Hoop N' Stuff

TEAM PREVIEW-Corona Roosevelt HS-With Head Coach Ramone Neal

2012-02-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

Arizona Defensive Breakdown Drill

2012-01-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

Arizona Defensive Breakdown Drill

Tim Myles - Highlight Videos, Schedule & Roster - Hudl

2012-01-24T16:22:00.000-08:00

Tim Myles - Highlight Videos, Schedule & Roster - Hudl

Chris YoungSpears Highlight (Class of 2012)

2011-12-12T21:56:00.001-08:00

Chris Youngspears Highlight (Class of 2012)

2011-11-22T21:57:00.001-08:00

OKC - Screen Fist

2011-11-11T06:59:00.001-08:00

Eagle Loop

2011-11-11T06:57:00.001-08:00

Basketball Drills

2011-11-11T06:55:00.001-08:00

Click on Link -- Basketball Drills

Jalen Young 2010-11 Highlights

2011-11-09T20:40:00.000-08:00

2009-2010 Top 10 (Mustangs)

2011-11-09T20:36:00.001-08:00

2010-2011 Highlights

2011-11-09T20:34:00.001-08:00

Jalen Young Class of 2012

2011-11-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

Shawn Joseph Class of 2012

2011-11-09T20:10:00.001-08:00

Do You Have What It Takes

2011-10-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

Do You Have What It Takes To Make It To The Next Level

Life is Like Coffee

2011-10-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Life is Like Coffee
The happiest people don't have the best of everything...they just make the best of everything

THE TYPE OF CUP WE HAVE DOES NOT DEFINE, NOR CHANGE THE QUALITY OF LIFE WE LIVE.

Life

2011-10-28T18:45:00.001-07:00

Harry and Bess...

2011-10-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

It's one you want your Children and Grandchildren to read.
They won't believe this happened, but it DID.
Harry & Bess
(This seems unreal.)

Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many, or more important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents preceding him.
However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

The only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was inIndependence Missouri . His wife had inherited the house from her mother and father and other than their years in the White House, they lived their entire lives there.

When he retired from office in 1952 his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves.
There was no Secret Service following them.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating,
"You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale."

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, "I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise."

As president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices.
Political offices are now for sale (cf. Illinois ).

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed,
"My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!

I say dig him up and clone him!

Enjoy life now -- it has an expiration date!

Why ask Why?

2011-10-22T21:23:00.001-07:00

"He who asks may seem a fool for a moment, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever."
Heard the expression "there's never a bad question"? I won't go that far but never do things that shut down the willingness of your team to ask questions, even if they seem bad.

Competition By Wooden

2011-10-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

Here are some reasons why. Competition…

1. Exposes what fundamentals are weak and need more work.
2. Allows student to take self-inventory.
3. Displays how students react to adversity or success.
4. Adds pressure and pressure speeds up thinking and reacting.
5. Creates teamwork.
6. Prepares students for exams, to be your best when your best is needed.
7. Helps students learn from failure and come back stronger and wiser.
8. Keeps students on task longer.
9. Drills in the fundamentals at high speed, increasing repetitions and shortening the feedback loop (Alan Lambert).
10. Simulates life. Life is competitive (Earl Salter).
11. Is fun. With good facilitation, more learning takes place when students are having a good time as well.

Competition Must Be Controlled to Be Effective
Competitive games, if carefully devised, can be productive. If not, they can have no value or even become counterproductive. Going back to The Shooting Competition, in order to make the game drill in the fundamentals of passing, shooting, and following the shot, Coach set rules.
Shooter must rebound his own shot (nobody else can touch the ball).
Shoot fifteen feet from the basket on this spot.

That’s it. Had he not set the rules, a non-shooter would have waited under the basket, got the rebound or miss, and fired it back to the next shooter. That would speed things up. And, we would have cheated by moving in closer to the basket.

Rules are important in order to help competition get the desired results. Here are some other guidelines that will help.
All fundamentals needed in the competition must be developed to a satisfactory degree before putting them to the test. Otherwise, it will be sloppy.
Competition cannot embarrass or discourage the less-talented and less-skilled.
If possible, the movements in the game should resemble the real game.

Vision

2011-10-22T21:19:00.000-07:00

"Your purpose explains what you are doing with your life. Your vision explains how you are living your purpose. Your goals enable you to realize your vision."

Heart of a Teacher

2011-10-22T21:18:00.001-07:00

Discipline...

2011-10-22T21:17:00.000-07:00

"Discipline is the fire that burns talent into ability."

Swift Kick in the...

2011-10-22T21:15:00.001-07:00

Most people are like sticks of dynamite, nothing's going to happen until you lite the fuse.
This usually comes through positive, innovative motivation and maybe an occasional proverbial kick to the hind side.

Communication

2011-10-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

Without communication, you don't have a team you just have a group of players.

Pollination

2011-10-22T21:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.ted.com/talks/louie_schwartzberg_the_hidden_beauty_of_pollination.html

The Hidden Beauty of Pollination

Usefulness

2011-10-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

Consider the postage stamp; its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there. Josh Billings

Mystery of Greatness

2011-10-22T21:09:00.000-07:00

I do not consider myself to have any special talent. Curiosity, obsession, and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism, have led me to my ideas.
Albert Einstein

Clear Sky

2011-10-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

It may be a clear day but you still have to open your eyes to see.

Make Mine Freedom

2011-10-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

Fun and Facts About America, John Sutherland Productions. Creative Commons license: Public Domain. This Cold War-era cartoon uses humor to tout the dangers of Communism and the benefits of capitalism. For more great vintage animation check out www.animationstation.info and subscribe to our podcast.

Pink Bat By Michael McMillan

2011-10-22T20:58:00.001-07:00

Tips From the Hoop

2011-10-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

"Methods are many, principles are few. Methods always change, but principles never do."

Learning to Dance in the Rain

2011-10-21T06:24:00.001-07:00

Boston Triple

2011-10-20T10:48:00.001-07:00

SLOB- SLIP SCREEN PLAY (END OF GAME)

2011-10-12T17:03:00.001-07:00

Double Stagger Hand-Off

2011-10-12T17:01:00.001-07:00

Mustangs in Action

2011-09-26T16:16:00.000-07:00

Mustangs in Action

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/varsitytimesinsider/2011/09/boys-basketball-tafts-guards-will-be-tough-to-stop.html

Generation ?

2011-08-07T11:39:00.000-07:00

This sums it all up!

People born before 1946 were called The Silent generation..

- People born between 1946 and 1959 are called The Baby Boomers.

- People born between 1960 and 1979 are called Generation X, .

- And people born between 1980 and 2010 are called Generation Y,

Why do we call the last group Generation Y?

Y should I get a job?
Y should I leave home and find my own place?
Y should I get a car when I can borrow yours?
Y should I clean my room?
Y should I wash and iron my own clothes?
Y should I buy any food?
But a cartoonist explained it very eloquently below...

http://us.mg1.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=1%5f53019%5fAJR8v9EAAKCCTjm86w7c%2bBS2NYE&pid=2&fid=Inbox&inline=1

Taylor Mali, "What Teachers Make"

2011-08-06T20:53:00.001-07:00

The Strangest Secret, by Earl Nightingale

2011-08-06T20:51:00.001-07:00

Crespi football: Crespi High football's little receiver who could - latimes.com

2011-07-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

Crespi football: Crespi High football's little receiver who could - latimes.com

Kobe on Lockout (A little Comedy)

2011-07-20T12:58:00.001-07:00

Kobe Bryant on the NBA Lockout - watch more funny videos

To a Child - Love is spelled T-I-M-E: A Short Inspirational Film

2011-07-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

Commitment

2011-06-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

Commitment is what transforms a promise into reality. It is the words that speak boldly of your intentions. And the actions which speak louder than the words. It is making the time when there is none. Coming through time after time after time, year after year after year. Commitment is the stuff character is made of. The power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.

EXCELLENCE

2011-06-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

Preparing more than others care to or expect, practicing more often than the average person believes is necessary, believing in the quality of every moment, every day and every quest – this is what excellence is all about.
And it comes from striving, maintaining the highest standards, the highest beliefs, looking after the smallest detail and using the basics, and going the extra mile. Excellence means caring – caring enough about making a difference – it means making a special effort to do more than is asked and to expect more of oneself.
TUSCULUM BASKETBALL--“A Commitment to Excellence”

I Am Champion

2011-04-18T12:02:00.001-07:00

Speed Ladder & Mobility Training for Basketball

2011-03-27T18:04:00.001-07:00

Alan Stein's Productive Off-Season Training For Basketball

2011-03-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

Most youth and high school basketball players no longer have a true off-season as they immediately jump into AAU and then into the summer camp circuit. While I am not an advocate of this schedule, I realize “you can't stop the waves; but you can learn to surf!”
Given that basketball is now a year round sport, having a sound approach to training is essential:

By making the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joint structures stronger and more mobile, players will lessen the occurrence and severity of acute and overuse injuries. If an injury does occur, they will recover quicker.
By improving strength, power, footwork, reaction, agility, coordination, flexibility and conditioning, players will be able to perform their basketball skills more efficiently, perform them at a higher level, and perform them for longer before the onset of fatigue.
Players who train hard are more confident on the court. That is why 'The Best Players are in the Best Shape!”
REST
Players need to take one to two full weeks off after their last game. This is non-negotiable. They need to rest their minds and their bodies. They need to spend quality time with family and friends. They need to make sure their academics are on point. They need to get extra sleep. They need to eat well. They need to kick back and enjoy being a kid! High school & college will be over in the blink of an eye; they shouldn't take this time for granted. They need to enjoy the journey.
RECOVER
Players need to address the nagging injuries they endured during the season. They shouldn't ignore sore ankles, sore knees, and sore backs. If appropriate doses of Advil and ice don't do the trick, they need to see a medical professional (an Athletic Trainer or Physical Therapist).
The only physical activity I would recommend during the recovery phase would be a daily full body foam roll routine ('self-massage') and/or some active stretching and mobility type movements like these:

EVALUATE
After ample rest, players need to formally evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. This step is vital to success; yet rarely done.
Players need to clearly establish what they do well and what needs improvement. This can only be done effectively by a comprehensive evaluation by both player and coach.
Rate the following 15 traits:

Skills:
Ball handling (weak hand? variety of moves? maintain court vision?)
Shooting (form? off the pass? off the dribble? range? FT's?)
Passing (understand angles? feed post? pass on the move?)
Rebounding (box out consistently? go to the ball?)
Defending (on ball? in post? through screens? team concepts? contest shots? don't foul?)

Athleticism:
Strength & Power (finish with contact? knocked off ball screens? dunk?)
Quickness & Reaction (explosive first step? first to the ball?)
Agility & Movement Efficiency (effectively accelerate, decelerate & change directions?)
Flexibility & Mobility (stiff hamstrings? low back? tight ankles?)
Body Composition (need more muscle? have excess body fat?)
Conditioning (great basketball shape? as effective in the 4th quarter as in the 1st?)

Intangibles:
Basketball I.Q. (know how to play? quality decision making?)
Leadership (do teammates listen? do they follow? 'Play Present'?)
Teammate (know & accept role on team? care about teammates?)
Work Ethic (1st in the gym, last to leave? give 100% all of the time?)
Rate each trait on a scale of 1 to 10. Players should write down what they believe; not what their parents or girlfriend thinks or what a scouting service says. Then players should have their coach rate each trait too.
How do the results compare? Any score that the player and coach agree on is probably accurate. If they both believe ball handling is an “8”, then it probably is. But what if the player thinks it is an “8” and the coach believes it is a “5”? Is it possible the player thinks an aspect of their game is better than it actually is? Regardless, average out both scores and have a final rating for each trait. Then list them in descending order: highest scores (strengths) are at the top and lowest scores (weaknesses) are at the bottom. This ranking will help players prioritize what to work on this off-season (the theme of my next blog).
Once player and coach have filled out the evaluation, averaged the scores, and ranked the traits in descending order… it is time to plot the framework of an off-season training plan.

PLAN
Before planning the off-season, let's define it by dividing the year into 3 distinct phases:
Off-season: beginning the day after the last game and ending 8 weeks before the first practice.
Pre-season: beginning 8 weeks before the first practice and ending the day of the first practice.

In-season: beginning the day of the first practice and ending the day of the last game.
Players need to plan their spring and summer schedule and take a look at everything that will necessitate their time. Spring sport? Tutor? AAU? Vacations? The more they know in advance, the better they can plan a viable schedule.

The initial goal of the off-season is to improve strength and power. There is no such thing as being too strong! When players ask me why strength is so important, I say:
“What do you want to be; the bug or the windshield?”
Quickness, agility and conditioning are important, but for the first part of the off-season, players need to focus on increasing their overall strength, address structural imbalances, and develop proper movement patterns. This is the foundation of the entire off-season program.

Grip Training For Basketball

2011-03-27T18:00:00.003-07:00

Core Training For Basketball

2011-03-27T18:00:00.001-07:00

Movement Training For Basketball

2011-03-27T17:59:00.001-07:00

Movement Training For Basketball

Jump Training For Basketball

2011-03-27T17:58:00.000-07:00

Jump Training For Basketball

Man...

2011-03-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

Think like a man of action and act like a man of thought. Successful people are usually the best thinkers that also know how to get it in gear.

Even Eagles Need A Push

2011-03-27T14:08:00.001-07:00

Roosevelt boys cruise past Perris in basketball | Southern California High School Sports | HS GameTime.com | All Stories

2011-02-17T20:00:00.000-08:00

Roosevelt boys cruise past Perris in basketball | Southern California High School Sports | HS GameTime.com | All Stories

...And Then Some

2011-01-21T23:33:00.001-08:00

THREE WORDS TODAY..."AND THEN SOME"

By John Rambeau, Pastor

"Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Matthew 5:41) New American Standard Bible

(Jesus said this and I always wanted to know what it ment. I recently found out and I wanted to share it with you today.

1.) During the time Jesus was on earth the Roman Empire was in total control. The Roman (Legions) soldiers had a policy (a right) that if they were carrying their heavy back pack of equipment as they marched along the road they could stop any citizen of any country and have them carry their equipment for one mile. After one mile the citizen would give the back pack back to the soldier and then go back to what he was doing. Jesus said for the Christian citizen to carry the back pack for an extra mile in other words "AND THEN SOME".

2.)Do you remember in Genesis (24:12-14) when Abraham send out his servant Eliazer to find a wife for his son Isaac? Eliazer asked God to show him the right women by her offering to give him a drink. When Rebecca showed up she offered Eliazer a drink by drawing water out of the well and then drew water out for for his ten camels (a camel holds 30 gallons of water, so Rebecca drew out 300 gallons total for the camels, this was hard work!) She was an "AND THEN SOME" kind of women. Are you an "AND THEN SOME" kind of coach?

3.) "Give, and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." *If you are a "AND THEM SOME" type of person this is what God promises you. (Luke 6:38)

*Forget these three words...."JUST GET BY"....This does not impress anyone or God.

Poetry For the Soul

2010-12-06T21:54:00.000-08:00

I have shut the door on yesterday,
Its sorrows and mistakes.

I have locked within its gloomy
walls
Past failures and mistakes.

And now I throw the key away,
And seek another room.

And furnish it with hope and smiles,
And every spring-time bloom.

No thought shall enter this abode
That has a taint of pain.

And envy, malice, and distrust
Shall never entrance gain.

I have shut the door on yesterday
And thrown the key away.

Tomorrow holds no fear for me,
Since I have found today.

~ Vivian Yeiser Laramore

Discipline...

2010-11-18T23:21:00.004-08:00

Discipline is a somewhat lost concept in our culture. Nowhere is that more evident than in how we raise our children. Those of us who are a little older can remember Dad—or even a teacher—getting out the “board of education” when we got in trouble. It was far from pleasant, but it certainly got the point across.

Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, tells his son not to be resentful over discipline received from God. He says that a father’s discipline is actually a sign of love. Perhaps Solomon was thinking about his own childhood. His father, King David, was a mighty warrior—but was also known to be somewhat indulgent (King David was a terrible disciplinarian) with his children. Maybe Solomon was reflecting on whether a firmer hand of parental discipline would have benefited him in his own life!

Discipline yourself—or leave it to someone else to do that for you. Even if a boss, parent, spouse, friend, or customer won’t step up and hold us accountable for our decisions, the good news is we have a Heavenly Father who cares too much about our actions and the state of our heart to just ignore things we do wrong. That’s His tough love.

Have you experienced God’s chastening? Did you respond with resentment or with an open heart?

Dear God, I don’t like to experience discipline in my life and I too easily get resentful. Help me to learn what You have to teach me in moments of correction. Amen. (From Inspired Faith Newsletter)

Four Quotes

2010-11-18T23:21:00.000-08:00

"Failure is the condiment that gives success it's flavor, as long as you're failing forward."

"Commitment to a vision turns paralyzing stress into energizing passion."

What you expect, make sure you inspect. Have an evaluation process to make sure you're getting what you expect.

In teamwork, silence isn't golden, it's deadly. Be careful not to take actions or say things that shut down communication. Don't you love to hear a team on the floor with constant chatter.

Undeniable adult truths

2010-11-18T23:19:00.000-08:00

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your
computer history and your nightstand if you die

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize
you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was
younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure
I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the
person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work
when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the
rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blu Ray? I don't
want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if
I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I
did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to
answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or
Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and
smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to
prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and
sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty,
and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not
know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys
in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey -
but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away,
in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

Carpe Diem!

2010-11-18T23:09:00.000-08:00

When you seize an opportunity it seems to multiply and here comes more opportunities. Carpe Diem!

Brotherhood

2010-11-18T23:06:00.000-08:00

“Each one looking out for the other, each one proud to be their brother. No one demands to score or play, they just want to be prepared..."

2010-11-18T23:04:00.000-08:00

"An easy task becomes difficult when you do it with reluctance."
Just put a smile on your face, a whistle on your lips and a skip in your step and get it done. That's the time you must keep on trying Smile, what's the use of crying? You'll find that life is still worthwhile If you just smile

Impossible

2010-11-18T23:02:00.000-08:00

You haven't tested God's resources until you've tried the impossible. "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark10:27Addidas may owe God one!!!!

Ability...Motivation...Attitude

2010-11-18T23:00:00.000-08:00

Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you're going to do. Attitude determines how well you do it."

Achievment

2010-11-18T22:58:00.000-08:00

Getting something done is an accomplishment; getting something done right is an achievement." Remember when Dad said "do it right the first time".

"Finish"

2010-11-18T22:56:00.000-08:00

"We are judged by what we finish, not by what we start."
Beginning is the biggest part of getting something done, but it doesn't go on the scoreboard until it's finished.

"Porque en su mano estan..."

2010-11-18T22:53:00.000-08:00

"porque en su mano estan...": Psalm 95:4: "In His hands are the depths of the earth, the heights of the mountains are His also."

Courage

2010-11-18T22:50:00.000-08:00

Courage is contagious, when a brave person takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.

Why does this apply to so many things?

2010-10-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Having shoe companies as part of the reform program is like having foxes guard the henhouse.

“Everyone Communicates, Few Connect”

2010-10-12T17:49:00.001-07:00

John Maxwell –

-Leadership is influence

-Leadership with no following, is just taking a walk!!

-Some of your best thinking is done by others!

Connecting is all about others

- Help others get what they want, and they will help you get what you want!

- Immature people are selfish

Connectors – Understand it is not about them, it is about others

You must work hard at connecting – it takes energy!!

Find common ground to help with connections

“Keeping people at a distance doesn’t allow them to hurt you, but they can not help you either”

Tips From the Hoop

2010-08-14T12:43:00.001-07:00

The key to excellent performance is finding the match between your talents and your role. Get your team to buy into this and you'll win more than you ever thought.

Ray Wilkerson Tip

2010-08-14T12:42:00.001-07:00

You can't train with shouts and expect a whisper to be obeyed.

Tips From The Hoop

2010-08-14T12:41:00.001-07:00

Thought for the Day:

"One who gives less than what he has to give is telling you what he thinks about both you and him. " (Pete Carrill former Head Basketball Coach at Princeton University)

******************************************************************************************************************************************

Scripture for the Day: Philippians 2:14

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings." (Complaining) (This is why our players make us so mad when they have an attitude about every thing we are doing. They are going against the Bible.)

“TEN TRAITS OF SUCCESSFUL COACHES”

This list was developed by Patrick Hunt, the coaching education director for the Australian Institute of Sport. I have read some of Coach Hunt's material in the past and thought it was excellent. (This was given to me by Lason Perkins)

Great technical knowledge – understand the intricacies and dynamics of their sport which allows them to effectively train and teach players

Good communicators – like being around people, honest and open with their communication

Care for players – genuine care and investment in developing players to achieve their potential. The old saying “players don’t care what you know until they know that you care”

No Bad attitude policy – have clear criteria about the type of people they allow into their team. Value good culture too much to let “bad eggs” infiltrate their system

Recruit players who want to learn – successful coaches are always striving to improve, both themselves and their players. Players must be willing to learn and commit to improvement

Eye for detail – believe in the “power of small”. The smallest detail can sometimes have the biggest impact in the long run.

Seek opinions – secure enough to be challenged and seek opinions from others. Open-minded to innovation and change.

Understand the “why” of their game plan – good coaches don’t just copy another system or game plan. They understand the reason why they use a particular game plan and all the little things that go into executing it. This ties into traits 1 and 6.

Coach with enthusiasm and passion – this approach rubs off on players and makes them enthusiastic about the task of learning and improving

Life-long learners – always looking for better ways, new information. Seek out other coaches. Study other sports for training and playing methods.

Ray Wilkerson Tip

2010-08-14T12:40:00.000-07:00

If you've prepared properly you may be outscored, but you'll never lose. Remember that means mental as well as physical preparation.

Ray Wilkerson Tip

2010-08-14T12:39:00.001-07:00

Don't try to be better than anyone else, just be the best you can be.
Proverbs says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Take advantage of that and remember there is always a faster gun somewhere so don't compare.

Ray Wilkerson Tip

2010-08-14T12:38:00.001-07:00

Where there is no correction there is no direction. Don't forget to keep it balanced with praise.

"FIVE TEMPTATIONS OF THE CEO" (Great for Head Coaches)

2010-07-27T09:33:00.001-07:00

I borrowed these from the book by Patrick Lencioni. I highly recommend his material. Although his primary audience are business people, I have found many ideas are transferable to what we do as coaches and teachers. (This was given to me by Lason Perkins a high school coach in North Carolina. (Read below closely!)

Temptation 1: Choosing status over results

Temptation 2: Choosing popularity over Accountability

Temptation 3: Choosing Certainty over Clarity

Temptation 4: Choosing Harmony over Productive Conflict

Temptation 5: Choosing Invulnerability over Trust

"The price of LEADERSHIP is RESPONSIBILITY."

2010-07-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

And part of that responsibility is to STAY POSITIVE whether you feel like it or not.

MANAGING YOUR ATTITUDE IS A VERY PERSONAL THING. However, for me, one of the most important factors is exercise. My attitude and my energy levels are directly tied to exercise. I can be doing everything else right, but without regular exercise I can feel my attitude "heading south".

I've got a friend who is 65 but looks like he's 55. I saw him the other day and said, "Tony, you look great." He said, "I feel great! I got a second job." I said, "A second job? I thought your import business was doing well." He said, "It is. My second job is on the treadmill from 6-7 every morning. When I started looking at it as a second job, I showed up whether I wanted to or not!" He said, "The pay is lousy, but the benefits to my health and my attitude are priceless!"

Exercise, more than anything, is a "stress buster". And, don't kid yourself, stress is a killer. In fact the World Health Organization estimates that 80% of all illnesses are directly or indirectly caused by stress. Therefore, if you're not proactive in busting stress, it's very likely to come back and bust you!

Compliments of Duane Silver

The Sock Seminar and Creating the UCLA Culture by Swen Nater

2010-07-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

It was the team meeting, two weeks before the first day of UCLA basketball practice. We had won six NCAA championships in a row. In attendance were, Coach Wooden and his assistants, the managers, and fifteen of the best players in the country. It was my first year so I didn’t know what to expect other than Coach Wooden going over practice, game, and travel rules. To my surprise, he began the meeting with, “I want all of you to take your shoes and socks off. I’m going to show you how to put on your socks properly.”

I thought, ‘You have got to be kidding. This is boring. I’m way past that, Coach. I already know how to do that. Show me how we are going to win seven in a row.’ But, since the seniors were doing it, I joined in. Following is Coach, presenting his Sock Seminar.

1. Roll the sock up with your hands so it’s just an inch or two deep.

2. Next, put the sock over your toes to the ball of your foot so it’s snug but not too tight. You should not feel too much pressure but the sock should be stretched just a little.

3. Now roll the sock back to just before the heel, maintaining gentle pressure at all times. Don’t put it over the heel yet.

4. Next, with both hands working backward in alternating fashion and overlapping, smooth the wrinkles back toward the heel.

5. Now, without overstretching the sock, release some of the gathered remainder of it and fold it over the heel to just below the ankle.

6. Now, starting from the toes, with both hands working in alternating fashion and overlapping, smooth the sock all the way to where the remainder of the material is gathered, just below the ankle. The sock should be stretched a little but not too much.

7. Last, you unroll the sock to its end so the sock is pulled all the way up but don’t yank on it. You don’t want any one part of the sock to be stretched more than the other parts. Once again, starting from the toes and with hands alternating, smooth the sock all the way to the top.

8. Do the same with the second sock on the same foot. [We were required to wear two pairs of socks.]

Some time ago, I asked Coach for the reason he taught us how to put on our socks. He said,

“I assumed my players didn’t know how to properly put on their socks. The proper way helps prevent wrinkles. When the foot sweats and there is a wrinkle in the sock, that wrinkle will get wet and stay as it is. It then rubs against the foot and creates a blister. Blisters make players miss practice and if I have a missing player in practice, it hinders preparation for games. The feet are the most important part of the body in basketball. You can have a sore hand, elbow, back, or shoulder and still play. But when you have sore feet, you can’t.”

But those of us who were involved in UCLA practice sessions will see another purpose for the detailed Sock Seminar. Coach was creating a culture of doing things the right way, the first time. The Sock Seminar was just the first installment. The step-by-step checklist format for instruction was applied to everything, including teaching drills like “Jump Stops and Pivots.”

From the baseline, with your right hand, you push the ball in front of you as you dribble to the freethrow line extended, accelerating all the while.
When you get there, you come to a jump stop, grab the ball with both hands and, with extended elbows, tuck the ball under your chin.
Next, staying low, you make a reverse pivot on the left foot by throwing your right foot behind you. Now you’re facing the next player in line.
Now, a quick but not too long forward step with the right foot, make the two-hand chest pass and make sure the ball is aimed at his chest.
Last, sprint toward him and when you get to about four feet away, make a quick change of pace, change of direction, and get to the back of the line.”

When Coach introduced anything new, he took his sweet time, explaining things in detail and incessantly asking, “Do you understand?” I thought, ‘C’mon Coach! I got it! One time is enough.’ But he explained things as if the average IQ was 50, which in my case was not far off. Beginning with the Sock Seminar, Coach was creating a learning culture where he demonstrated and explained and we imitated correctly. I didn’t understand it at the time but I have to admit, once he was done, nobody screwed up.

Conclusion

Why create a culture of explicit, step-by-step, instruction, even down to how to put on your socks? The answer is: You will get better results in less time. A team with good feet gets things done. When a drill is done correctly the first time, repetition can follow to develop automaticity. When a play is run correctly without defense, the coach can take it to the next level—scrimmaging, where problems surface and are solved, and players are encouraged to come up with creative, and perhaps new, methods of execution (continuous improvement).

You may not believe this but since my first Sock Seminar, I have put my socks on that way ever since, not just before sports but my dress socks too. Come to think of it, I have never had a blister. Hey! I wonder. Do you think those Sock Seminars had something to do with the championship banners in Pauley Pavilion?

Sir Winston Churchill

2010-07-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

"Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it's the quiet voice at the end of the day saying "I will try again tomorrow".
"Never, never, never, never, never give up."

Free-Throws

2010-05-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

"The Free Throw Line, Don't LIE"...(Larry Bird) You can tell who puts the time in shooting free throws by just watching the game. Free Throw shooting does not get better during regular team practices, free throw shooting improves through hard work on your own in the summer, fall, spring etc.

“Tough Love”

2010-05-17T11:05:00.001-07:00

Discipline is a somewhat lost concept in our culture. Nowhere is that more evident than in how we raise our children. Those of us who are a little older can remember Dad—or even a teacher—getting out the “board of education” when we got in trouble. It was far from pleasant, but it certainly got the point across.
Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, tells his son not to be resentful over discipline received from God. He says that a father’s discipline is actually a sign of love. Perhaps Solomon was thinking about his own childhood. His father, King David, was a mighty warrior—but was also known to be somewhat indulgent (King David was a terrible disciplinarian) with his children. Maybe Solomon was reflecting on whether a firmer hand of parental discipline would have benefited him in his own life!
Discipline yourself—or leave it to someone else to do that for you. Even if a boss, parent, spouse, friend, or customer won’t step up and hold us accountable for our decisions, the good news is we have a Heavenly Father who cares too much about our actions and the state of our heart to just ignore things we do wrong. That’s His tough love.

Journey

2010-03-29T23:23:00.001-07:00

"When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way." Remember it's the journey not the destination.

Leaders

2010-03-29T23:22:00.001-07:00

"Leaders take eagles and teach them to fly in formation."

Schizophrenic Behavior

2010-03-29T23:20:00.002-07:00

Schizophrenic behavior is a special strategy that a person invents in order to live in an unbelievable situation. Some call this madness.
Let the madness begin!!!

Men

2010-03-29T23:20:00.000-07:00

"Men are like nails, they lose their usefulness when they lose their direction and begin to bend." I think this is what my dad called having a little steel in your backbone (By Ray Wilkerson)

The 6th Commandment

2010-03-29T23:18:00.001-07:00

"The Sixth Commandment"

Here are some thoughts on it. "thou shall not kill."

A. The commandment "thou shall not kill" (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17), is better understood to mean "you shall not murder." Most modern translations of the Bible rendered it this way. Meaning you can kill in self defense and in war. If someone was going to kill someone in your family you are allowed by God to kill them. To me this is common sense. If conscientious objecters were right, we would not have a free country. (Right)

According to the Bible not all killing, the taking of a life, is murder. Murder is the unlawfully taking of human life. The command not to murder applies to human beings, not to killing animals or plant life for food. God gave animals to mankind for his use (Genesis 1:26-30; 9:1-4). But, this does not mean that humans have the right mistreat animals and the environment (Genesis 2:15; Deuteronomy 22:6-7; 25:4; Proverbs 12:10).

Homework

2010-03-29T23:17:00.001-07:00

Remember no one can do your assignment better than you because it's yours.

Mike and Mike in the Morning Thought

2010-03-29T23:16:00.000-07:00

Did you realize since 1979 no team has won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship without a McDonald's All American? Here are the teams with McDonald All American's...Duke, Tennessee, Baylor, and Kentucky. Look who is left out. Michigan State, Ohio State, St Mary's,Washington, Northern Iowa, Xavier, K-State, West Virginia, Cornell, Butler etc. (I wonder if history will repeat itself?) (From Mike and Mike In The Morning)

Fruits of...

2010-03-29T23:15:00.000-07:00

Forbidden fruits create many jams.

Envy and Jealousy

2010-03-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

"Envy and jealousy consists in seeing things never in themselves, but only in their relations. If you desire glory, you may envy Napoleon, but Napoleon envied Caesar, Caesar envied Alexander, and Alexander, I daresay, envied Hercules, who never existed. Be motivated and driven from an eternal perspective, not envy or jealousy.

Aristotle

2010-03-29T23:09:00.000-07:00

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." You must be excellent in even the small events in daily life or the habit of excellence will not be created.

The Boss is Always Right!

2010-03-29T23:07:00.001-07:00

Scripture for the Day: Ephesians 6:5

"Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;" *Here is what this scripture means. At you school, work hard and do what you are told even if your boss (AD, Principal etc) is hard to get along with. Keep your mouth shut and do your teaching/coaching for the Lord, which is who you are working for in the first place.)

Albert Einstein’s Four Principles for Self-Study

2010-03-29T23:06:00.000-07:00

When asked how he developed his Special Theory of Relativity, Albert Einstein said,

“I know quite certainly that I myself have no special talent; curiosity, obsession and dogged endurance, combined with self-criticism have brought me to my ideas.”

As a history teacher, are you curious and obsessed about the real reasons Abraham Lincoln tried to keep the Union together? As an English teacher, are you curious and obsessed with the mystery of spelling variations, to the depth of wanting to know the origin of the English Spelling System? As an elementary school teacher, are you curious and obsessed to the point where you exhaust all research material to discover the complexities of the various learning styles? As a coach, are you curious and obsessed to leave no stone unturned in learning all there is to know about developing an unselfish team? Like Einstein, combine that curiosity and obsession with endurance and self-criticism that won’t let you quit until the answers are found, and you will know what real self-study is.

But even Albert Einstein knew self-study was not enough to get to the answers; the rest of what he needed to know was in the minds of his fellow physicists.

Albert Einstein’s Learning Community

Einstein said, his principles for self-study,”…brought me to my ideas.” He knew, without combining his ideas with those of his colleagues, they would remain hypothetical “ideas.” There is evidence he created a “learning community” by bringing his concepts to his friends for discussion and conclusions.

With Leopold Infeld, a Polish physicist, he co-wrote “The Evolution of Physics.”
With Nathan Rosen, an Israeli-American physicist, he arrived at answers to the entangled wave functions and the EPR paradox.
With Peter Bergmann, a German-American physicist, he worked on the unified field theory.
With Wander Johannes De Haas, a Dutch physicist, he wrote the “Einstein-de Haas Effect.”
With Erwin Schrodinger, an Austrian physicist, he wrote the “Schrodinger gas model.”
With Leo Szilard, a Hungarian physicist, he invented the Einstein Refrigerator.

The Second Tier of The Pyramid of Teaching Success

The four blocks in the second tier of The Pyramid of Teaching Success are all about individual improvement in preparation for collaboration, exactly as Einstein did. Albert’s principles, tailored for teaching, are:

Industriousness (dogged-endurance): Hard work based on careful planning
Curiosity: A deep desire to know why, not just how
Resourcefulness (obsession): Finding ways to get around and through obstacles
Self-examination (self-criticism): Seeking continuous improvement

Conclusion

A “learning community” may take the form of you and one other person or, better yet, a group. To become the best teacher you can be, learn everything you can on your own and then bring that to a “learning community” for discussion and conclusions. Like Coach Wooden says, “It’s what you learn, after you know it all, that counts.”

When Lewis Alcindor signed with UCLA, Coach Wooden picked the brains of every coach he knew that had been successful with a tall center. He also interviewed Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. The next three years, UCLA won the NCAA championship.

When was head coach at a small college, after studying man-to-man defense extensively, I called Mike Krzyzewski and asked if I could spend three days with him learning defense. He said, “Yes.” My team won the national championship the next season.

“Later in his career, John Dewey noted that one of the saddest things about American education is that the successes of excellent teachers tend to be born and die with them.” Harry and Rosemary Wong www.teachers.net/wong.

Roosevelt Top 10 2009-2010 Season (Thanks Coach Nguyen)

2010-03-21T21:06:00.001-07:00

You Can’t Raise Eagles on Feather Beds By Zig Ziglar

2010-03-10T19:23:00.000-08:00

It has often been said that you don't develop leaders or champions on feather beds. The "eagle approach" works best. Eagles build their nests high on mountains, exposed to the first rain, the first snow, the strongest winds.
When the mother eagle builds the huge nest, she starts with limbs and rough pieces of bark. Inside of that, she puts glass, stones, branches, etc. Next she picks up leaves, cloth and similar objects. Finally, she puts feathers - some from her own body - on top, and it is in this nest that she lays the eggs. When the little eaglets make their appearance, the eagle parents nurture their babies with food they have eaten and regurgitated. As the eaglets grow, the mother eagle removes the soft down from the nest, reducing the comfort level of the eaglets. Still later she removes the leaves, soft branches and cloth, further discomforting the eaglets.
By now the young birds are beginning to climb up the sides of the huge nest; their comfort level is minimal. Finally, the mother eagle removes the smaller sticks and everything else so the eaglets are exposed to the glass, cans, rocks and other uncomfortable bedding. Now the eaglets are staying on the sides of the nest. And here is where tough love really begins to show. Once the eaglets reach the top of the nest, the mother eagle nudges them over the side and they go hurtling to apparently certain death on the rocks below. At what appears to be the last instant, Mother Eagle swoops underneath and catches the eaglet on her own back. The process is repeated until the eaglets are flying on their own. Mother Eagle's job has been done - she has worked herself out of a job. That's what parenting is about - working yourself out of a job, and, in the process, developing our leaders for the future. Think about it, give your kids a chance to soar like the eagles by not making their lives too comfortable and I'll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!

*If you will be hard on your own children and your players they will turn out much better than if you are SOFT on them. Plus they will RESPECT you for doing it. DS

The Importance of Walking

2010-03-09T21:15:00.000-08:00

Walking can add minutes to your life.
This enables you at 85 years old
To spend an additional 5 months in a nursing Home at $7000 per month.

My grandpa started walking
Five miles a day when he was 60.
Now he's 97 years old
And we don't know where the hell he is.

   I like long walks,
Especially when they are taken
By people who annoy me.

The only reason I would take up walking
Is so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

I have to walk early in the morning,
Before my brain figures out what I'm doing..

   I joined a health club last year,
Spent about 400 bucks.
Haven't lost a pound.
Apparently you have to go there.

   Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise',
I wash my mouth out with chocolate..

   I do have flabby thighs,
But fortunately my stomach covers them.

The advantage of exercising every day
Is so when you die, they'll say,
'Well, she looks good doesn't she.'

If you are going to try cross-country skiing,   Start with a
   small country.

   I know I got a lot of exercise
The last few years,......
Just getting over the hill..

   We all get heavier as we get older,
Because there's a lot more information in our heads.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

AND

   Every time I start thinking too much
   About how I look,
I just find a Happy Hour
   And by the time I leave,
I look just fine.

Getting Older!

2010-03-09T21:12:00.001-08:00

CHANGE

2010-03-09T21:10:00.001-08:00

There is no way you can make people like most change,
you can only make them feel less threatened by it.
And when you get them to that point go ahead with the change you need to make.

AVIATION-ISMS

2010-03-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

'If the enemy is in range, so are you.'
- Infantry Journal-

'It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.' - US.Air Force Manual -

'Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword, obviously never encountered automatic weapons.'  - General MacArthur - (located to right)

'You, you, and you ... Panic. The rest of you, come with me.' - U.S. Marine Corp Gunnery Sgt.-

'Five second fuses only last three seconds.' -Infantry Journal -

'Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.' -Unknown Marine Recruit-

'Yea, Though I Fly Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Shall Fear No Evil.  For I am at 50,000 Feet and Climbing.' - Sign over SR71 Wing Ops-

'The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.' -Unknown Author-

'When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane, you always have enough power left to get you to the scene of the crash.' -Multi-Engine Training Manual-

'Without ammunition, the USAF is just an expensive flying club.' -Unknown Author-

'If you hear me yell;"Eject, Eject, Eject!", the last two will be echos.' If you stop to ask "Why?", you'll be talking to yourself, because you're the pilot.' -Pre-flight Briefing from a 104 Pilot-

'What is the similarity between air traffic controllers and pilots? If a pilot screws up, the pilot dies; but If ATC screws up, .... the pilot dies.' -Sign over Control Tower Door-

'Never trade luck for skill.' -Author Unknown-

The three most common expressions (or famous last words) in military aviation are: 'Did you feel that?' 'What's that noise?' and 'Oh S...!' or (appended from the Arkansas Air National Guard):"Hold my beer and watch this!" -Authors Unknown-

'Mankind has a perfect record in aviation - we have never left one up there!' - Unknown Author -

'There is no reason to fly through a thunderstorm in peacetime.' -Sign over Squadron Ops Desk at Davis-Montham AFB, AZ-

As the test pilot climbs out of the experimental aircraft, having torn off the wings and tail in the crash landing, the crash truck arrives. The rescuer sees a bloodied pilot and asks,'What happened?' The pilot's reply: 'I don't know, I just got here myself!'