NEWSLETTER #45 - 2007-08
TRAITS AND QUALITIES OF A TEAM LEADER
By Rick Crotts
http://www.coachlikeapro.com/basketball-players-coaches-love.html
The purpose of this article is to encourage you as an athletes to think of what you can do for your coach. All
coaches love certain qualities in athletes...most go the way of least resistance and take the easy road to
training. Coaching involves making sure the athlete doesn't travel that path. So the question is "what can I do
for my coach to get the most out of my ability?"
Get Self-Motivated
First, you need to be self-motivated! Give a total effort every time you compete. Coaches look into what
shows up in a player's heart as evidenced by the way he or she plays. Secondly, be willing to give the kind of
physical and mental effort necessary to win - in practice as well as the competitions. Make it personal
excellence time!
Listen and Learn
Next, listen to meaning of the messages from your coach, not how it is said. The next time your coach gets a
little tough with you, stand back and listen to the message. Don't make judgments or take it personal. If your
coach did not care they would not bother to correct you. Think of what the coach is looking for. Work hard on
those areas. Work to improve your lesser skills into strengths.
Know Your Role
Know your role on the team. If you don't know ask. Most of us like to be the go to guy - the scorer, but
coaches love great defenders, great rebounders, players who give of themselves and ask nothing in return.
There is always room in the line-up for these kind of players. You are forcing the issue with playing time,
because when you give your coach has no choice but to play you because they love your effort.
Three Things Your Coach Would Love
There are three things that your coach would love from you.
-First, love the game. "The Game" might be what is in season at the time. Convince your coach that this is
the most important time in your life.
-Secondly, work hard. Good things happen to people who work hard to make good things happen. Playing
time is conditional based on hard work. Vince Lombardi said, "the harder you work, the harder it is to quit."
You can always offer hard work.
-Third, be loyal to your coach. Believe in your coach and he will believe in you. Jerry Tarkanian said, "the only
bad kid is one who won't be loyal to his teammates and coaches." Respond positively to challenges from your
coaches and your opponents. You will grow and develop, win or lose.
Respond to the Challenge
These challenges will linger in your memory long after the game is over. When your coach gets tough, they
are looking for a positive response. Give them attention! Great players don't have to be inspired by the coach
to get "up" for a game; all you need to know is that any game is important, and how you should play it is with
intensity and focus. Let your coach sit back and enjoy the ride!
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU
DEVELOPING THE WINNER WITHIN
By Brad Winters
http://www.coachlikeapro.com/action-steps.html
Act like a Winner. I can't stress enough the importance of handling yourself at all times with class and integrity, especially in the
tough times that truly test everyone and usually bring out our worst instincts.
Always be positive. Positive people can take on the world.
Be committed to hard work. Hard work is not always fun, but it's the price you must pay to be more successful. The harder you
work, the tougher it is to surrender.
Be nice. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
Avoid having to be right all the time. Your goal is to connect with people, not defeat.
Be committed to doing things the right way. Remember that perfect practice makes perfect.
Smile! In every culture it is the light in your window that tells people there's a caring, sharing individual inside.
Learn to stay relaxed and friendly no matter how much tension you're under.
Write down your goals and review them often. When you fail to plan, you are planning to fail by default.
Focus all your attention and energy on the achievement of your goals.
Don't put things off. Get in the habit every day of doing the more unpleasant things first... If you tell someone you're going to do
something, then do it.
Eliminate the word quit from your vocabulary. If you want to be successful over the long haul, you must be willing to stay the
course... People, who won't quit, don't.
Learn from your mistakes. There are four things you should do with a mistake: 1) recognize it, 2) admit it, 3) learn from it, 4) forget
it.
Be able to admit your weaknesses and establish short-term goals to overcome them.
Dress and look your best at all times.
Respond with a simple, courteous "thank you" when anyone pays you a compliment for any reason.
Sit up front in the most prominent rows when you attend class, meetings, etc.
Replace the word "can't" with "can," and "try" with "will" in your vocabulary.
Be on time. Always try to be at least ten minutes early.
Thrive on pressure. The more you prepare the better able you are to handle pressurized situations. Pressure often brings out
extraordinary results.
Develop a study routine. Discipline yourself to study 1 to 2 hours a night. Your grades/ performance reflect the amount of time you
are willing to invest.
Stay humble. Respect and recognition comes from personal sacrifice and hard work.
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU
PLAY OF THE WEEK - MAN OFFENSE
# BREAK SET - DRAG SPECIAL
5
5
2
3
2
3
4
4
1
1
A
B
# Break alignment. 4 sets a
ballscreen for 1. 5 searches
across the lane. 2 gets to the
block.
1 uses a 4 ballscreen.
2 sets a backscreen for 4.
1 sees the lob to 4. 5 moves up
the lane line.
4
4
2
2
5
3
5
3
1
1
C
1 passes to 3. 5 screens in for 2
after circling up the lane.
D
3 passes to 2.
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU
PLAY OF THE WEEK - MAN OFFENSE
LARRY BROWN - ARGENTINA FLEX
2
3
1
2
3
5
5
4
4
1
A
B
1 passes to 4 at the left elbow. 5
backscreens for 1. 4 sees the lob
to 1. 2 and 3 are spaced deep in
the corners.
1 finishes his cut to the left block.
4 passes to 5.
1
2
4
3
2
3
4
1
5
5
C
D
2 cuts off of a 1 flex screen. 4
down screens for 1. 5 passes to 1.
As 4 gets to the corner, 3 prepares to use
a 2 flexscreen. 3 "bumps" instead and
uses a 5 downscreen. 2 replaces 3.
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU