Several summers ago, I concluded that…

If I could go back and change 4 plays from each game that we lost by 10 or fewer points, I could change the outcome of the game in our favor. I knew that I could find ways to make us better at 4 plays per game without changing the system of play that is best suited for the talents of our players. The problem is, that we never know which plays are the crucial ones until it is too late and the game is over. Coaches (an now announcers) talk about the “4 point swing” plays (2 points we lost or should have had and 2 points that we gave to our opponents)

So, finding the best way to teach our players to play every single possession as if the game depends on it (BECAUSE IT DOES) become my coaching obsession.

Improving on just 4 plays each game was something that our players could buy into and not be overwhelmed….After all, in a high school game, that is just one play each quarter! So, our coaching staff set out to make those improvements by emphasizing and becoming much better at the “little things” that led to success specifically in those 4 critical possessions and in every other possession throughout each game.

The types of plays I am talking about are:

A careless turnover that takes away a scoring opportunity and gives your opponent a breakaway score.

Getting a defensive rebound and having it stripped for an easy put back by your opponent.

Not coming up with a 50/50 loose ball at a critical time.

I know that you are having flashbacks to the plays cost your team this past season… 🙂

Your team will achieve more success by…

Developing a 4 possession mind set and recognizing that LITTLE THINGS that go unnoticed change games.

Developing their MENTAL TOUGHNESS and skills to make those plays when it counts.

Developing a mentality that the only place to make the necessary improvements is in PRACTICE As I conducted post season evaluations of our program with our seniors, I kept hearing that one of the things they appreciated most was the emphasis on “the little things.” They said it gave them confidence that they were prepared for anything and had an advantage in the close games. With the realization that it gave our players confidence to BELIEVE that these ideas made a difference in our play, I began to look even harder for these types of little things and to study mental toughness, as I was looking for ways to improve our program. I looked to find the best ideas from the most successful coaches and mental toughness experts.

Organizing and executing around your program building blocks

One of the players I coached asked me to put the ideas in a document for him as he wanted to go into coaching. I did have them in lists, notebook handouts, locker room signs, practice plans, and my notes, but they were not as organized as they should have been. I made it a project to help him by putting them into organized documents. That was the beginning of three basketball coaching e-books that I have assembled to pass on some of the ideas that I gained from my brainstorming and studying.

They are:

130 Little Ideas that Make a Huge Difference in Your Basketball Team

The ebook is organized around the major roles of a basketball coach

Role #1 ……Program Philosophy and Organization—Implement your philosophy and organization in every area of the program.

Role #2 …… Individual Development—Develop the individual players’life skills, basketball skills, and mental toughness.

Role #3 …… Personnel and Roles—Select your program’s assistants, players, managers, assign roles to them, and keep them productive in those roles.

Role #4 …… Team Development—Develop a team by implementing systems of play that take advantage of your players strengths and doing intentional team building.

Role #5 …… Professional Development—For the entire coaching staff. Role #6 …… Program Promotion—In your school and/or community.

130 Great Ideas to Make Your Basketball Team More Mentally Tough

Section 1……Beliefs about Mental Toughness— Your beliefs about Mental Toughness will influence your team’s level of Mental Toughness.

Section 2……The Mental Toughness Difference—How Mental Toughness benefits your program.

Section 3……Controlling Thoughts and Actions Through Mental Toughness—Twenty Concrete steps you can take to improve your players’ Mental Toughness.

Section 4 ……Maintain Mental Focus on the Important—Setting goals give your players’ minds a focus.

Section 5……Execution Under Pressure—The ultimate goal of Mental Toughness is improve results.

Section 6……Mental Toughness Looks Like—Characteristics of tough teams and tough players.

Section 7……Mental Toughness for Coaches—Our performance as coaches requires a different level of mental toughness.

130 Great Ideas to Get a Lot More Accomplished in Practice

Principle #1 Mind set–Practice with the mind set and manner of a champion.

Principle #2 Efficiency–Planning for the most efficient use of limited time and facilities.

Principle #3 Habits–Motivate players to habitually do the right things right.

Principle #4 Competition–Making basketball practice as competitive as possible.

Principle #5 Team Building–Incorporating team and chemistry building.

Principle #6 Game Planning–Incorporating game planning

Principle #7 Thoroughness–Be meticulous in covering everything you do in games.

Appendix A–24 questions with examples to help develop your master basketball practice plan

Appendix B–Player practice Evaluation Form

Appendix C–Playing hard checklist

Appendix D–Sample master practice plan

You will begin to see results as soon as you implement the building blocks!

Coaches will…

Save hours of reviewing several sources for ideas to improve your program and have a career long reference.

Accomplish more by making the most efficient use of limited time, facilities, and resources.

Motivate players to habitually do the right things right.

Feel secure in that you will have thoroughly and meticulously covered everything you do in games.

Your players will...

Be motivated to habitually do the right things right.

Perform better under pressure.

Play with more confidence due to an increased basketball IQ.

Enjoy practice more as it becomes more competitive.

Experience what it is like to be a part of a true team