Building the Wheel

Southridge High School Basketball

Every coach has his or her own philosophies for the game of basketball. I believe these philosophies should transcend the game and become guidelines for success in life. My duty as head coach at Southridge High School is to develop players into student athletes who will be successful on the court, in the classroom, and in life. Wins and losses are meaningless if the players I coach fail to move onto greater accomplishments.

A successful basketball program begins with integrity. Integrity is the hub from which all other parts connect, like spokes on a wheel. Each spoke is needed to be successful, but without the hub the wheel would not roll. The spokes of my basketball program are education as a priority, coach as a role model, team play, developing fundamentals, maximizing what can be controlled, and offensive and defensive systems of play.

Integrity:

“Discipline is doing what you are supposed to do in the best possible manner at the time you are suppose to do it.” Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University

Webster’s dictionary defines integrity as adhering to a code of values. The code of values refers to morality. Being honest, truthful, patient, industrious, caring, just, respectful, and disciplined, are a few of the values that integrity encompasses. Thus, a person who has integrity follows a moral path, even when no one else is around to bear witness. If success comes from a different avenue other than integrity it is false and undeserving. True peace of mind comes from winning because you did everything you could, no short cuts or excuses.

Education as a Priority:

“Academics are the purpose of school.” Morgan Wootten, National High School Coach of the Year 5 times.

Student athletes are students first and athletes second. Education is a higher priority than basketball. As a coach it is my responsibility to make sure my players are successful in the classroom. My personal goal is to have a team grade point average that exceeds a 3.0. I have found that players who work hard in the classroom also work hard on the court. Each player will be made aware of school-based resources and academic support services. I will also send out grade checks and provide study hall times. If a player is struggling academically they will be granted permission to use practice time as study time. Eligibility for participation in basketball will follow OSAA regulations and school policy. I will also provide any guidance or help to players who want to move onto college; including helping players find schools to play at.

Coach as a Role Model:

“Coaching is inspired teaching, coaches are teachers. You must love what you are doing if you are going to be successful.” Fred “Tex” Winter, 7 time NBA Champion, Assistant Coach Los Angeles Lakers

A coach must lead by example. I will never require more from my players than I am willing to give. There is no excuse for lack of hard work. A coach must be a role model for his players, the school, and the community. It is my job to present a team that will reflect the values and high standards of Southridge High School. The coach needs to be himself and practice integrity in all aspects of his life. I will be dedicated to my profession constantly working to improve and learn. A coach needs to be committed to developing his players into better people by not only teaching the fundamentals of basketball, but by using basketball as a vehicle teach the fundamentals of life. A coach must build team unity and trusting relationships between his players. Success is measured by doing your best and striving for excellence. I will model this belief. When my team walks off the floor and each individual feels they gave their best effort the score does not matter.

Team Ego:

“A person really doesn’t become whole, until he becomes a part of something that’s bigger than himself.” Jim Valvano, NC State 1983 NCAA Champions

When referring to the team “WE” will always be used. As a team we will rely on each other, trust each other, and support each other. We will be a single entity composed of many players. No one individual is more important than another. Each individual player has strengths they can bring to the team, but as a whole we will be stronger than our parts. Team play involves taking responsibility for each other. Every positive or negative action of an individual will affect everyone on the team. Players will understand that missing a block-off, talking to officials, or missing classes affects the entire team. As a team we win and lose together, collectively we need to be responsible for each other. A mark of good team play is every player doing the little things. These include, but are not limited to; taking a charge, diving for loose balls, boxing out every time, making the extra pass, sprinting back on defense, cheering your teammates on from the bench, helping your teammate up, never talking to the officials, filling lanes on the fastbreak, listening attentively during time-outs, staying properly spaced on the floor, using screens, never assuming the shot is going in, having fun, and always being positive with your teammates. When all the players are willing to give up their individual ego and commit to doing the little things, the team becomes one, and success is guaranteed.

Fundamentals:

“If there were a secret in successful basketball, then that secret would be drilling on fundamentals.” Adolph Rupp, University of Kentucky 4 time National Champions

When constructing a house a solid foundation is needed to build upon. The same is true of building a successful basketball team. Fundamentals are the foundation winning programs are built upon. I believe the importance of fundamentals has been grossly overlooked. Many players today lack the basic fundamentals of proper footwork, ballhandling, and floor spacing. It is the coach’s duty to teach fundamentals until they become second nature to the player. A fundamental is not learned until it is a reaction. An asset of high school basketball is the ability to build a feeder system. Teaching the fundamentals to young players in your system is invaluable. It allows you to build relationships with future players and produce players who possess a solid fundamental base. Another aspect of the feeder system is working with coaches in the program. This includes youth, freshmen, junior varsity, and summer coaches. It’s important every coach understands how and why to teach specific fundamentals. A player can never fully master the fundamentals. Thus, practice time will consist of fundamental work through out the entire season, with extra time spent in the pre-season. I like to use Coach Don Meyer’s five rules of teaching fundamentals:

1. Readiness to learn (the player must want to learn)

2. Proper demonstration of skill

3. Imitation of demonstration

4. Correction of imitation (if necessary)

5. Proper and quick repetition of correction. Perfect execution.

Maximize What Can Be Controlled:

“The real measure of me is not what I can do in comparison to others, but what I can do in comparison to my own best self.” Frosty Westering 3 time National Coach of the Year at Pacific Lutheran University, Member of National Football College Hall of Fame

The destination for Skyhawks basketball is winning. In order to reach our destination we need to focus on the things we can control. Not every team has the same talent level and not all players are created equal. The best part about the game of basketball is it can be broken down into controllable parts. Effort is controllable; each player makes the decision about whether or not to give their best effort. Contesting shots, applying ball pressure, and boxing out on every defensive possession are controllable actions. Making a bad pass is a controllable. Finishing open lay-ins and knocking down free throws are controllable. The goal is for all players to maximize what they can. When a team accomplishes this goal, success will follow. The mark of winning teams is their desire and commitment to maximizing the areas of the game within their control.

System of Play:

“The important thing is to be certain that both your offensive and defensive systems of play are based on sound, valid principles of play that keep floor balance at all times and with the offensive system requiring continuous movement and drive toward the basket from various angles.” John Wooden, UCLA 10 time National Champions

There are many different systems of play in the basketball world and many are successful. My system is based on sound fundamental principles of play. Players need to execute the fundamentals of basketball at game speed, instinctively. It is my duty as coach to teach them how to react during a game without thinking. Once this is achieved success will follow.

Offense:

I want my team to continuously attack the defense. We will fast break looking for easy opportunities to score. If a high percentage shot does not present itself, we will transition into motion. Motion consists of five players moving with a purpose (setting and using screens or cutting), properly spaced and countering the defense. The goal of motion is to take what the defense gives you. Again, the offense will be aggressive. Players will be looking for a high percentage shot, will play on balance, will keep the floor properly spaced, will play unselfish, and help teammates get open by screening (the screener also needs to look to be a scorer). I will use set plays when needed. The set plays will be designed with multiple options to counter the defense.

Defense:

I believe in man to man defense with an emphasis on pressure with ball containment. Our goal is to pressure the ball while keeping it from penetrating, both on the drive or pass. My teams are schooled in fundamentals of man to man defense. This includes; knowing how to defend cutters and screens, how bluff and recover, and how to help and rotate. We do not want to foul; instead we want to contest all shots and block off. We need to control the defensive glass and then look to outlet the ball. Once we become fundamentally solid in our half-court man to man defense we can apply more pressure when time and situation call for it. I also like to have an alternative defense available to use when needed. The alternative defense will depend on personnel, it maybe a zone or pressing defense. Again, whatever defense or offense I use will be based on sound principles of play and designed to fit our personnel.

These seven spokes complete the wheel. I believe they are all essential parts of building successful basketball teams and players. When all seven spokes are working in unison with the hub, the wheel will roll down the path to victory and success will be achieved.

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