported me throughout my career and I learn something every time I am around him...and I always have. I cannot begin to say enough about how much he has helped me.John Chaney -Temple University, Philadelphia, PA A random phone call landed me at the Chaney/Hill Camp (that's John and Sonny) and thus began a relationship that I am blessed to have. Coach Chaney is an outstanding person, coach, and a kind friend and he has had a tremendous influence on me.To all of the coaches who have touched me and influenced me, thank you. To the gentleman mentioned above, a special thank you for all you have done for me.

SOME GOOD BOOKS
I am a big fan of books and of reading. I consistently give my team reading material. There is always something to learn, some insight to gain, a philosophy to consider, or a technique to evaluate. There is also great enjoyment to be derived from books. Whatever your interest is, there is something out there for you. I am a basketball junkie, so the majority (but not all) of the things in my library are basketball related. Below is a top five countdown…sort of:

5. All-Time Favorites:-

-FOUL! Connie Hawkins by David Wolf

- They Call Me Coach John Wooden (As told to Jack Tobin)

- Values of the Game by Bill Bradley

- Winning is an Attitude A Season in the Life of John Chaney and the Temple Owls by Steve Wartenberg

- The City Game Basketball From the Garden to the Playgrounds byPete Axthelm

4. Leadership Favorites:

- Leading with the Heart by Mike Krzyzewski

- Dr. Jack’s Leadership Lessons from a Lifetime in Basketball by Dr. Jack Ramsey

- Russell Rules Bill Russell (with David Falkner)

- The Winner Within by Pat Riley

FIVE LITTLE THINGS

The following five things may seem small in comparison to shooting or rebounding. However, consistent execution of these five little things can make any player better.

1) Development of both feet. Learn to operate offensively, pivoting off of either foot. We utilize the inside pivot foot (foot closest to the basket) here at Wesleyan. Jumping, jab-stepping, and pivoting off of either foot makes a player hard to guard.

2) Pivot to pass. Don’t get caught flat-footed. Improve the passing angle or increase the window of passing opportunity by using your ability to pivot.

3) Catch and Face. Get in the habit of facing up when receiving the ball. Opportunities to score or to hit open teammates are effectively seized when a player sees the floor. Triple threat position is a key.

4) Play the game low. Whether you are in triple threat position, playing defense, or blocking out for a rebound, this game is played with the knees bent. The more this becomes a habit, the better one can play the game.

5) Communication. Good teams communicate. This is true at all levels and on both offense and defense. The better you communicate the more valuable you are to a team.