Number 12: Artists are Creative and Elicit Emotions; Science is Factual and Dull
Ask any coach who has coached for a considerable time period about how much of the game is mental. Most coaches would say that the game is 80% Mental and 20% Physical. What does this actually mean? Personally, it means that the technical and tactical elements of coaching are not the ones that make theContinue reading “Number 12: Artists are Creative and Elicit Emotions; Science is Factual and Dull”
Number 11: Know Your Players and How it can help Energise Your Practices
Not everyone is the same. Treating all your players the same way is the quickest way to alienate your players and team. Each one of your players is there for a different reason, each one is motivated differently, each one has a different personality, a different skill level, a different relative age, chronological age andContinue reading “Number 11: Know Your Players and How it can help Energise Your Practices”
Number 10: Importance of Enjoyment in the Learning Process
Regardless of what research you look at, when it comes to learning, the number one important factor is are you having fun? This can be phrased differently, but the premise is the same. Learning should be fun. Leaners should want to explore. Learners should want to spend more time on the activity. Let’s not correlateContinue reading “Number 10: Importance of Enjoyment in the Learning Process”
Number 9: Understanding Pareto Principle’s Relation to Youth Player Development
In a previous article, I highlighted Paretos Principle. The idea that 80% of the results usually comes from about 20% of the work. This is also quite evident in sport. Alex Sarama discussed how coaches spend so much time focusing on the 80% of the skills that are not as effective or will only be usedContinue reading “Number 9: Understanding Pareto Principle’s Relation to Youth Player Development”
Number 8: Using the Sweet Spot to Create a Motivational Practice
Coach Michael MacKay affirms that during the learning process, learners need to wobble and have elements of failure. Along the learning spectrum, there is an area, which Brian McCormick refers to as the sweet spot. This is where the learner needs to be most of the time. If the learner is experiencing success too much,Continue reading “Number 8: Using the Sweet Spot to Create a Motivational Practice”
Successful Youth Practices 7: Scanning and Improving Your Coaching
Scanning is one of the most difficult skills that there is for a coach. The ability to observe the athlete perform the skill and assess where the problem lies. Often, as coaches, we already have pre-defined teaching points and regardless of where the athlete is lacking, we are giving them the feedback we have prepared.Continue reading “Successful Youth Practices 7: Scanning and Improving Your Coaching”
Number 6: Recognising Perceptions to Boost Your Coaching
The issue with the clip mentioned in the previous post, as it relates to Ja Morant shooting, is that some coaches will see that clip and assume that is a really important way to develop shooters. Have them stay after a game and get shots up or run drills like that in practice to helpContinue reading “Number 6: Recognising Perceptions to Boost Your Coaching”
Number 5: Understanding Context to Teach Skill Transference
At the time of writing this post, I received a text from a friend showing a video of Ja Morant getting some shots up following the game against the Charlotte Hornets. The question that inevitably came up was, “Is Ja Morant getting better?” There is so much to unpack from such a simple question followed with aContinue reading “Number 5: Understanding Context to Teach Skill Transference”
Number 4: Using Regressions to Enhance Development
Inevitably, there are times in practice that an athlete will struggle to grasp a concept or the mechanics of a technical skill. Our job as coaches is to facilitate that athletes development, hence we need to adapt the environment. Coach MacKay’s progressions of drills provides a nice way of being able to do this. WhilstContinue reading “Number 4: Using Regressions to Enhance Development”
Number 3: Practice Methodology to Create Transfer
Somehow against all odds, in the year 2021, there is still an unhealthy amount of reliance on blocked and constant practice within the practice environment. Research has continuously provided evidence that randomised, variable practice is more beneficial for the learning process than constant or blocked practice. Learning may have various definitions depending on who youContinue reading “Number 3: Practice Methodology to Create Transfer”
Number 2: Adding Context to Snapshots to Increase Understanding
On Snapshots It is worth remembering that we are only glancing through the window when it comes to what we see online. We are exposed to a brief snapshot of what is often a single moment in practice. A drill or a thirty second clip does not contain the full context of the situation, soContinue reading “Number 2: Adding Context to Snapshots to Increase Understanding”
Successful Youth Practices: 10 Key Lessons that will boost your Coaching
Over the last number of weeks, as part of a coach development series within our organisation, I have had an opportunity to connect with coaches from around the world. The topic of choice was Skill Development and Youth Basketball. There were so many interesting ideas and topics that emerged, so I thought I would put someContinue reading “Successful Youth Practices: 10 Key Lessons that will boost your Coaching”
Increase Your Productivity by Using these Simple Time Management Principles
Time Management Time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money, but you cannot get more time. Jim Rohn Contrary to what most people may think, time management is not an attempt at managing time. Time is in constant flow. It cannot be slowed down, stopped or managed. It will pass whetherContinue reading “Increase Your Productivity by Using these Simple Time Management Principles”
LIVE YOUR VALUES
We’ve just wrapped up our third Rend Sports Summer Camp, and following a tough week behind the scenes that can only be described as a frustratingly, challengingly rewarding experience. In what has now become the most looked forward to event of our coaching team every summer, this year was different. All our plans, ideas andContinue reading “LIVE YOUR VALUES”
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW
We all want to achieve a certain objective. We want to bring to life a certain vision that we may have for ourselves of for others.As a player, you may want to be ready to attack practices with tenacity as soon as the pandemic is over. As a coach, you may want to be readyContinue reading “PREPARING FOR TOMORROW”
Measure to Improve
Something that I personally have been struggling with lately is the concept of becoming a better person, a better coach, and a better leader. I’ve consistently been reflecting and actively trying to get rid of what I consider negative habits whilst adding positive habits into my lifestyle. This has been challenging for me as IContinue reading “Measure to Improve”
imPACTT coaching – When less means more!
Is coaching less more effective in the long run? We’ve all seen coaches who have a presence on the court. A certain aura as they move around demanding, controlling, roaring instructions, giving feedback, constantly correcting skills and directing players from drill to drill. On the outset, it looks amazing. The coach seems to be in constantContinue reading “imPACTT coaching – When less means more!”
Making an imPACTT!
WHY DO I COACH BASKETBALL? I coach basketball for a living and have dedicated the last number of years of my life to the sport and all that it brings. Late nights, early mornings, long weekends, emotional players, demanding administrations, over involved parents and uneven working hours. Oh, and did I mention low wages? Of course, I’mContinue reading “Making an imPACTT!”
Elusive Confidence
When it comes to sporting success, confidence has been shown to account for the differences between successful and unsuccessful performances. Sports psychologists and elite athletes have consistently stated that confidence is a crucial currency in their performances and success. But, what is confidence? Are there different types of confidence? How do we develop confidence? What impactsContinue reading “Elusive Confidence”
Pt. 3 – Let me Play!
3. Let Me Play Coach There are times that players perform really well in a game and are executing the coach’s plan perfectly. They share the ball, communicate on defense and shoot the ball well. Then, before they know it, they find themselves back on the bench and they don’t know why? “Coach, I was doing well. JustContinue reading “Pt. 3 – Let me Play!”
My Players Suck! Pt. 2 – Why Am I Out?
2. “Every-time I sub my players’ off; they demand an explanation. I can’t provide that during the game” Nobody expects to play forty minutes every game. Most players would like to, but they don’t expect it. As such, player expectations are based on their self-perceptions in comparison to their teammates, how many minutes they usuallyContinue reading “My Players Suck! Pt. 2 – Why Am I Out?”
My Players Suck! Pt. 1 – Coach Won’t Play Me
My last post, My Coach Sucks, talked about some of the issues that affect players’ game time and a couple of tips on how players can deal with these issues. Most of these issues can be solved by the player approaching the coach and initiating communication to understand the vision of the team, the directionContinue reading “My Players Suck! Pt. 1 – Coach Won’t Play Me”
My Coach Sucks!!
Coaches differ from one another in various ways. Their coaching styles, their behaviours, their philosophies, systems and even their personalities. Combining these styles with that of their athletes results in some great working relationships and at other times, confusion from the athletes’ part as they struggle to understand their coach and fit in with theContinue reading “My Coach Sucks!!”
Predicting Success through Testing
Tim Grover is so on the money in the below article in more ways than one… http://attackathletics.com/why-draft-combines-are-a-poor-predictor-of-success/ Let’s start with athletics and he is right. Can you imagine if Damian Lillard, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant were judged by their ability to bench press and that was a determinant of how successful they would eventuallyContinue reading “Predicting Success through Testing”
Coach Weldon – Coaching Notes
Coach James Weldon spoke at the National Coaching Conference 2016 about the importance of individual workouts for players and gave an insight into some of the drills that he uses to help players improve. Coach Weldon – Individual Workouts
Coach Trunic – Coaching Notes
Some notes from Coach Nenad Trunic from Serbia presenting at the National Coaching Conference 2016 in the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght in Dublin. Coach Trunic Post Player Development Coach Trunic Zone Principles
Gender Equality and the Wage Gap
The “golden boy” of tennis, Novak Djokovic made some comments on Monday about the wage and gender gap in tennis that seem to have opened up a can of worms about the sport, gender differences and the wage gap. A controversial topic that very few people actually want to engage in because of the fact thatContinue reading “Gender Equality and the Wage Gap”
Creating Team Cultures
With the basketball season just around the corner, coaches need to start planning and making several decisions. Although most of these decisions will be in relation to the team, its playing style and their goals for the coming year, one of the most important decisions will be the conscious decision to foster a team culture.Continue reading “Creating Team Cultures”
Are you a Carrot, Egg or a Coffee Bean?
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.Continue reading “Are you a Carrot, Egg or a Coffee Bean?”
What’s the Importance of a Warm-Up?
Last week, I wrote a blog about killing “Sacred Zombie Cows” or in other words, challenging conventional wisdom as it relates to sports. This blog will address the warm-up and the role it plays in activities. For the most part, I speak in basketball jargon, but the ideas in the blog can be easily transferredContinue reading “What’s the Importance of a Warm-Up?”
Challenging Conventional Thinking
I came across the above photo on Facebook a couple of days ago and it got me thinking about the way we do certain things. As a basketball and a strength & conditioning coach, I witness this almost on a daily basis. Whether I’m at the gym or on a basketball court, I observe people doing things inContinue reading “Challenging Conventional Thinking”
Strength Training and Kids
There exists a concept which states that strength training in kids is wrong and harmful. There exists a concept which states that strength training for kids will stunt their growth. A lot of people firmly believe this, and prevent their kids from engaging in strength training activities. So, is there any truth to this? Or areContinue reading “Strength Training and Kids”
Working on your craft!!
Last week, a good friend of mine, Ciaran Toner wrote a post about being in the “Right Place at the Right Time“. If you haven’t seen it, go and read it now. I want to echo on the points he made before jumping to my topic. There are certain people, who wish for success, but spendContinue reading “Working on your craft!!”
Batteries Recharged
It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything on here. I’ve been finding it hard to formulate my thoughts into words and put them out there, but enough is enough, I’ll just get on with it. Let me start with the most recent occurrence and from there, I will do my best to post a blog everyContinue reading “Batteries Recharged”
The Station
Tucked away in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision. We see ourselves on a long, long trip that almost spans the continent. We’re travelling by passenger train, and out the windows we drink in the passing scene of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at a crossing, of cattle grazing on a distant hillside,Continue reading “The Station”
9 Ways to become a tougher player
by Coach Joe Wootten Play in the moment: Great shooters have no fear of the future and have the shortest memory…..they play in the moment….most adults are better players as they get older because the did not worry anymore….they play in the moment……do not wait until you are older, do it now! Play forContinue reading “9 Ways to become a tougher player”
Holding Yourself to a Higher Standard
“THE POLICE ARE UNDER ATTACK!!” That is the headline that greeted me in today’s paper. Let me review. Plenty of problems exist in the world that we live in today. However, all of these problems seem to be blown way out of proportion for the most part in the way that the media seems toContinue reading “Holding Yourself to a Higher Standard”
Keys to Being a Great Defensive Team
Keys To Being A Great Defensive Team: by Coach Joe Wootten 0 lay-ups in transition: Stop the other team from getting to the rim in transition. A player should sprint to the hole (under the rim) and not give up a lay up. +15 in rebounding: A successful team is going to win the battleContinue reading “Keys to Being a Great Defensive Team”
You are your own key to success
Click on the link below to read this great article on how you are your own key to success; how your actions or inactions determine your victories or failures. Seize control of your life, your fate and your destiny. Empower yourself. http://www.the-open-mind.com/no-one-is-coming-to-save-you/
14 Points to being a Key Parent
by Joe Wootten Tell you Child every time you watch them play, “I loved watching you play today!” Please think about how that would make you feel! I know that would make anyone feel great! Do not soften the blow for your child after a loss: If they lose teach them to not make excuses,Continue reading “14 Points to being a Key Parent”
Basketball and Life
“Whatever works in basketball works in life!” – Morgan Wootten Coach Wootten is arguably the most successful high school coach in basketballs history with over 1’200 wins in his career. The above statement is his core philosophy in basketball and I must admit that I completely agree with it. In order to be a goodContinue reading “Basketball and Life”
Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right!
A couple of days ago, a female african american actress was “hand-cuffed and detained” by police officers in LA. The incident occured after the actress was seen making out in a car with her white boyfriend. The actress reports that the police thought that she was a “prostitute” and as such was mistreated. Is thisContinue reading “Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right!”
Successful People Interact
Successful people don’t wait for opportunities; rather they go out of their way to seek opportunities Technology, the internet and mobile phones have certainly changed our lives. Everybody these days has a smartphone and two seconds with the internet drives people crazy. But, is this a good thing or a bad thing? It is quiteContinue reading “Successful People Interact”
Getting around in VA
So, after a week of being in Virginia and trying to figure out the transportation system to allow me to get to and back from work, I think I may have finally figured out my commuting schedule for now. I am currently staying in Stafford, courtesy of some very nice folks. However, Stafford is slightly outContinue reading “Getting around in VA”
Living it up
I’ve been fortunate to have spent the last fourteen years of my life in Ireland, getting to meet a tonne of really cool people and developing great relationships with so many in the Emerald Isle. One of my passions is coaching and over the last eight years, I have been privileged to have been involved with severalContinue reading “Living it up”
Q & A with Gregg Popovich – Spurs Offense
The original article was written by Jeff McDonald and the link to that article can be found below. CLEVELAND — The question was about Cavaliers coach Mike Brown and his stated goal to model his team’s approach to offense after the team he once worked for, the Spurs. The Spurs, Brown noted, don’t run offenseContinue reading “Q & A with Gregg Popovich – Spurs Offense”
Back to School Again
I honestly believe that everything that we do is a conscious choice…. and once we’ve made that choice, our attitudes towards it determine how successful we become at it, and how much of an impact it has on those around us. This is an interesting time of the year, as we have now approached theContinue reading “Back to School Again”
Breaking Down Game Film
Failure to Prepare is Preparing to Fail The FIBA European Championships was going to be a test of mental toughness and preparation for all teams involved. With 17 teams competing in the Championships, and each team playing a minimum of 7 games in 10 days, it was imperative that every team do anything they couldContinue reading “Breaking Down Game Film”
FIBA Europeans 2014
FIBA 2014 European Championships It’s the journey and not the destination that leaves the most lasting memories; it’s how we overcome adversity, obstacles and challenges that define us and our lives. After spending more than two years working closely with an exceptional group of people, the journey is now over, but the memories will foreverContinue reading “FIBA Europeans 2014”
Life Truths
It’s that time of the year again; the dreaded off-season/pre-season. For the serious and committed athletes, they’ve already used their off-season time wisely and will now be transitioning into pre-season. Other are still unsure if the work is worth it. “I worked so hard on my game last year, improved my jump shot and myContinue reading “Life Truths”
Follow My Blog
Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.
