Life as a Basketball Coach in Indiana

What Has Basketball Done for Me?

2012-02-01T13:18:00.000-05:00

What has basketball done for me? Has it made me millions of dollars and worldwide fame? No, but it has done so much more.

As a youth and then later as an adult, it taught me a work ethic, it taught me how to handle adversity, it taught me how to handle success, it taught me how to deal with pressure. Basketball has brought me many friends and acquaintances both here and worldwide. Basketball has provided something that my future wife and I had in common. Basketball has provided me opportunities to travel the world. Basketball has provided something for my children to be a part of that we can relate to. Basketball has allowed me an opportunity to travel and spread the Gospel.

What has basketball done for me? Made me richer than any amount of money could do. It has provided me with opportunities to make relationships, help relationships, and have those people to influence and help me.

I wouldn't change anything because basketball has brought me so many great things in life.

The Four Spiritual Laws by Bill Bright

2012-01-31T13:46:00.000-05:00

The Four Spiritual Laws is a booklet created in 1952 by Bill Bright (1921-2003), founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, the world's largest Christian ministry. Bright wrote the booklet as a means to clearly explain the essentials of the Christian faith concerning salvation.

In the booklet, Bright summarizes the Christian message of salvation contained in the Bible as four spiritual laws that govern our relationship with God, just like there are physical laws that govern the universe. The four spiritual laws are:

1. God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)

2. Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)

3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. (Romans 5:8, I Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)

4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:1~8, Revelation 3:20)

It's Not About Me...or You

2012-01-30T11:38:00.000-05:00

Yes...great title and really a great book by Max Lucado, but this is not about my faith. This is all about what my teams are capable of doing and getting it done on the court. One of my most said phrases as a coach is "reward yourself". Our players put in lots of time and effort and I believe they should "reward themselves" during the games.

When I first started coaching, I coached for me. It took me probably ten years to go 50/50 on what or who I was coaching for. Now...it is for the boys to be successful. That is why I get so frustrated and animated during games. I could care less for me to get any credit, it is about the players seeing something from the time and effort they put on during the summer and practice.

Really, it isn't even about this current team or any given current team. The program was here before them, it is here now while they are here, and it will be here as long as there is an HHS. The players owe it to those who came before them to compete and play hard, and they owe it to the future players to show what is expected of a basketball player at this school.

Why do you play? Why do you coach? What is your purpose? Mine has been, in the last few years, to improve our guys as people and hopefully enjoy some success on the court. Hopefully, they have worked and experienced some of that success.

Yep, I Am So Aggravated with This That it Warrants a Blog Post

2012-01-29T03:14:00.000-05:00

But this...is a travel, walk, whatever you want to call it. In this video Luol Deng establishes a pivot foot (left foot here) by drop stepping with the opposite foot (right foot here), if there is no dribble in the spin and the left foot hits the ground before he shoots, that is a travel by any definition you want to choose, well, okay not in the NBA. But really, what is a travel there?!

I don't know why, but high school officials have stopped calling this, maybe once or twice a season it will be called, but it happens 2-5 times a game. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but it is frustrating. 1. Because it is a rule that is not being enforced. 2. It is really hard to guard a guy who can spin and cover 5-10 feet gaining an advantage on the defense.

1. It's a rule: If you watch a tape from the 1970's you will be amazed at how fundamental teams are, they never walk and they rarely foul. Why is that? The game has degraded, in my opinion, because the way the game is called has degraded. There is no way that Milan or Loogootee's teams from the past who had success could play delay against bigger, stronger, faster teams. Officials will just now allow it to happen. Not because they have some vendetta against teams like those, but because of the way the game is called.
Those faster, stronger, bigger teams can push, shove, hold, walk in today's game and a smaller, slower, more patient team has very little shot of winning.

2. You gain an unfair advantage: If you are allowed to gain an advantage by picking the ball up and moving side to side, it is hard to guard. If you tell high school kids to shuffle their feet on defense when a player makes the spin move, few people can shuffle to the side to keep up with that. So what happens? It's 2 points or the defense is able to be out of position and block the shot. However, to be able to block this shot, you must be as athletic or more than the person making the move. At our level, kids can't shuffle correctly (unfair because offense is running) and rarely athletic enough to recover, so when they attempt a block they get called for a foul.

Don't even get me started on what a foul is today. Every year we get "points of emphasis" to clean the game up. Sometimes they call those points for a few games and more often than not they don't get called. Teams are allowed to put forearms in sides of ball handlers pushing them off line (displacement), but my biggest complaint is in rebounding. Teams are allowed to nudge from behind causing displacement, then when the defensive rebounder turns to wall up, a foul is called on the defense who was nudged (that's code for shoved/pushed) out of position in the first place.

Also, more and more teams drive the ball to the lane, really hard. We teach our teams to take charges and to "wall up" when they come at them. Walling up is holding your ground with your arms straight up making it hard for the offense to shoot over you. We invariably get penalized for this once every two games. Our defensive player will be where they need to be and the offense will run into them and jump up and it is called a foul on the defense yet the offense is the one who initiates all of the contact.

I will close with this; I haven't run into any really bad officials, well maybe a couple, but I really believe they love the game and work hard to try and do a good job. I often wonder if it is the officials fault that this stuff goes on especially the spin move. Is it cultural? This is something that has started in the NBA and has filtered down to the high school level. I have had officials tell me they won't call it because if they do they will be the only one who does (no, really, that's been said by a couple different referees), and I have been told that calling all those fouls hurts the flow of the game (well, letting one team molest another or each other hurts the integrity of the game). So is it cultural, has what the fans want changed the game? Or should the rule book be enforced with fewer individual interpretations.

I guess I shall see how many officials read this blog, but as I said most, if not all are working hard trying to do a good job within the confines of what is expected. So if I see you out there in the next few games, know that I truly appreciate what you do (I refereed elementary games before, it's hard) and the time that you put in. Just do me a favor....keep an eye on the feet of the player with the ball and realize that almost all spin moves are travels. (I can see it now, we have a game in the next month and my kid makes a spin move and a travel is called and the official will say "read your blog, like that call?"....I know it's coming.)

Athletes in Action

2012-01-26T11:43:00.000-05:00

The first time I ever heard of Athletes in Action was during an IU basketball game in the early 1980's. Then colleges would play scrimmages before the season against foreign teams and AIA. I remember asking someone what AIA stood for and it was explained to me. I didn't really get it, but whatever, IU was winning the basketball game.

I have kept in touch with AIA recently just because I am interested in any group that furthers the Lord's work and AIA is one of those. I have wanted to get into sports ministry more and more recently, so waaaay back last fall, I filled out an online application to coach for AIA or to work a clinic. I filled out the app and three people had to fill out reference emails. Finally, I spoke to Kelly Combs, former college coach and now with AIA, for about 45 minutes one day on the phone. During that conversation, I gave my testimony as well as what I believe the Lord is calling me to do.

I must have done something right as Coach Combs contacted me the other day that I had been selected to serve with them this summer in some capacity. It was going to be up to me what I felt called to do. There were options to be an assistant coach in Brazil and Indonesia, or I could go work coaching clinics at three different places in Africa.

Since I had gotten to know Coach Combs a little through the interview process and through email, I chose to go with him, to be his assistant on the South East tour which will be in Indonesia. I have filled out the paperwork and will start soon in raising the money for this mission trip. I am excited, yet a little nervous. It requires two things I am not a huge fan of and that is flying and being away from my family for an extended time.

I want to thank all of those people who have been supportive in the changes I am making and will make soon. I hope that you pray for me and my family and I will probably even post soon how you can donate some money towards my trip if you feel compelled to do so.

Are You a Fan or a Follower?

2012-01-23T20:36:00.000-05:00

I recently went and watched the movie Not a Fan and for $10 I got into the movie and got the book by the same title (Not a Fan). The movie was...well...moving, it made me think which is something that I always like to encounter.

The book is a series of sermons by Kyle Idleman in which he challenges you as a Christian. He asks and hopes you look into your soul and ask if you are a "fan" or a "follower" of Jesus. To give you a small insight to what some of the things he writes about is if Jesus is the one or the one of many. He asks questions like For what do you sacrifice your money? When you're hurt, where do you go for comfort? What disappoints or frustrates you the most? What is it that really gets you excited?

It seems that what Idleman is writing about is an impossible plateau to reach, but if you attempt it, work at it, get back up and try again, you will become a follower of Christ and Not a Fan!

Big Win Saturday Night vs. Cancer

2012-01-23T07:38:00.000-05:00

Two students recently organized our Coaches vs. Cancer game and did a wonderful job. Savannah Booher and Spencer Whitehouse put in many hours and organized many things to help raise money for the American Cancer Society. When the night was finished they had surpassed the amount raised from last year.

Through their efforts during our Borden vs. HHS game (attendance around 2,000 people) allowed for the two communities to raise over $900 for the fight against cancer. Basketball games are important because so much time and effort are put into them by so many people and so many people take pride in the results. But that result is what matters most, that we had students and two rival communities come together to help fight cancer. I want to thank anyone from Borden who helped in the cause as it is greatly appreciated. We will be participating later in the season at Crothersville in their Coaches vs. Cancer game.

Cancer is a disease that has touched almost every single family. As Jim Valvano said, we should never give up in combatting that or any other disease. Never give up. Put things in perspective in that people and relationships matter over basketball games, fight the good fight and enjoy the games.

Part of the Final Speech from the Movie Courageous

2012-01-16T19:59:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, January 17 the movie Courageous comes out on DVD. I have written about it in the past, but it is one of the greatest movies I have ever seen. The final speech will motivate you, even the most lukewarm follower to action. Below is parts of the speech. Reading it cannot do justice as to how it is delivered in the movie.

"....A father should love his children and seek to win their hearts. He should protect them, discipline them, and teach them about God. He should model how to walk with integrity and treat others with respect, and should call out his children to become responsible men and women who love their lives for what matters in eternity.

Some men will hear this and mock it or ignore it. But I tell you that as a father, you are accountable to God for the position of influence He has given you. You can't fall asleep at the wheel, only to wake up on day and realize that your job or your hobbies have no eternal value, but the souls of your children do. Some men will hear this and agree with it but have no resolve to live it out. Instead they will live for themselves and waste the opportunity to leave a godly legacy for the next generation.

But there are some men who, regardless of the mistakes we've made in the past, regardless of what our fathers did not do fur us, will give the strength of our arms and the rest of our days to loving God with all that we are and to teach our children to do the same, and whenever possible, to love and mentor others who have no father in their lives but who desperately need help and direction. And we are inviting any man whose heart is willing and courageous to join us in this resolution.

In my home, the decision has already been made. You don't have to ask who will guide my family because by God's grace, I will. You don't have to ask who will teach my son (and daughter) to follow Christ because I will. Who will accept the responsibility of providing for and protecting my family? I will. Who will ask God to break the chain of destructive patterns in my family's history? I will. Who will pray for and bless my children to boldly pursue whatever God calls them to do? I am their father...I will. I accept this responsibility, and it is my privilege to embrace it.

I want the favor of God and His blessing on my home. Any good man does. So where are you men of courage? Where are you, fathers who fear the Lord? It's time to rise up and answer the call God has give you, and to say I will, I will, I will!"

Indiana High School Basketball Is Supposed to Be.......

2012-01-13T12:42:00.001-05:00

1. The smell of popcorn on game night.
2. The squeek of gym shoes on a wooden floor.
3. The town backing the local team.
4. School fight songs.
5. Multiple generations playing for the same school.
6. Gut wrenching nerves day of the game.
7. Fundamentals.
8. People caring about basketball right after God and family.
9. When you say a last name of a person, a town is associated with it.
10. Something that you work your schedule around.
11. Something you look forward to practice beginning then the first game, then sectional.
12. Seeing high school boys playing so hard for pride's sake.
13. Coaches working the officials.
14. Officials working the game.
15. That one fan each town has that you see when you play them.
16. Often better assistant coaches than there are head coaches in other states.
17. Life and death rivalries.
18. Teachers wearing ties and jackets to games (sometimes).
19. Something you don't realize you have until you graduate then you want it back badly.
20. Getting to know other coaches because of shared experiences.
21. Packed gyms.

Lead...for God's Sake!

2012-01-12T09:40:00.000-05:00

I recently finished reading the book Lead...for God's Sake! by Todd G. Gongwer. What a great book for anyone to read whether you are a coach, teacher, leader, parent, player, anyone really. Todd Gongwer does a fabulous job of expressing what many leaders go through at some point in their career/lives. It is a parable, a fictional story about a high school basketball coach and his transformation. The only problem I have with the book is that Gongwer is from Indiana, yet he sets the story in Kentucky, but I guess I can live with that.

The coach is one of the most successful coaches in Kentucky high school history and has a team back with 4 starters who was the runner up in the state finals the year before. However, once the season starts that team starts to hid bumps in the road. They are not performing quite up to what is expected of anyone especially the basketball coach. So what does he do? He starts falling back on all the things he has done in the past to get to a team, he runs them, he yells at them, he throws things and the situation doesn't get better it gets worse.

Finally, the school's custodian begins mentoring the coach. Yes, the school's custodian. There are many twists and turns in the book, but what the custodian does is get the coach to reflect on what is his purpose in life. Why does he do what he does? Why does he lead the way he does? In the end the coach transforms and becomes a different type of coach and the ending has two big twists that leaving you thinking as you put the book down.

It is a great book, and I believe that everybody should read it. But, if you are a high school basketball coach it is a must read.

Faith, Family, School, Team, Self is That How it Goes?

2012-01-10T23:59:00.000-05:00

When I played (yuck), I can remember a coach telling me what my priorities should be. It was faith, then family, then school, then the team and finally myself. Now growing up, I wasn't exactly a real religious kid and I can remember not understanding putting faith before family. In fact, it made zero sense to me. But it also made little sense to me to put school before the team; just call me a stupid kid or maybe your average kid.

But recently I started reading a book called Lead....For God's Sake by Todd Gongwer (which I will write a little bit about when I finish the book) and in the book it claims that saying is all wrong. Faith (God) cannot be compartmentalized into a list. In fact, it should read Faith (God), Family (God), School (God), Team (God), Self (God).

We are called not to be just Sunday Christians, but to walk a Christian LIFE. It is a hard thing to do, but yet it isn't. A believer especially one walking with The Holy Spirit should find it effortlessly to do so. I believe that you will not only find it easy and effortlessly, but you will look for more ways to be an example of Christ to the world.

It is easy when the feeling over takes you to catch fire, but don't be a roman candle Christian. Remember that the stronger you get in your faith, the stronger and more often it will be tested. You will be tempted to return to the life you had before, but you must resist. When you feel lost, when you have doubts, when you feel like you are going through the motions, find someone to speak with to help you stay the course.

The Holidays, Some Time Off, End of the Year and Thinking = Reflection

2012-01-02T18:29:00.000-05:00

With all that goes on this time of the year and what I have been going through personally (nothing bad at all, in fact, the best days of my life so far), it made me think a little more than usual. I started thinking about some of the things I have learned in my 42 years. There is way more than this which may prompt another article, but these were 16 things that came to mind today while driving back from Florida. These are things that I have experienced first hand and believe they are pretty universal.

1. People have good intentions: But, they rarely follow through on them. Usually it is the small things such as "hey, we need to get together sometime" or "I am going to help you out". People actually say things intending to do what they say, but when it comes time to actually do it, they don't for many reasons.

2. Best friends forever: Rarely...and that is ok. I have worked many jobs in my life and you grow close to many people, but when the job ends or people move on, you rarely stay in contact. That is okay. When you do re connect, it is nice and true friends pick up where they left off.

3. We are principled people: At least for others. We often live our lives by a different set of principles than what we expect out of other people. We hold others to higher standards than we hold ourselves because, well, we have "reasons" for what we do, they have "excuses".

4. People tend to help others: And usually don't like it or do it expecting something in the future. I think it is only human nature, but I believe that the ultimate way to live your life is to give it all way and never expect anything in return.

5. Words are easy to say: But harder to live by. And maybe even easier to type.

6. Hard work: Doesn't guarantee success, but you won't be successful without it.

7. Mental toughness: is everything.

8. Have high expectations: and expect to be held to a higher standard. People will critisize and become angrier at you due to what you stand for. Often times for reasons that have nothing to do with you.

9. Accountability: is wanted by few people...again with the "reasons" vs. "excuses".

10. We often treat those closest to us: the worst. We let down our walls and fake selves and expect those we love the most to cater to us. When having a bad day with strangers, don't take it out on those who really love you.

11. Proper perspective: is often lost due to our own selfishness. Throw in our emotions that we can't control....and you can forget it.

12. Experience: is the greatest teacher, but we are so busy wanting to have fun that we often forget to "experience" the moment. Then due to our selfishness we don't learn anything.

13. Next: We often don't experience or learn because when in the moment, we are wondering how we can have something better, bigger, more expensive in the future. We don't appreciate what we have now.

14. We are quick: to be experts on many things that we have, at best, minimal experience or knowledge of.

15. Your legacy: will be forgotten in 3 generations or less. What you did will be forgotten, how you did it will remain in your children who you can hope will pass it on to their children. Three generations later, they won't remember who started how they live, but they will live in a certain way....and probably not even know there is another way.

16. Find a supportive spouse: They can make or break you in anything you do. They can make you miserable or happy every single day. I have the best coaches wife in the world. If she isn't, there are only those who can be equal to her.

Want to Feel Small?

2011-12-22T14:54:00.000-05:00

If you think you are a big deal, check out this video by Francis Chan. It is called the Awe Factor of God. It starts with you/us at earth level and keeps pulling back further and further until you can understand how small and insignificant we are....and yet we are all specially created.

You can youtube Francis Chan's sermons, but if you want to read a couple of good books, check out Crazy Love or Forgotten God.

Only 5 More Days Until Christmas Day

2011-12-20T12:58:00.000-05:00

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Luke 2:14

Are They Getting It?

2011-12-20T08:40:00.000-05:00

One thing each year that I struggle with is getting our players to understand what we are trying to do. You would think after 7 years as a head coach and doing the drills we do every day for 4 years that they would get "it". No matter what we do during the summer or how often we work on things, they have to get "it" during games once the season begins.

The easiest thing that players do, and really what we all do in life, is to rely or fall back on what you know. To rely on that which makes you comfortable. No matter how successful or not it makes you, you still do it because it is easy.

Last night, I attended a high school basketball game in Louisville, KY. The game starts and one of the people I was sitting by made a comment about 3 minutes into the game. One team had raced to a huge lead and the team behind called timeout. This gentleman said "wow, that team is just getting out coached". Now, that kind of thing doesn't sit too well with me especially when I am tired. I told him that it wasn't coaching that one team came out hitting shots and the other did not. His comment was "they are shooting too many 3's" (the team behind). My response...I am sure he didn't tell them to shoot and miss them and I bet that is what the timeout is about.

The teams come back out on the court and wouldn't you know....the team that was behind came back causing the team who once was ahead to now be behind. Timeout....and of course behing who I am, I then said...."I guess the coaching got better after his timeout". The gentleman smiled.

To me this story shows if the guys on any team get "it". What is "it"? It is what the coaching staff is trying to convey to the individuals and team overall. It is trying to fight against everything that is out there going against what the individual and team needs according to the coach.

I sat with Mike Burris, head coach at Olney Junior College, and we talked about that in depth. Him being a JUCO coach, he has his players for two years and their mentality is farther along than my guys, but having them for two years it is hard to teach a "system". That's another word I love; system.

What is a system? Here is my system: 1. get kids to play hard and compete. 2. get my best offensive players in a position to take great shots, and 3. come up with some way to make it hard for the other team to get great shots. That's it.

Maybe that is why my guys take so long to get it. Maybe they actually get it much better than I comprehend because often others have a higher opinion on our team than I do and vice versa. Call it the "competitor" in us as coaches, always looking for ways to make our teams better. But this weekend was the first time this season that I felt like our guys were getting it on the offensive end. If we can maintain that and then start getting it defensively, we should improve greatly as the season progresses.

Lasting Effects

2011-12-19T14:05:00.000-05:00

Many times coaches are praised or critisized about their ability or inability to motivate basketball players. Sometimes it may be a fair assessment, but I have found that the only motivation that has lasting effects is self-motivation. No other motivation lasts very long. I was asked recently before a game by a radio guy if last year's loss to a certain team would have any positive effects on our guys. I told him that I believe that if I used that kind of thing that it would be fake motivation. It is a kind of motivation that gets a kid up during pre game and at the jump ball. Two minutes into the game....all that hype is gone and you are playing the game.

Self motivation...it's that thing that gets you up and gets you back to work every day whether the day is sunny or overcast. I read recently in Hebrews chapter 12 about endurance and I thought it was insightful about how you are individually in life. In a nutshell: The key to persistence is passion. The key to passion is purpose. The key to purpose is perspective. With proper perspective you will define your purpose. Once you have that purpose it will be something that you will be passionate about. Once you have that passion, you will become persistent. Passion is the key to persistence!

Christian Music is Boring

2011-12-19T12:49:00.000-05:00

If you think that Christian music is boring, check out this latest single from Switchfoot; Dark Horses.

Movie: It's a Wonderful Life

2011-12-16T12:51:00.000-05:00

During my more formative years (early 20's) was the first time that I watched this movie, It's a Wonderful Life all the way through. I had seen parts when I was younger as it was on about 30 times or more per Christmas season, but I had never sat down and watched it from the beginning to the end.

It is a pretty long movie in comparison to today's movies, but it takes a while for the story to unfold. If you can stick with the first half of the film, the second half is moving. A traditional Christmas movie that shows George Bailey, the main character, what life would be like without him. At the point that an angel comes down from heaven to show him, he has decided through a set of negative events that maybe he his worth more dead than alive.

By the end of the movie and the final scene, if you are invested in this movie, you will be moved. It is interesting because many of us, if not most, have those feelings of what am I doing here? Why am I here? Am I doing anything to make a difference? I wonder would it be like if you could see the world without you ever having been born. My guess is that each of you reading this has done many things that if it weren't for you negative things would have occurred to individuals that you stepped in to help.

That help may not be a huge, hit over the head incident, it may just be a small word of encouragment that you gave and didn't think any more of but that person was motivated to do more. It may not have been your words and just the way you live your life. When you feel that you aren't doing anything to help or to make a difference, we could always do more, but I bet you have done more than you realize.

Interesting Video I Came Across

2011-12-15T13:48:00.000-05:00

A student here at school told me about this video that was shown at his youth group. I watched it and decided that it was something I would show at FCA in the morning. It is a pretty powerful video. The song is "Everything" by the group Lifehouse.

Lifehouse; Everything skit.

What Christmas is All About

2011-12-15T10:03:00.001-05:00

Ah, memories from childhood. Charlie Brown's Christmas cartoon...we watch it every year.

Sanctus Real: Lead Me

2011-12-14T12:51:00.001-05:00

Husbands and Fathers, we are called to be men. We are called to be loving husbands and fathers even when it is not easy to do.

Just Because

2011-12-11T16:58:00.000-05:00

I am an Indiana University basketball fan. I have been for a long time and recently IU has been immersed in its probably worst times in history. Coach Tom Crean was hired and it has taken a long time to get the program back, but I believe he is doing it. Yesterday, they defeated #1 ranked University of Kentucky at home....when IU's Christian Watford hit that last second "3" to win the game at the buzzer, it reminded me of when I was a little kid.

Tomorrow, at school, I will be wearing my IU red; as I have every once in awhile throughout the last 3 years. Go IU!

IU Beats #1 UK on a last second 3!

It's a Family Affair

2011-12-09T09:38:00.000-05:00

Coaching and having a team is very much like having a family. In all of the good and bad ways. You know that they are going through similar situations, you know they care about you (most of the time), you know there is someone that you don't get along with that well, but you do it for the good of the family, there are arguments, there is hurt, there is laughing and spending time together.

Something that has changed in me through the years coaching is what goes on at practice and at games. It really bothered me for people to shoot around or talk while we were practicing, now it doesn't. Don't get me wrong, when I talk I want it quiet, but our jr. high managers shooting doesn't bother me. Having my children or any other children at practice doesn't bother me. To be honest, sometimes I get frustrated because my children can't read my mind, but I enjoy them being around.

At our games at home or away you can find my family hard at work besides me and the players. My daughter cheers with the high school cheerleaders at home games, but on the road, she is usually the only one...cheering....by herself....with all her might in her cheerleader outfit. My son has become a little manager. It is good for our guys to be around him because his love for them is 100% and not fake, false and not based on anything other than they play basketball and they pay attention to him. You can find him out on the court while the players are warming up dribbling a basketball. Finally, my wife keeps the book, and does a very good job at it.

Some people wonder if it is good that they are so involved because, well, it can be a mean vocation that I have chosen and it puts my family in positions to have to hear or deal with that ferocity. I, however, wouldn't want it any other way. When I decide to hang it up, if by my choice, one of the things that will delay my decision is knowing my children will not have the opportunities to do what they do now. Even if I assist some day, it doesn't mean that the head coach will have the same ideas about family that I do.

My wife and I have treated our players, past and present, as family members. We have cared about them, helped them, and hopefully influenced them (my wife does a lot!). But having my own children involved is rewarding far beyond what I thought it could be.

Every Year It's Something

2011-12-05T10:44:00.000-05:00

I don't know why, call it the optimist in me, but every year, I go into a season thinking everything will move easily not dealing with any problems. I don't know why I would think that because basketball does a great job of mirroring real life and real life is often full of bumps and road blocks.

We sit now in a situation that is tough. After having won an early season tournament, on the road, we have for some reason lost our way. We have gotten away from what we did to be successful this summer and in that one day.

There is so much psychology that goes into coaching today and you hope you can find the right buttons to push to get the guys to be successful. We definitely try many things to make every kid successful by putting them in different situations to be successful, but you struggle with some of them to find that niche.

Things that need to happen, we need to stop making so many turnovers. We need to hit the offensive boards more, and we need to make it harder for teams to score. One thing that can get you a shot is to hit the offensive boards. I have never told anyone to pass out of an offensive rebound, ever. A player who gets those can shoot it 100% of the time. We need to be able to score as a team and individually, but we need to take pride in both team and individual defense. We need to want to dominate on both ends of the floor. And possession of the ball needs to be treasured whether the possession lasts 2 seconds or 30 seconds.

We have only played 5 games and have a long way to go. And if we are playing similarly in January as now, we as a coaching staff (I will take all responsibility) isn't doing its job. You put your hands to the plow and you finish the row...that's what we will do.

It's Not Their Fault

2011-12-02T11:36:00.000-05:00

(kids at 5 and 2, love this picture)

My kids are 7 and 3 1/2 and on most days they want to act their ages (imagine that). Most days I can take it, but still does aggravate me at times. Why? Because I spend a full day at school with other people's children and often don't get home until late because of it (I choose to do this, not asking for a pity party). When I get home the last thing I want to be is the mean disciplinarian dad. I want to laugh, talk and have some peace and quiet when I get home for the short time before they go to bed.

Why doesn't it happen that way? My expectations for my own children and their behavior is horribly unattainable for them. Most days, I can tolerate how they act (mornings are way worse), but some days I cannot take it. I end up taking out my day's frustrations on my wife and children. It's not their fault, yet they get the brunt of my frustration.

Maybe if I were more consistent the kids wouldn't be confused, but I probably let them get away with too much most nights just to maintain some peace. If I were more consistent (often too tired, but it's not an excuse) maybe they wouldn't act certain ways. It has to cause confusion for them. The best thing about feeling inadequate is that with a huge ego that I have, it passes in a day or two...or three.

A group of us started a Bible study on Sunday nights and we talked about our relationships with our fathers, past and present. The point was brought up that we have issues, we all have issues and that we are passing some of our "stuff" onto our own children. What we have to do is pass as little negative as possible onto them, and some days I wonder if that's occurring.

Letdown....For Sure

2011-12-01T11:43:00.001-05:00

We preached in the locker room after our win on Saturday that the next Tuesday could potentially be a let down game...and it was. In many ways. From our mental prep, to our execution, to the finished product.

We will get back to work as we have 16 regular season games left. Let's hope this is a bump in the road that steers us in the correct direction.

Winning a Championship....What Does it Mean?

2011-11-27T00:55:00.001-05:00

Recently we won the Springs Valley Tip Off tourney at SVHS. Great tourney run by class individuals at SVHS. Not only that, but the other teams there have class coaches who seem to be doing it, coaching, for the right reasons. We have played there two years in a row and played in the championship game both years. This year we defeated the host team and the players did a great job of doing what we wanted done. Many of the guys did things that were needed for us to win from scoring to timely defense and rebounding, it truly was a team win.

Jim Matthews, former coach at New Washington and Madison high schools and winner of over 400 basketball games often said that winning a championship reinforces what you are doing. I can agree with that, but it is amazing to watch kids go out and do something that hasn't been done all too often where I coach. It is 100% about what they accomplished, they made the plays, they showed the toughness. Hopefully, we put them in positions to be successful and when you win a championship it helps to answer some of those questions. Especially questions by you, maybe the players and definitely members of the community.

It is nice to win something this early in the year, but it is also more important that we stay focused. It is a long season and winning a championship now is nice, but it will be even nicer at the end of the season. We are in a nice place now, but we are only as good as our next game which is Tuesday. We have a lot to work on and I can't wait to get into the gym to work on those things. Enjoy this for tonight and tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday it is back to work for the rest of the season.

First Games are Good for Many Things...Not So Much for Other Things

2011-11-23T07:10:00.000-05:00

Every year when we play our first game of the year, we have had 13 practices to prepare. It is actually a disservice to the fans and players for this to occur, but the IHSAA changed the start date for practice a few years back to put football schools on the same start date as non football schools. What you get, often, is not very good basketball until mid December. With us, we start the year off against a bigger school, more athletic team who usually gets into us defensively. Some say that we don't have to play that first Tuesday of the year, but it has become a Thanksgiving tradition and there is a lot of hype heading into it...good or bad that's how it is. Also, we could have two a days, but I would rather our guys sleep in and come to practice fresh and ready to go than to practice at 6 AM, go to school, then practice after school.

No matter how much you work on anything when that game comes around it gets simplified greatly. You hope that the shellshock of playing in front of 2400 people doesn't rear its ugly head and you hope you can get something going on offense other than one or two guys doing most of the movement (the noise level is so loud that they often can't hear me, but they need to be able to do things on their own, it comes just rarely after 13 practices). Last night was no different.

Probably the hardest thing as a coach (and trust me...there are many) is that many people don't understand what's happening sometimes, mostly because they are not at practice. They very well could have great basketball knowledge, but if they don't know what the staff is trying to get accomplished, they can be confused. I have had a couple of people through the years come to practice and have a different appreciation for what we try to do after actually being at a practice (we have one open practice per year). Believe it or not what happens on the court is not always what the coaches want done, but that is expected from kids, it is something I have come to accept as a coach.

I can handle the criticisms, as I have gotten older and more experienced, it bothers me less (it would be like me showing up to a job and critiquing without really knowing what was going on, I have critisized basketball coaches in the past until I fully understand what they are trying to do) The problem is that criticisms get generated at kids sometimes intentionally, often not. What we have to deal with as coaches is many things. We have to get 7-9 guys to buy into what we are doing reinforcing that about two hours a day. Meanwhile they are attending school, going home, and spending time on social network sites/message boards and we can only hope that positive reinforcment is going on there too (anonymous message boards are horrible at least with facebook the opinion is associated with a name).

Last night I was concerned about a few things. Our free throw shooting. We were 17-31, we hit more at key times and the game is closer. We have worked on free throws many times and we even do a drill that I call "competitive FTs". Players pair up and both "teams" shoot 20 free throws. The other team tries to get into their heads by talking to them, waving their hands, etc. This allows for our guys to shoot with pressure individually, but also by being part of a "team". Our shot selection. Not only some of the shots we took (I am going to let our best players shoot hopefully fewer and fewer bad shots as the year goes on, but they have to feel comfortable shooting, call that wrong, I am ok with it), but our not being able to get some flow on offense, again 13 practices, but I really thought any of our guards could drive their guards at any time and that allowed for more one on one action from all of our guards. Our shot selection part 2. Not getting the ball to open guys when they were open and not working smarter to get open all things we will emphasize in the next few practices.

Things I saw positive were many. We competed. We didn't turn the ball over many times against full court man to man. We got to the free throw line 31 times. We rebounded well (lost some key defensive rebounds though...has to be all the time), and we had a group of guys, at least superficially who were cheering and supporting each other. Hopefully that stays the same as we get positively reinforced.

We have worked on these things many times in the previous 13 practices and will continue to do so. At some point what we are trying to convey has got to get through to the players. We look at stats and watch tape so they can see what we are talking about and have a better appreciation for what we are doing. I don't get too worked up by what happens or doesn't happen after Game #1 because we find out a lot more to work on from that game than we do any given day of practice.

I Love My Children, But....

2011-11-22T10:37:00.000-05:00

I spoke recently to someone about our roles as fathers, teachers, coaches, husbands, mentors, counselors, etc...and probably the biggest fear we have is not being good enough dads. His quote "I am just worn out by the time I get home and my kids are good, I just don't want to deal with them being 6 and 3". I understand exactly what he is saying.

Our jobs (I am talking about men right now, I understand that women deal with some of the same issues) keep us from being home especially in the winter. When we get home the last thing I want to do is deal with a spoiled rotten kid. We see so many negatives during the day from "bad" kids to kids who are spoiled and do "bad" things. When I get home the last thing I want is to see any of the same type of behavior in my own children. So what I end up doing in the 2 hours I have for them in the day is punishing them....or not.

If I punish them I am afraid that I will be reinforced as angry, mean daddy who punishes us all the time. If I let them get away with stuff then I become the father that allows their children to be spoiled. To be real honest, I don't mind too many things unless my wife gets upset over their behavior (she teaches and deals with the same issues I do) or they throw an absolute fit.

I have always made them my top priority and I rarely take anything from work home. From grading to basketball, it gets done at school so when I get home I am able to mess with the kiddos and then get some decent sleep...or watch game tapes. But as hard as I try, I sometimes wonder if it is crazy for me to want to put them up for adoption (purely a joke, I would never do that).

It is amazing how much you can love someone and yet get so frustrated and yet never want them to be gone. They are the greatest love I have ever had. Nobody's hugs, kisses, or attention is the same. One day....one day they will be grown and gone and I will wish for this time back. One day they will be gone and I will long for this time. One day they will be gone and I will feel guilty for not having read to them that one time I was tired, guilt for not listening to that story one more time, guilt for not dancing with them in the living room, guilt for not lying down with them when they are going to bed, guilt for not doing many of these things that one time when I could have and now I have them no longer.

The Words We Use

2011-11-22T08:50:00.000-05:00

I have read often about motivation, what can I do to motivate someone whether it be a basketball player or a person? Even myself...what words can I use or say to motivate myself? I have found that words are powerful. When coaching the words you use can pump a kid up or break them down (sometimes they both are necessary). The words you use can leave an indelible mark on someone when you don't even realize it and I think that is why we need to be careful and think about this. We need to make a concentrated effort because we not only are tearing a kid up, but we offend others when we don't even realize it.

With the advent of social network sites, now the written word can have as much motivation as the spoken word. I know I have been questioned about what I have written about in the past, and I am fine with that. A little accountability is nice and you can rest assure if I have written or spoken it, I have thought about it...a little. It is amazing to me how many people personalize what I write about. Not everything I write about is over an issue with myself. Often it is, but many times it is over issues other people are dealing with and that I can relate to.

However, I am starting to understand in a little more depth the words I use in any forum and how they affect others. It is good because I often feel that I am being held to a higher standard for what I say or write than what others are, but that is an incorrect way of looking at things. I should only be looking from an individual perspective. What am I saying or writing and should I be doing it? Am I not being clear enough in what I say and write? And should I care about some of the words I use as I am writing to be honest. Obviously I am not intentionally trying to hurt anyone as I am sure many times when I hear what has been said about me....they aren't intentionally trying to hurt me or even wanting me to hear about it, but it happens.

Yes, other coaches have said derogatory things about me and my program, about me and my town, and that may upset me at times, but it has never caused me to forget that we all make mistakes. It hasn't caused me to forget that I have said things I shouldn't have in the past (I am trying to be better). Yes, other coaches have called me out on my behavior, and I think in the past I was angered by it, but now I understand that it isn't about the person pointing out the flaw, but it is the flaw...in myself.

Do I feel like I am being held to a higher standard sometimes, sure, but when I clear my head and understand that the standard is what everyone should be held to, it makes more sense. I don't mind accountability....I do not want to be at worst a hypocrite, at least someone not trying to put his words and actions in line.

The worst thing I think we can do is point and say "you know, I may be wrong, but I am not as bad as that person". We are too often focused on the actions of others when we should be focusing on the actions of ourselves. I realize that I am not perfect, don't claim to be, but I am trying to improve. I have made mistakes in the past, making them right now, (I am sure someone will think this blog entry is about them, it isn't, it's about me), and I can guarantee you that I will make them in the future. Not because I am vindictive, but because I am a human being. I can only hope those I offend will try to forgive as hard as I do.

Scrimmage with South Decatur

2011-11-19T21:53:00.000-05:00

In Indiana, we are allowed to have a scrimmage before we play which is essentially a practice vs. another team. We started with New Washington HS, but they are in our conference and were in our sectional, so it seemed silly to scrimmage them. So we ventured to Decatur county and have scrimmaged South Decatur HS for the last 5 years, I think.

They are a small school, yet have football, so we get to see a physical and usually quick team before we play our first game of the year. It's been good for us and a good thing to get our feet wet before the actual games begin. With scrimmages, however, each year, I plan on sitting and watching. I want our guys to see for themselves what they are doing right and wrong, but the competitive juices in me get going and I cannot stand to sit and watch some of the stuff we do....every year, this year was no exception.

Many of the negatives that we saw today, were things the coaching staff has been talking about for two weeks in practice and we have seen some progress on some days of practice. But there are many things that kids won't believe until they actually play a game....and that's what the scrimmage is for. Along with the negatives, you also get to see some positives. As coaches, I think, we tend to see more negatives than positives, but they are there. We had a couple of kids play pretty well for a long time and some that were on roller coasters....it happens especially early.

We talked after the practice with SD that we wanted Henryville basketball to be known for a lot of things, but the first two things that comes to mind is that we play hard and will compete. You would think those things are givens, but they aren't. To do so, you have to get out of your comfort zone sometimes. To do so, you have to be aware of what is going on and where you are supposed to be all the time. It takes time, too much it seems sometimes, but it happens.

We have pretty high expectations for ourselves each year, the players and the coaches but they are far from unattainable. So much comes down to getting on the same page, playing through adversity and having each others backs whether on offense or defense. Selfishness is a tough thing to overcome and it can show from taking bad shots (which is what everybody notices) to not helping on defense which we believe may be worse. That "selfishness" comes from being comfortable on the court, it comes from being tired sometimes physically but definitely mentally and still helping each other out.

We open up in three days at home vs. our larger school rival and it will help us no matter the result for the reason of the season.

Butterflies

2011-11-18T10:26:00.000-05:00

Butterflies....we've all experienced that nervous tingling in your stomach that we call butterflies. I know I did when I played, in fact, it was something that I had to come to grips as a real young child. I felt that nervousness and didn't know what it was and I didn't like it. In fact, it probably kept me from competing in some things until I realized what it was that I was feeling.

Butterflies are that nervous feeling before you do anything that you aren't used to or that you feel when you are about to compete. I kinda feel that you aren't a true competitor if you don't have those feelings of getting ready to compete. If you don't have them it is usually for a bad reason (like you know you are going to get it handed to you, but I still got them even then because there was always that hope that we wouldn't).

When I played, I would have them in pre game warmups. All the way through when the first pitch or the jump ball went up....gone. I think it's great if you have them because you are ready to go out and compete and hopefully win. You might have them for another reason and it is because you don't think you are ready, but that hasn't been the case for me personally. I know we aren't always completely ready for games because of turn around or because we coach kids and they aren't getting our game plan the way we want them to, but we do prepare. Our kids should at least feel comfortable in knowing that the coaching staff has worked hard to do that...prepare them and allow them to use those butterflies in a competitive way.

For me, the butterflies start around June basketball, dissipates some until conditioning and stay until March and the tournament ends. It's because I want us ready to compete every single game. That's why when March comes around you will see a huge smile on my face and on spring break, I want to go have some fun. Because not only are there butterflies with me, but I put so much pressure on myself to prepare our kids...to take pride in what we do....to prepare that when the season ends the butterflies go away.

At least until June basketball starts.

Good Assistant Coaches

2011-11-17T08:23:00.001-05:00

(Borden HS J.V. Coach 1998-99 season)

One day...one day, I will be an assistant coach again. I was an assistant coach before I became a head coach and I have had head coaches telling me there is no way they could be an assistant again. I say...I can't wait. To be able to coach and not have to deal with kids attitudes, parents, buying travel suites, shoes, rumors of what your kids are doing, people bad mouthing me in front of my children....sure, it will be real tough not to deal with (pure sarcasm there). I don't know when that day will happen, but it will some day. It will be some day when I am worn out from the daily struggles and can be the guy who listens instead of who has to make decisions and then stands by them.

I know when I was an assistant, I wasn't always the best one. I had a goal to be a head coach and being young and stupid, I felt like what I wanted to do was better than anybody I worked for...I mean, they all had an accumulation of about 100 years of coaching and probably 600 wins, but I often thought I knew better (not very bright was I). However, there was one thing, I felt I did even being young, dumb, and inexperienced was that I didn't bad mouth my head coach to people in the community or to the players. There were times I was completely against what was being done or said, and I would vent to other assistants or to my wife, or mentors, but never to people that a spark would create an inferno. And as mentors do, they often told me to get with the program or get out. Of course, that was useless help because it wasn't what I wanted to hear.

You sometimes are put into a tough position as an assistant coach because you are a leader too, but you are still not in charge. You want to take the reins, yet you can't, you have all the right answers to each decision (It is way different actually making decisions, advising is waaaaay easier I have found). You have two choices, learn and support that which you don't always believe in or....resign. I guess the head coach could fire you, but if it comes to that point it must be a hugely toxic situation and won't end pretty for anybody involved. Of course, I am talking about my own experiences especially at a smaller school and maybe you have seen this, been this, or dealt with this.

(NW HS 9th grade coach 1995-1997

But some day...some day, I will be an assistant again. And it will probably be when I do not want to be the head coach, so I will be the best kind of assistant. The kind that supports the head coach completely (I will get to pick where I assist), the kind that listens to complaints but will ultimately support the head coach (not defending and just listening gives the idea you might agree), the kind who will work hard for the head coach but leave the headaches at the gym (even if there are headaches, I will be a good listener, but ultimately it won't rest on my shoulders), and the kind who will want the head coach and program to be successful with zero acknowledgement that I had anything to do with it.

(As a head coach at HHS less hair everywhere)

I think as a head coach having assistant coaches is one of the harder things to deal with and not in a personality conflict way, but how to use them in practice and games. I have tried and tried to involve them, but often feel that they are independent and should be able to "see" what needs to be done. I don't do a good enough job communicating with them, I think. I have tried to be better, but know that I fail often. I struggle with getting input during the season and then going away from what I want to do. I have found that when I start to feel that it isn't comfortable to me, I have to go back to what I believe in...my fundamentals. I have had great assistants who fit all the criteria I have posted above, and only hope they know how much I appreciate them.

Six Powerful Influences You Must Guard in Your Children's Lives

2011-11-16T10:52:00.000-05:00

From the book The Resolution for Men are six influences on our children that we must guard against as parents.

1. Their friends. Peer pressure is a powerful thing and our children will become who they hang with. Be wise to what the friends of your children do and who they are and know their parents. Never assume that your child doesn't need your help or guidance. Communicate with them and let them know you love them.

2. Their education. The worldview of your child's teacher can sometimes become their worldview. Make sure you know your child's teachers and have discussions with your children about school and the things they discuss in class.

3. Their music. Teach them to discern the messages in music and to understand that the messages can be bought in to subliminally. Help guide them into music that has a better message with the same type styles that they like.

4. Movies/ TV. These are considered today's top influences in culture. They are increasingly influential in how our children thinks and interpret reality. Make sure you know what they are watching and sit down and watch a show or two with them.

5. Internet. Pornography, pedophiles in chat rooms and numerous sites including social networks are more accessible to this generation than to any previous generation. Make sure you monitor what sites they are on, have their passwords and understand that they are always a few steps ahead of us in dealing with technology.

6. Video games. Make sure you know what type of video games are being played and also monitor how much time they are playing them. Today our children can go online and play video games and communicate in real time with many people who do not have the same values as you, make sure to monitor this.

You can expect each of these to be a battle ground when dealing with your children. But it is highly important that we protect our children until they are adults and even longer if need be. Being a parent isn't a part time job, an easy job, or one in which frustration allows you to give up. The decisions you make now for your children will not just affect them, but their children and possibly further. Stay strong and fight for your children.

Anger

2011-11-15T10:36:00.002-05:00

Recently, I have dealt with a few situations of anger, some by me and some by others surrounding me and it got me to thinking about where it comes from. Why do we get that feeling and I came up with a list of reasons that may or may not pertain to you, but has everything to do with how I feel and react.

A lack of an open mind is one reason we get angry. I am not saying that you have to believe what everyone else does around you, in fact, if you disagree it shows that you are an independent thinker. What I believe helps in relieving anger is to at least be open to the fact that some thought has gone into the other person's beliefs. Again, you can continue to think they are incorrect, but understand that many people don't have knee jerk beliefs.

Being defensive is another reason. Due to our lack of confidence in ourselves or our beliefs, we get angry because it helps us keep people at arms length. If we do that, they cannot understand that we don't really know anything about what we claim to be highly intelligent about. Plus, I think it gets combined with my next point. But overall we get too defensive I think because of our self centeredness (is that actually a word?)

Feelings of inferiority or being treated unfairly. Definitely good reasons because even though it might not be true, you may not be inferior and you may not be being treated unfairly, but often perception is truth. "If I perceive it to be this way, then it is that way and I don't like it!" The only way to not be angered in this situation is to understand that the issue isn't about you, but about the person doing these things to you. But we often feel that we need it to be known, publicized, so we can clear up the issue or feel better about ourselves.

Jealousy...how often have I gotten mad throughout my life because of this! I am angry because this person got something that I didn't "it's not fair" (my own children say this too many times). The only way to understand this is to understand when you are worrying about something you can't control (which is essentially the root of all anger) and try to control yourself. I have tried for myself and for my own children to get them to not worry if little Johnny was doing the same thing and didn't get the same punishment. I have tried to forget blaming others for things they do or don't do and understand I can only control my reaction to them. It isn't easy....at all.

We are spoiled. We are not used to not getting our way. We are not used to people bending or changing for us because it is convenient for me. It might not be easy, convenient or anything else for anybody but me, but this is how it should be and if it isn't, I am upset about it. We need to realize that many factors go into any decision a leader makes. I often think about some of the decisions my administrators make and question them, then I understand that 1. I don't want their job, and 2. I can't understand every aspect of their job.

Selfishness....see all of the above. Plus, we too often make any given situation about ourselves. There are rarely times as a coach that I have sat and thought for no good reason that I am going to make a situation unfair on a player. It just doesn't enter my mind. However, perception often equals reality and we have to be aware that we could be conveying that by our actions. Many times it comes down to me as a coach to be open minded and to not be selfish because the "my way or the highway" menatlity isn't always needed.

But ultimately it all derives from some sort of frustration. We can't control another person's thoughts or beliefs. We can't control a given situation because we are not in charge and it's not how we would do things. Control, control, control...many of us especially leaders have control issues. We have to learn to let go, we have to learn to listen, we have to learn to be empathetic, we have to learn there are many different ways to get to a conclusion or to solve a problem.

These are my ideas and I could be way off on some of these and probably missed a few other reasons, but I think this gets to the root of it. I think a lack of communication also creates anger. As a coach, I am not above changing or manipulating practice if a large group of our players want or need to do something else, especially on Saturdays or holidays.

I have found that when I am angry it is often for no good reason. It is because I have control issues. It is because situations are not going as I believe they should. It is in those times that I try, let me reiterate that, I try to remember I can't control everything or everybody. And often I don't want to be in a situation to actually do that as when you do make decisions and have control, somebody is upset no matter the decision that is made.

Jay Bilas on "Toughness"

2011-11-11T11:30:00.000-05:00

The following comes from former Duke player and current ESPN journalist Jay Bilas. It actually ran sometime in the last couple of years I believe and it has been circulated around quite a bit. It is definitely worth reading.

I have heard the word "toughness" thrown around a lot lately. Reporters on television, radio and in print have opined about a team or player's "toughness" or quoted a coach talking about his team having to be "tougher" to win.

Then, in almost coordinated fashion, I would watch games and see player upon player thumping his chest after a routine play, angrily taunting an opponent after a blocked shot, getting into a shouting match with an opposing player, or squaring up nose-to-nose as if a fight might ensue. I see players jawing at each other, trying to "intimidate" other players. What a waste of time. That is nothing more than fake toughness, and it has no real value.

I often wonder: Do people really understand what coaches and experienced players mean when they emphasize "toughness" in basketball? Or is it just some buzzword that is thrown around haphazardly without clear definition or understanding? I thought it was the latter, and wrote a short blog item about it a couple of weeks ago.

The response I received was overwhelming. Dozens of college basketball coaches called to tell me that they had put the article up in the locker room, put it in each player's locker, or had gone over it in detail with their teams.

Memphis coach John Calipari called to say that he had his players post the definition of toughness over their beds because he believed that true "toughness" was the one thing that his team needed to develop to reach its potential. I received messages from high school coaches who wanted to relay the definition of toughness to their players and wanted to talk about it further.

Well, I got the message that I should expound upon what I consider toughness to be. It may not be what you think.

Toughness is something I had to learn the hard way, and something I had no real idea of until I played college basketball. When I played my first game in college, I thought that toughness was physical and based on how much punishment I could dish out and how much I could take. I thought I was tough.

I found out pretty quickly that I wasn't, but I toughened up over time, and I got a pretty good understanding of toughness through playing in the ACC, for USA Basketball, in NBA training camps, and as a professional basketball player in Europe. I left my playing career a heck of a lot tougher than I started it, and my only regret is that I didn't truly "get it" much earlier in my playing career.

When I faced a tough opponent, I wasn't worried that I would get hit -- I was concerned that I would get sealed on ball reversal by a tough post man, or that I would get boxed out on every play, or that my assignment would sprint the floor on every possession and get something easy on me. The toughest guys I had to guard were the ones who made it tough on me.

Toughness has nothing to do with size, physical strength or athleticism. Some players may be born tough, but I believe that toughness is a skill, and it is a skill that can be developed and improved. Michigan State coach Tom Izzo always says, "Players play, but tough players win." He is right. Here are some of the ways true toughness is exhibited in basketball:

Set a good screen: The toughest players to guard are the players who set good screens. When you set a good screen, you are improving the chances for a teammate to get open, and you are greatly improving your chances of getting open. A good screen can force the defense to make a mistake. A lazy or bad screen is a waste of everyone's time and energy. To be a tough player, you need to be a "screener/scorer," a player who screens hard and immediately looks for an opportunity on offense. On the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team, Bob Knight made Michael Jordan set a screen before he could get a shot. If it is good enough for Jordan, arguably the toughest player ever, it is good enough for you.

Set up your cut: The toughest players make hard cuts, and set up their cuts. Basketball is about deception. Take your defender one way, and then plant the foot opposite of the direction you want to go and cut hard. A hard cut may get you a basket, but it may also get a teammate a basket. If you do not make a hard cut, you will not get anyone open. Setting up your cut, making the proper read of the defense, and making a hard cut require alertness, good conditioning and good concentration. Davidson's Stephen Curry is hardly a physical muscle-man, but he is a tough player because he is in constant motion, he changes speeds, he sets up his cuts, and he cuts hard. Curry is hard to guard, and he is a tough player.

Talk on defense: The toughest players talk on defense, and communicate with their teammates. It is almost impossible to talk on defense and not be in a stance, down and ready, with a vision of man and ball. If you talk, you let your teammates know you are there, and make them and yourself better defenders. It also lets your opponent know that you are fully engaged.

Jump to the ball: When on defense, the tough defenders move as the ball moves. The toughest players move on the flight of the ball, not when it gets to its destination. And the toughest players jump to the ball and take away the ball side of the cut. Tough players don't let cutters cut across their face -- they make the cutter change his path.

Don't get screened: No coach can give a player the proper footwork to get through every screen. Tough players have a sense of urgency not to get screened and to get through screens so that the cutter cannot catch the ball where he wants to. A tough player makes the catch difficult.

Get your hands up: A pass discouraged is just as good as a pass denied. Tough players play with their hands up to take away vision, get deflections and to discourage a pass in order to allow a teammate to cover up. Cutters and post players will get open, if only for a count. If your hands are up, you can keep the passer from seeing a momentary opening.

Play the ball, see your man: Most defenders see the ball and hug their man, because they are afraid to get beat. A tough defender plays the ball and sees his man. There is a difference.

Get on the floor: In my first road game as a freshman, there was a loose ball that I thought I could pick up and take the other way for an easy one. While I was bending over at the waist, one of my opponents dived on the floor and got possession of the ball. My coach was livid. We lost possession of the ball because I wasn't tough enough to get on the floor for it. I tried like hell never to get out-toughed like that again.

Close out under control: It is too easy to fly at a shooter and think you are a tough defender. A tough defender closes out under control, takes away a straight line drive and takes away the shot. A tough player has a sense of urgency but has the discipline to do it the right way.

Post your man, not a spot: Most post players just blindly run to the low block and get into a shoving match for a spot on the floor. The toughest post players are posting their defensive man. A tough post player is always open, and working to get the ball to the proper angle to get a post feed. Tough post players seal on ball reversal and call for the ball, and they continue to post strong even if their teammates miss them.

Run the floor: Tough players sprint the floor, which drags the defense and opens up things for others. Tough players run hard and get "easy" baskets, even though there is nothing easy about them. Easy baskets are hard to get. Tough players don't take tough shots -- they work hard to make them easy.

Play so hard, your coach has to take you out: I was a really hard worker in high school and college. But I worked and trained exceptionally hard to make playing easier. I was wrong. I once read that Bob Knight had criticized a player of his by saying, "You just want to be comfortable out there!" Well, that was me, and when I read that, it clicked with me. I needed to work to increase my capacity for work, not to make it easier to play. I needed to work in order to be more productive in my time on the floor. Tough players play so hard that their coaches have to take them out to get rest so they can put them back in. The toughest players don't pace themselves.

Get to your teammate first: When your teammate lays his body on the line to dive on the floor or take a charge, the tough players get to him first to help him back up. If your teammate misses a free throw, tough players get to him right away. Tough players are also great teammates.

Take responsibility for your teammates: Tough players expect a lot from their teammates, but they also put them first. When the bus leaves at 9 a.m., tough players not only get themselves there, but they also make sure their teammates are up and get there, too. Tough players take responsibility for others in addition to themselves. They make sure their teammates eat first, and they give credit to their teammates before taking it themselves.

Take a charge: Tough players are in a stance, playing the ball, and alert in coming over from the weak side and taking a charge. Tough players understand the difference between being in the right spot and being in the right spot with the intention of stopping somebody. Some players will look puzzled and say, "But I was in the right spot." Tough players know that they have to get to the right spot with the sense of urgency to stop someone.

Get in a stance: Tough players don't play straight up and down and put themselves in the position of having to get ready to get ready. Tough players are down in a stance on both ends of the floor, with feet staggered and ready to move. Tough players are the aggressor, and the aggressor is in a stance.

Finish plays: Tough players don't just get fouled, they get fouled and complete the play. They don't give up on a play or assume that a teammate will do it. A tough player plays through to the end of the play and works to finish every play.

Work on your pass: A tough player doesn't have his passes deflected. A tough player gets down, pivots, pass-fakes, and works to get the proper angle to pass away from the defense and deliver the ball.

Throw yourself into your team's defense: A tough player fills his tank on the defensive end, not on offense. A tough player is not deterred by a missed shot. A tough player values his performance first by how well he defended.

Take and give criticism the right way: Tough players can take criticism without feeling the need to answer back or give excuses. They are open to getting better and expect to be challenged and hear tough things. You will never again in your life have the opportunity you have now at the college level: a coaching staff that is totally and completely dedicated to making you and your team better. Tough players listen and are not afraid to say what other teammates may not want to hear, but need to hear.

Show strength in your body language: Tough players project confidence and security with their body language. They do not hang their heads, do not react negatively to a mistake of a teammate, and do not whine and complain to officials. Tough players project strength, and do not cause their teammates to worry about them. Tough players do their jobs, and their body language communicates that to their teammates -- and to their opponents.

Catch and face: Teams that press and trap are banking on the receiver's falling apart and making a mistake. When pressed, tough players set up their cuts, cut hard to an open area and present themselves as a receiver to the passer. Tough players catch, face the defense, and make the right read and play, and they do it with poise. Tough players do not just catch and dribble; they catch and face.

Don't get split: If you trap, a tough player gets shoulder-to-shoulder with his teammate and does not allow the handler to split the trap and gain an advantage on the back side of the trap.

Be alert: Tough players are not "cool." Tough players are alert and active, and tough players communicate with teammates so that they are alert, too. Tough players echo commands until everyone is on the same page. They understand the best teams play five as one. Tough players are alert in transition and get back to protect the basket and the 3-point line. Tough players don't just run back to find their man, they run back to stop the ball and protect the basket.

Concentrate, and encourage your teammates to concentrate: Concentration is a skill, and tough players work hard to concentrate on every play. Tough players go as hard as they can for as long as they can.

It's not your shot; it's our shot: Tough players don't take bad shots, and they certainly don't worry about getting "my" shots. Tough players work for good shots and understand that it is not "my" shot, it is "our" shot. Tough players celebrate when "we" score.

Box out and go to the glass every time: Tough players are disciplined enough to lay a body on someone. They make first contact and go after the ball. And tough players do it on every possession, not just when they feel like it. They understand defense is not complete until they secure the ball.

Take responsibility for your actions: Tough players make no excuses. They take responsibility for their actions. Take James Johnson for example. With 17 seconds to go in Wake's game against Duke on Wednesday,Jon Scheyer missed a 3-pointer that bounced right to Johnson. But instead of aggressively pursuing the ball with a sense of urgency, Johnson stood there and waited for the ball to come to him. It never did. Scheyer grabbed it, called a timeout and the Blue Devils hit a game-tying shot on a possession they never should've had. Going after the loose ball is toughness -- and Johnson didn't show it on that play. But what happened next? He re-focused, slipped a screen for the winning basket, and after the game -- when he could've been basking only in the glow of victory -- manned up to the mistake that could've cost his team the win. "That was my responsibility -- I should have had that," Johnson said of the goof. No excuses. Shouldering the responsibility. That's toughness.

Look your coaches and teammates in the eye: Tough players never drop their heads. They always look coaches and teammates in the eye, because if they are talking, it is important to them and to you.

Move on to the next play: Tough players don't waste time celebrating a good play or lamenting a bad one. They understand that basketball is too fast a game to waste time and opportunities with celebratory gestures or angry reactions. Tough players move on to the next play. They know that the most important play in any game is the next one.

Be hard to play against, and easy to play with: Tough players make their teammates' jobs easier, and their opponents' jobs tougher.

Make every game important: Tough players don't categorize opponents and games. They know that if they are playing, it is important. Tough players understand that if they want to play in championship games, they must treat every game as a championship game.

Make getting better every day your goal: Tough players come to work every day to get better, and keep their horizons short. They meet victory and defeat the same way: They get up the next day and go to work to be better than they were the day before. Tough players hate losing but are not shaken or deterred by a loss. Tough players enjoy winning but are never satisfied. For tough players, a championship or a trophy is not a goal; it is a destination. The goal is to get better every day.

When I was playing, the players I respected most were not the best or most talented players. The players I respected most were the toughest players. I don't remember anything about the players who talked a good game or blocked a shot and acted like a fool. I remember the players who were tough to play against.

Anybody can talk. Not anybody can be tough.

Bellarmine at Xavier

2011-11-10T08:56:00.001-05:00

About 6 basketball players, my wife and two kids recently went to Cincinnati to watch the local Bellarmine Knights (out of Louisville, KY not far from here) who are the defending D2 National Champions and pre season #1 team in D2 take on the Xavier Musketeers in the Cintas Center.

Watching Bellarmine, who defeated Xavier last year in an exhibition, was fun. They are unselfish, intelligent, and disciplined. They are great kids with a great coaching staff. New Albany native Braydon Hobbs who has spent a lot of time in our area due to friends was outstanding that night.

If you like basketball, and you like it played the right way, get to a Bellarmine game sometime this season.

Tim Tebow: Through My Eyes

2011-11-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

I have always been one of those guys that if everybody else is into it, I am not. Michael Jackson jacket from the 80's? No thanks. Flip flops? Nope. You name it and it takes me a year or two or more to come around, well I have found myself to feel the same way with Tim Tebow.

I like college football, but I am not that into it. Tebow was someone who for four years was mentioned so much that I turned away from really paying attention to him, however, I have recently "drank the kool-aid" when it comes to him. Watching him do what he is attempting to do with the Denver Broncos is admirable, but I have learned more and more about how he leads his life.

I am almost finished with his book, Tim Tebow: Through My Eyes, and it is an easy, interesting read. To read about how his faith has helped him through life and keeps him going is a nice change. If you are looking for a good book on motivation and to read about his career while at the University of Florida...check it out, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Note to Self: Get in Better Shape Before Basketball Season Next Year

2011-11-09T08:20:00.000-05:00

Being a teacher is a spoiling vocation. When we can take two months off in the summer, it gets me out of so many habits like waking up and going to sleep at decent hours of the day. Also, I don't talk as much or as loudly. When school begins it seems that it is taking longer and longer to get my "teaching feet" under me. When I first started teaching I could do that in one week, now it takes, well let's just say it takes longer.

But about the time that I can finally handle the getting up early, the talking and the getting to bed at a decent hour along comes basketball. It is always a change because I am up at the school even longer and talking even more and many times much, much louder. It used to take a week to get my "coaching feet" under me, but this year I have noticed a huge difference in my energy level when I get home.

Monday was our first day of practice and I was flat wiped out tired that night, fell asleep very well with a slightly sore throat. I woke up Tuesday feeling much older than I actually am and a weaker voice, but ready to go for another day. Then Tuesday night I really hit the wall and my voice is much weaker today (Wednesday).

I have to remember to be in better shape next year, and it probably wouldn't hurt to do something right now to improve the way I feel. When I was an assistant I played more than I do as a head coach and it helped for me to stay in some sort of shape. Now, I want to watch what is going on and you can't do that as much by playing, so I watch....and get lazy....and lose motivation to be in better shape. This all sounds like such a horrible example to set to boys that I tell must work hard every day to be better.

Starting now, I will begin......trying to think.....about maybe......running/walking......every.......day.....maybe.

Stop and Think

2011-11-07T20:27:00.000-05:00

Last year we dealt with quite a few things off the court and it led to our inability to function as a successful team. We realized that we can't control everything they do off the court, but I felt we could try. I had seen these little cards that Coach Don Meyer gives out at every speaking engagement I have been at by him and I liked the message.

I thought it was so good and so important that I not only had my own notecards (with my home phone, my cell and my wife's cell phone numbers they can use in case of emergency) made but also a poster that we put up in the locker room. My assistant coach Chris McKain came up with the idea of signing the board. It does two things, we know that they have seen it for sure, and by signing will give them more accountability as by signing it and me putting it online shows their commitment to follow the words on the poster.

This does not guarantee that some of the same events that took place last year won't happen again, but it does show that the coaching staff is making a concerted effort to keep it from happening and helping our guys out by the constant reminder as they walk out of our locker room. Please feel free to help keep them accountable not just today, this season, but all the time.

"Rocky Top Will Always Be...."

2011-11-04T13:08:00.000-04:00

I went to a men's exhibition basketball game last night in Knoxville and the song Rocky Top....I have gone to a UT men's basketball game and a football game and they love that song. Over and over and over and over it is played.

It was Tennessee vs. Carson Newman. I went with Robby Speer the director of Sports Reach which is involved in sports ministry. Going with Robby allowed for me to use a media press pass. If you have never experienced it, it is unbelievable for a sports fan. They feed you, you get free stuff, and you get to sit close to the game.

It was interesting to watch the game so close. You get to see how big and quick some of these guys are as opposed to sitting higher on watching on t.v. However, I do believe that UT is going to struggle this year, but what do I know...? One of UT's players, however, went on a mission trip with Sports Reach this past May to China. Skyler McBee, what a wonderful young man. Robby went up to him and spoke before the game and introduced me and he was wonderful then I watch him as he shot around and many people came up to him to speak. He treated everyone with respect and as if they were his best friend putting smiles on everyone who encountered him.

If you get a chance, check out Sports Reach's website and consider giving to them, they are doing great work and can always use the help.

Are You Open to Change?

2011-11-02T08:31:00.000-04:00

Coaches are leaders, you have to be or you get ground under rather quickly by lots of different aspects of coaching. In being a leader, we are often too prideful, too arrogant, too whatever to change. I think at some point you need a "style" or way of playing and stick with it, but you must tinker with it year by year especially at the high school level.

If you coach college basketball, you can recruit players to fill your needs, your wants, your "style", but in high school we often can't do that. We survey what we have and try to make each individual and the team as successful as possible in that time, in that season.

With all that being said, I coach differently today than I did 20 years ago (yes, I have coached basketball for 20 years now), in fact, I coach differently than I did 7 years ago and even differently from last year. For me, I need honest reflection and then change or no change. Don't get me wrong, we will still do some of the same things that we have done in the past, but we will change some things too.

I feel that same way as a person. If I am the same person today that I was 20 years ago what a waste that time has been. But I change from year to year and month to month. I am trying to be a different person today than I was last March and for sure the previous March and I will fail and fall back ocassionally, I am sure, but I do want to be different, better. For you, you might not want to make the effort, you might think you are fine the way you are now. My question for you is "how is that working for you?"

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Sponsor....How Did I Get Here?

2011-11-01T14:42:00.001-04:00

Last school year I decided to sponsor the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or FCA. Our school is a smaller school so I do not discriminate against athletes or non athletes and I have started calling FCA the Fellowship of Christian Anybodys...still FCA.

I had done the junior high in the past, but was kinda clueless. Since then I have grown in my faith and decided to stretch myself again by taking up the high school's version of FCA. Last year we met very few times because we meet at school once every five weeks, but last year it seemed that many of the times we met were on on snow days or some other time.

This year we decided to meet during those times during the school year, but also on Wednesday mornings at 7 AM. The number was one the first week, four the second week and on and on until we have 14-20 each Wednesday morning. Unfortunately for the students, I think, it has been me that has been going over our devotional each week. During the week a scripture or idea will hit me and I will quote the scripture, discuss it then show a contemporary Christian video that kinda hits home the idea behind the scripture.

How did I get here? Because I am not who I was. Here is my testimony. My maternal grandfather was, in the words of my father, a great Christian man. My mom's family attended on a regular basis at New Liberty church between Henryville and Salem IN. Frank Jones, my maternal grandfather, was a leader in that church. My father who attended the same church met my mom in that church. That was the basis of my childhood, but there were a few twists.

My father was a questioner of everything and that included his faith. He often was not given answers that were adequate to him so he stopped attending church. Because my mother did attend as a child, she would take us on Easter and Christmas...we were cultural Christians. I did attend some Sunday school, and was taught the stories of the Bible. It was boring...I didn't like it and I wasn't pushed to attend which probably created fewer problems with me and my parents.

I want to make this clear, my mom and dad have been married for 42 years, I rarely saw them argue, I never saw them fight. I did see my father show affection for my mom and me all the time. There were never any drugs or alcohol in our home. My parents were pro active in making sure that my sister and I were good people and disciplined us. But religion was never a strong priority for me growing up.I can remember through my teen years into my early 30's that I wanted to believe in God, but decided it couldn't be proven and I was, in effect, an agnostic...someone who didn't know if there were a God or not and was pretty sure that there wasn't.

Then I met my wife and with her quiet patience, I started moving in that direction. I was baptized at the age of 32 and began my current journey to where I am today; still somewhere far from where I need to be. I feel today different because I am not who I was, but I was tired of going through the motions.

I was asked to give the baccalaureate speech at our graduation, I went to Iceland where I missed my family greatly and prayer helped me get through it as well as Christian music, I taught a lesson on a Wednesday night at church, I attended a Don Meyer leadership seminar that was heavily faith based and have stayed in contact with Coach Meyer and I went to see the movie Courageous which challenges men to be good biblical fathers and husbands.

I know I am not perfect and I have pushed people away being more open about my faith. I have surrounded myself with a couple of people so that I can be held accountable for my actions. I am trying to be better in running our FCA. I hope that I am, I hope that I am helping these kids because they are all farther along in their faith than I was at their age. I hope they are getting something from what we are doing because I know I am....it is helping me more and more to understand that it isn't about me....it isn't about me.

Warning!

2011-10-31T11:00:00.000-04:00

College coaches, college administration, prospective employers, mothers, fathers, parents of children, other friends, the parents of the girl/guy you want to date, little kids...somebody, someone, everybody is checking your life online.

No matter how many times we tell students and/or athletes, they don't seem to get it. Unfortunately, everybody judges and when seeing and/or reading some of the stuff online you are being judged. I think most kids are rebellious and defiant. They are screaming for the ability to be free from their parents and school and rules and anything that keeps them from doing what they want to do, but aren't understanding the consequences of their actions. What I find amusing is that they will do these behaviors, post the pictures online but get upset (and I could probably get in trouble) if I put the pictures up in my classroom or (gasp) used one as the picture for this article.

One thing I have found about young people is that they want to do adult behavior, but rarely want to have adult consequences (who does?). They are quick to "do what I want to do" on the weekend, but when called out about it or worse yet, called in about it, they are quick to have their parents come in to defend them. I had an administrator say once to a kid: "you want to be an adult?" student shakes head yes while dad is sitting with him; "adults don't have parent meetings." It was great.

Where are the parents? I can tell you this with no reservations....being a parent is the hardest job in the world to me. I don't know if what I am doing is right or wrong sometimes, but there are certain things I have zero doubts about. I will not allow my 7 year old daughter cross I-65 by herself. I will not allow my 3 year old son to walk over to the local school by himself to play basketball. I will not all them, together, to walk down the street to a friends house. I will punish them if they do any of these things.

I am not judging anybody here, but I can tell you this my children will not be perfect angels, I know this. And when they fall there will be many people who will point and say "hypocrite, look at his kids." But you can best believe that there will be a consequence, they will be policed and they will be dealt with. It might not be easy and it might not be pretty, but I will do so until they prove to be responsible adults whatever age that may be.

Yes, I Have

2011-10-31T07:41:00.002-04:00

It never ceases to amaze me when I find out people read this stuff I write. I realize that people do read it, but when someone brings it up, it catches me off guard...sometimes. I have had people agree with me, disagree with me, thank me, tell me it's a waste of time, etc., but I have had a new one lately. I have had a couple of people tell me that "you seem to be getting more religious lately". I will agree on one front and that is that I am going to lead less of a double life. Some of the stuff I have posted is who I am, but have tried to separate the two...the religion and the coach, but I am not doing that as much anymore.

I won't lie, I do have a double secret blog that only two people know about that gets deeper into politics and religion, but I do that to get things off my chest. I have written in that blog much less lately. I feel that if I am going to be honest with anyone who reads this and more importantly with myself, I need to include and be more public about all sides of myself. I am complimented about how this blog is "open" and that I write some things down that makes people feel they are not alone, well, if I am going to be completely "open" then I need to express all sides of myself.

My faith is the most important part of my life along with my family and gets me through what I go through. We all go through something and you need something that helps....my faith does. Yes, I have gotten more religious on this blog and I have indeed gotten stronger in my faith over the last 6 months.

Losing last year really drew me nearer to God, but then I gave the Baccalaureate speech to our graduationg class, I went to Iceland (where prayer helped me greatly in missing my family), I came home and taught a lesson on a Wednesday night at church, I started listening to contemporary Christian music where songs like The Motions by Matthew West hit me right in the head and heart, I went to a leadership seminar by Coach Don Meyer and have emailed back and forth a few times, I have started reading the John Maxwell leadership Bible, I have started an Uncommon devotion by Tony Dungy, I have surrounded myself with Scripture, study, and as much of the word as possible....yes, I have changed, yes, I am changing, and yes, I have a long way to go.

Now...7 more days until basketball practice starts in Indiana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7 Ups

2011-10-28T10:20:00.002-04:00

Received this in an email this morning from our Business teacher Melva Carter...good stuff.

1. Wake up: Decide to have a good day. 'This is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.' Psalms 118:24.

2. Dress up: The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. 'The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' 1 Samuel 16:7

3. Hush up: Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. 'He who guards his lips guards his soul.'
Proverbs 13:3

4. Stand up: ...for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. 'Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good...' Galatians 6:9-10

5. Look up: ...to the Lord. 'I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me'. Philippians 4:13

6. Reach up: ...for something higher. 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. 'In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.' Proverbs 3:5-6

7. Lift up: ...your prayers. 'Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything.'
Philippians 4:6

Benefit for Colby Russ (His Mother is Amy (Bagshaw) Russ)

2011-10-25T12:38:00.000-04:00

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Moose Lodge

1040 South Indiana Avenue

Sellersburg, IN 47172

11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Bazaar featuring lots of booths!

(Excellent time to start Christmas shopping)
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Music provided by "Under Construction"

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Music provided by "Bad Omen"

9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Music provided by "Changing Lanes"

Silent Auction throughout day and evening!

Admission is $15.00 for adults and $7.00 for children (12 and under),

which includes food, entertainment, music…and much, much more!!!

If you have questions or would like to donate a raffle item/basket

please contact Pam at 812-989-2957

If you will not be able to attend and would like to make a donation, please make payable to Amy Russ, c/o Moose Lodge, 1040 South Indiana Avenue, Sellersburg, IN 47172
Colby was diagnosed with SMA Type I at 4 months of age, although he had a life expectancy of age 2, Colby just celebrated his 9th birthday July 22, 2011. He is in a wheelchair and requires a specially equipped van that holds all of his medical supplies and breathing machines. Colby uses various braces and supports to help prevent contractures and assist in positioning. He is nonverbal, but is currently learning to use a communication system with eye gaze technology. He is followed by a pulmonologist, neurologist, cardiologist, orthopedist, dietician and physical therapist.

Colby’s mother, Amy, is a single mom who works 2 part time jobs in order to accommodate Colby's schedule. She primarily cares for him on her own. Colby was recently hospitalized for 39 days at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Amy stayed with Colby during his hospitalization and was unable to work during that time. Furthermore, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in July 2011, and consequently has had 2 outpatient surgeries. This diagnosis has brought more time off from work for her, along with extensive medical bills.
Thank you in advance for your support!

Things Are Going Well, So....

2011-10-25T11:05:00.000-04:00

One kid who didn't come out and was pretty key in the overall program, decided to play. Some of our other issues are working themselves out. The guys are working hard in conditioning and at open gym. It is good to be the coach right now, so why do I feel like I am waiting for the hammer to fall?

When I started coaching, I wanted each year to be the year we dealt with zero issues. Now with experience, I realize that each year has its own problems, some of them you can control, some you can't.

I am just going to enjoy the time right now with zero drama, but not too comfortably because something will happen, it is just a matter of time and it could be big or small, but it's going to happen.

Faith, Family, School, Team, Self

2011-10-21T17:49:00.000-04:00

(Four generations of Hunter men, along with my son, I have pictures of five generations)

I have listened to many coaches and have had coaches who tried to put things into perspective for us as players and coaches. I really wonder if anybody "gets" it until they "get" it. Probably not, that is why people say "you just don't get it", I guess.

(Our church family at our annual Fall Picnic)

Faith - To me, and this has actually changed in the last six months, it is everything. Faith used to be something that I had along with everything else. It was there when I needed it, but now I feel every single step should be about faith. Some people have said to me recently, "I read your blog, you have gotten pretty religious lately" to which I say, I just am not holding it back anymore, I am not pretending to be something different than what I am. You say I am religious? I say, not enough. To me everything else flows from this, yet I feel I am just a regular guy and not a radical, but I guess that is for others to decide for themselves.

(The four of us along with Kristi's sister "Aunt Megan")

Family - My wife and my kids. I love them and will not prioritize my job over spending time with them. One of my self imposed rules is that I bring nothing about my coaching job home. It makes for longer days sometimes, but when I hit that door my kiddos and wife have my full attention (my wife teaches elementary school so you can probably guess she does bring work home....every night). I hug and kiss all three of them a lot because I do not want them to doubt ever how I feel about them.

(The Henryville Golden Band)

School - For the players, but even for me our school should come before our team. One thing I have tried to do is push the idea of Henryville High School and all of its components should be supportive of each other. It often feels like each group is too competitive with other groups within the same school. I wish every single thing we did at HHS won the state championship, I really do. I want all of our players to understand that our school gives them great opportunities and they should be supportive of their classmates in their endeavors especially if they want them to come to our games.

(2009 15-8 S.A.C Champions)

Team - If the team doesn't do well, who cares if you can do things individually. People remember players of championship teams better than they do good players off losing teams. Play hard (for the team), Play Smart (for the team and together) and Have Fun! (for the team enjoying the individual accolades of others wanting them to succeed). Every team that wins gets along it is the teams that aren't successful where you see if they will stay together or divide.

(Yep, me...circa 1988)

Self - Yes, we should be lowest on the list of priorities. How much are you giving of yourself for the betterment of others? for the team? for the school? for your family? for your faith? You should be selfish in improving your skills for the betterment of you and ultimately the team which brings joy to the school, your family and playing for your faith. What is interesting is that as a player you should use your individual skills to help the team and understand that you are no more important than any other player, however, your individual skills can hurt the team. Those decisions to break team and school rules will hurt the team which is a huge act of selfishness and often immaturity.

We have discussed in FCA that often the immediate, emotional reaction to any given situation is the easiest choice, but probably the wrong choice that will not make things better often making the situation worse. I believe that in those situations where you react immediately and emotionally you have put the least of the list at the top of the list and that is something to reflect upon and prepare when those situations arise.

Seven Years

2011-10-20T09:44:00.003-04:00

So many things come in "sevens" it seems. Seven years of bad luck, lucky #7 and you get the point. Today, my best seven ever is happening. It is the 7th birthday of my favorite girl in the world, my daughter Madison or "Maddie".

I remember when my wife told me that she was pregnant. She handed me the pregnancy test and I looked at it. I didn't know if it was an ipod or some kind of technological thing I could use to play with (I was pretty spoiled until the kids came along, but still am slightly). I asked "What's this?" and my wife said it meant that we were going to have a baby. You could have knocked me over with a feather.

Then from that moment on all I wanted was a boy, a son. When we went to the doctor to find out the gender and they told us it was a girl, I was a little disappointed. It was like that present you get that you don't want, but you don't want to look ungrateful. You put on that smile that everyone knows is fake, but you do it and act excited. Over the course of the next six months, I not only became "ok" with having a daughter, it really looked forward to it. In fact, when we got pregnant with our son, I sorta wanted to have another girl because the relationship is so special to me with our daughter.

Maddie was born and I had zero experience dealing with a baby. My wife would leave the house and leave me in control of her and I was afraid for Kristi to be gone too long. What if a diaper had to be changed? Or she got hungry? Or she started crying and I didn't know what to do? But I remember surviving and being so proud of her when we would take her out in public.

In these seven years, she has grown up and is probably more like me than she is like my wife. We have developed that father/daughter relationship where she has me wrapped around her little finger and I am her hero. She is truly my little princess and I understand why parents talk about giving up everything for their children because she and her brother are that special to me. She told me once recently that she loved me so much, she would break her arm for me. She was trying to convey how much I mean to her, so that has become our little joke..."I love you so much, I would break my arm for you."

In these seven years, she has grown and developed into quite the little athlete. We shall see if she does anything with it and if she is even that good compared to other kids. I just want her to grow up and be happy. She can do whatever she likes and I will always be there for her...always. I look forward to her growing up because I like the person she is becoming, but I also look to it with some agony. I realize that life is hard and she is going to have to endure pain to become a better person. I think the difference is that I understand that, I will not shelter her from all pain, but will be there to help in those situations.

My wish is that every day she lives she feels the excitement of her birthday. I hope that I do a good job as a dad to help her lead a healthy, happy life. 7 years old....Wow!

More Good Stuff from Coach Don Meyer

2011-10-19T10:17:00.000-04:00

I recently received more philosophies of Coach Don Meyer in the mail, I thought I would share one of the cards.

1. Live beneath your means.
2. Return everything you borrow.
3. Stop blaming other people.
4. Admit it when you make a mistake.
5. Give clothes not worn in 3 years to charity.
6. Do something nice and try not to get caught.
7. Listen more; talk less.
8. Every day take a 30 minute walk.
9. Strive for excellence, not perfection.
10. Be on time.
11. Don't make excuses.
12. Don't argue.
13. Get organized.
14. Be kind to kind people.
15. Be kind to unkind people.
16. Let someone cut ahead of you in line.
17. Take time to be alone.
18. Reread your favorite book.
19. Cultivate good manners.
20. Be humble.
21. Realize and accept that life isn't fair.
22. Know when to keep your mouth shut.
23. Go an entire day without criticizing anyone.
24. Learn from the past.
25. Plan for the future.
26. Live in the present.
27. Don't sweat the small stuff.
28. It's all small stuff.

(from a Quaker newsletter)

I Would Coach for Free...Most Days

2011-10-18T07:21:00.000-04:00

I teach in a corporation with 3 high schools and 3 middle schools, and 3 elementary schools. In my building at the high school level, I have been grateful to my administration as they allow me to pick my coaches with them providing guidance. They have never told me to forget someone or hired someone over me.

Our elementary programs, however, are disconnected from all three high school coaches. Most school's principals allow their varsity coaches to have a lot of control but.... My belief is that there needs to be some coherent, consistent elementary program. There needs to be by laws on who decides on who coaches or doesn't coach anymore, when the season begins, how many games can be played, who runs the program, how many camps are to be run, how you have tryouts/cuts, and just about any other detail that can be thought out.

Running elementary and really entire programs is not about fund raising, even though there is money to be made off it. It is about having a consistent program with the person at the top who will be held accountable for wins and losses having much of the control. Or if that isn't what is decided we at least need an understood, consistent, corporation led policy clearing up all confusion. The kids deserve that.

Indiana vs. Duke in the 2002 Regional Semi Finals

2011-10-17T13:29:00.000-04:00

Crazy 15 seconds.

The Resolution for Men

2011-10-17T07:45:00.000-04:00

This is the Resolution for Men that comes from one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen: Courageous. You can buy this book at Amazon.com.

I do solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife, and my children.

I will love them, protect them, serve them, and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my house.

I will be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her, and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I will bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of their strength.

I will train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I will confront evil, pursue justice, and love mercy.

I will pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion.

I will work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

I will forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I will learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins, and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

I will seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word, and do His will.

I will courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua 24:15

What is Commitment?

2011-10-14T07:41:00.000-04:00

As coaches, we often speak about, read about, and hopefully show commitment to what we believe in. But what is it? I am committed to my family. I have put much time and spent many dollars on them. I have hopefully helped them to grow and to be better people. I will continue to do this every day and I realize that not always will they appreciate what I have done, but I bet they do appreciate it somewhat. In fact, it is something that I don't think twice about, it just comes naturally. To give as much as possible and really to expect nothing in return other than a hug or a kiss from any of them is all that I want and need.

So what does it mean as a coach? We have put numerous hours into our players. We have spent money on each of them whether it be for shirts, travel suits, traveling or many other things we give our players. We have tried to develop positive relationships with each players before they get to high school and even when they play. All I really need for them to show their appreciation is to play and then to play hard representing the community and showing appreciation for all the things they receive.

And yet, we are losing players. They are deciding to not play the most popular sport in Indiana to "focus on _________" (fill in the blank) What about focusing on the sport and the coaching staff that has done as much for you as any other coaching staff? (We have great coaching staffs in every sport at our school, this is not in any way me demeaning what those people have done) We are talking about players giving up for many different reasons sometimes it screams the obvious why they quit. But sometimes it is quite perplexing because there is no apparent reason for it. I have always said that I care about our basketball program too much to continue coaching if it is running off players, in large numbers. I am told that it isn't me or anyone else on the staff, so I can only go with their word. I am sure that what some of them tell others is different than what they have told me.

At our school, the coaches work together, usually, and would do just about anything for any of our athletes to be able to participate in more than one or two sports. Yet we have athletes quitting a sport they like/love to focus on one sport. Why? For a college scholarship? At our school, whether you play one sport or multiple sports (small college coaches actually like multiple sport athletes) you will probably end up with the same college opportunity. Full ride scholarships are rare, period. The best you can hope for is some money athletically, but many of our students need to show diversity in athletics, participation in other events, and do well academically.

But as a parent, I can understand where complications can ensue. My kids are into many different things right now and excel at too many. It sounds ridiculous, but if they continue to excel at many sports (I realize they are young and may actually NOT excel at any sport) there will come a point where due to their desires or out of necessity some coach will be extremely disappointed. Does that make my hypocritical? Maybe. Does it make me realize that sometimes these issues are way more complex than kids doing something to me? Hopefully.

So what is commitment? I know what it is for me and I realize that it can be something different for each person. However, I cannot think of doing anything else but giving everything I have to our basketball program while I am still the head coach. It is that way because I love basketball, I love our school, and I love our kids.

Indiana!

2011-10-14T07:28:00.000-04:00

This brings back so many memories growing up and watching IU games on Channel 4 out of Indianapolis.

Gone Are The Days

2011-10-12T10:14:00.000-04:00

Gone are the days (almost anyway) where I keep track of what I did and expected something in return. Okay, I guess I still do it sometimes, but I am trying. As coaches, if we received back for what we put in, we would be rich people. But aren't we?

I realize that I and many of us are taken advantage of by many different people. Sometimes on purpose and many times not on purpose, but aren't we rich in other ways? How many teachers have as many kids as we do that come back some day and thank us for what we did for them? You can't rely on that with your current players, but many of them some day will understand what you have done.

I think with me, I deal with my pride too often. I spend so much time away from my family and helping other people's children that I expect too much sometimes in return. Some of the stuff I do in being away from my family is extra stuff that I could eventually use to help our players, but often it is almost mandatory stuff to compete at a higher level. But I do it and expect kids to play, work, and compete at basketball in return.

It is in those moments that I try to remember it isn't about me and it isn't about what I do, you aren't supposed to keep track of that are you? Then where is that fine line in which you are selfless but being taken for granted or advantage of? I think with each person they have to find that line and realize that it is different in every single situation. Because what would be unjust in one situation is not in a different situation. I can't fully explain it, but you know it when you now it.

So, gone are the days where I keep track of what I give vs. what I receive (yea, again, I concede I fail but am trying) because it isn't about me. It is about the team, community, school, program, and players. We just have to get them (the players) to understand the same thing. We have to get them to understand that there have been many people who have come before them on whose shoulders they are standing. What are they going to do about that? How do they want to be remembered?

I Don't Worry Too Much About our Students

2011-10-04T09:54:00.000-04:00

I don't worry too much about our students. I think some of them have a long way to go to get to where they need to be, but I figure that many of them are like me. Given enough time, they will be fine. However, they are not my kids and I will worry about my kids "getting it" sooner than they probably will. But I assume that as long as they are alive, they have plenty of time to "get it". No, they can never go back, but life is about the journey, not the destination.

However, it is something that I do not get when it comes to high school athletics. I tell kids who choose not to play that they have one, four year window to do something athletically where large amounts of people actually care. When it comes to basketball in Indiana, this will be the only time in their lives that bleachers are pulled out, people buy tickets, a concession stand is set up, and a band will play for them to do an activity. The high majority of them will never experience anything even remotely close to it ever again. And yet, they choose not to play. I do get that they don't understand that because they are kids, but it is something that 100% of the people who have done that, not play, have regretted to some extent.

That regret has been something as blatant as telling people with a serious look of regret on their faces to subtle comments made that if you aren't paying attention to it, it might pass by without a thought. It is like just about anything when it comes to young people in that you wish you could touch a kid on the shoulder and have them "feel" how they will feel in the future for the decisions they make today.

If we could do that, how different would all of our decisions be? But you can't do that and they make the decisions that are best for them right now which is what we all do to some point. However, in some instances it comes off as selfish, even though probably not to them at that moment. Why selfish? Because at a smaller school where we have "come" outs instead of "try" outs, playing time and opportunities have been given to some players over others. When those players decides to "give it up" instead of that time and effort given to them paying off for them, the coaches and the program, it is like stealing from other players who could have benefitted from the same time and stay with the program.

Rural Southern Indiana Culture

2011-10-03T04:04:00.001-04:00

We get a few visitors on this blog (just going by the spinning globe) from outside of the state and outside of the country for that matter. You may have heard of Indiana basketball, but I thought I would link a few videos that show you rural southern Indiana culture. The singer is John Mellencamp who is from Seymour, IN, just up the road. He was real popular in the 1980's with songs like Small Town , Pink Houses and Cherry Bomb (which caused a stir back in the 80's by having a black man and white woman dancing in the video, we have come a long way) but I thought this song, Rain on the Scarecrow shows our rural areas better than any video he has.

The video showed the plight of the American farmer in the 1980's and what is interesting or sad, I guess depending on your viewpoint, is that not much has changed since this video was made. That is one of the great things about rural southern Indiana, not much changes and yet it is what sometimes can be taken as negative also.

Mellecamp has sold over 30 million records world wide and if you are a Caucasian man from southern Indiana, his songs describe your life in many ways.

It's Time to Add Some More Memories

2011-10-03T03:24:00.002-04:00

(It's been a rough few years, but only a handful of schools have this many banners)

Why? Because this is Indiana. This might be the year my favorite team turns the corner and comes back to where it belongs (fingers crossed).

How to Increase Interest in Your Program to the Players

2011-09-30T10:21:00.000-04:00

What we do:
1. Have two camps per year.
2. Send Holiday and Birthday cards to any camper that comes until they are in HS and don't play.
3. Give out many different kinds of prizes to kids during camps.
4. Started a team camp out for HS teams.
5. We have a facebook, website and I use twitter and this blog to spread interest.
6. We go to colleges during the summer for tournaments.
7. We focus on offense in the summer and defense during the season.
8. We throw in other Indiana basketball type trips while away at colleges.
9. We play in two tournaments, a conference and post season tournament.
10. We feed the kids and have them over to our house during the season.
11. I have gotten involved with the Indiana basketball Hall of Fame to give us better chances to use the facility for trips.
12. I have taken foreign trips gaining connections for our guys in college and possibly pro spots in Europe.

We do all of these things and teach the game of basketball in a tough way during the season. Yet, I find that the number of players wanting to play dwindles every year here. Is it only here at my school? Is it everywhere? We cannot put together a pure freshman basketball team, it is now a "C" team and have a JV and varsity. I am afraid each season that enough players will opt out of playing "Indiana's game" enough that we will be down to a bare bones roster. This all coming while jumping up in class to 2A with more students.

Email me with your thoughts if you have any. phunter@wclark.k12.in.us I will probably use any responses I get, but will NOT use names with them in a future blog.

Servant Leader

2011-09-29T08:25:00.002-04:00

Who am I talking about? My wife. Her to the right of this picture....yep, she has my back.

My wife has supported me in many things in our time together. From being supportive of me taking the head coaching job, to allowing me to go to Europe twice to work camps, to allowing me to leave early in the mornings when I have things to do, to...well, you get it. Kristi is a special person.

She is the one who is there and steps in when something needs to be done at our intramurals or keeping the book at our games. She is the one who cooks for the team or puts together fundraisers for the basketball team or FCA.

My wife is the one who listens to criticisms and quietly keeps them to herself unless she thinks I need to hear about it. She is the one who watches me take arrows from many different directions sometimes and when I am ready to give up she reminds me why I do what I do. She watches how much effort we put into the game and then watches and listens to the lack of appreciation by some. She is the one that when good times come (and there are many) she stays in the background and sometimes because she is so busy doing something for us, doesn't even know we won a game (yes, that actually happened. We won our own tourney two years ago and she was working and cleaning up in the concession stand when the game ended. We all went out to eat a couple hours later and we were talking about it was crazy that we won and she asked "we won?!")

But more importantly, she is the one who is raising our children more than I am. She is the one who drops them off at the babysitter. She is the one who usually picks them up. She is the one who has to put them to bed most often. She is the one who has to discipline and love them too often more than I. She is the one explaining to them where Daddy is and why he is there (during the off months, not as much). She is the one who when I come up with a "great idea" backs it up until I run myself ragged and figure it out myself.

She is also the one who was a quiet, patient Christian until her stubborn, know it all husband came around and figured it out. She is the one that I have to worry zero about drama in our lives. She is one of the 3 people that I do everything for....to make her proud and to do what we both know our purpose is here on this earth.

I hope she knows how much I love and appreciate her because I could do none of this without her. Well, I guess I could, but it wouldn't be in as happy or fulfilling life that I have now and would probably make her miserable and unfulfilled. If you want to talk about servant leadership, I know no one who gives more of herself for others than my wife, Kristi Hunter.

How to Avoid Grievances

2011-09-27T08:55:00.000-04:00

From Coach Don Meyer's handouts.

1. Get all the facts: what went wrong...not who is to blame.
2. Stay calm: find solution together...Don't permit emotion to take over. Reason.
3. Criticize in private: Listen if you want to be heard. Disagree without being disagreeable.
4. Commend before and perhaps after you criticize: Help save face.
5. Keep your criticism consturctive: Criticism is to correct, help, improve, and prevent...not to punish.

Some of Don Meyer's 101 Ways to Cope With Stress

2011-09-27T08:48:00.000-04:00

1. Get up 15 minutes earlier.
2. Prepare for the morning the night before.
3. Avoid relying on chemical aids.
4. Don't rely on your memory, write it down.
5. Make duplicate keys.
6. Say "no" more often.
7. Avoid negative people.
8. Repair anything that doesn't work properly.
9. Ask for help in jobs you dislike.
10. Unclutter your life.
11. Smile
12. Be prepared for rain.
13. Say something nice to someone.
14. Walk in the rain.
15. Be aware of the decisions you make.
16. Say "hello" to a stranger.
17. Whistle a tune.
18. Do a brand new things.
19. Stop a bad habit.
20. Pay attention to your appreance.
21. Find someone to be your vent partner.
22. Work at being cheerful and optimistic.
23. Practice grace under pressure.
24. Look at a work of art.
25. Plant a tree.
26. Maintain your weight.
27. Exercise every day.
28. Get to work early.
29. Play with a child.
30. Watch a movie and eat popcorn.
31. Leave work early (with permission)
32. Go to a ball game and scream.
33. Keep a journal.
34. Practice a monster smile.
35. Remember you always have options.
36. Get enough sleep.
37. Talk less and listen more.
38. Freely praise other people.
39. Relax, take each day at a time...you have the rest of your life to live.
40. Know your limitations and let others know them too.
41. Throw a paper airplane.

There are 60 more on the handout from his powerpoint.. It is good stuff and just typing these 41 has helped me to remember some things I have already forgotten.

12 Rules for Raising Delinquent Children

2011-09-27T07:39:00.000-04:00

I got this from Coach Don Meyer. The Houston Texas police department used to distribute a little leaflet with the above title. It was a satire on parents who don't control their children. Let's take a look at what they Houston Police department finds are the causes of delinquent children. Here they are:

1. Give the child everything he wants. In this way, he will grow up to believe that the world owes him a living.

2. When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think he's cute. It will also encourage him to pick up cuter pharases that will blow off the top of your head later.

3. Never give him any spiritual training. Let him wait until he is 21 when he can "decide for himself".

4. Avoid using the word "wrong". It may develop in him a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later when he is arrested for stealing that society is against him and he is being persecuted.

5. Do everything for him so that he will be experienced in throwing responsibility for others.

6. Let him read and watch anything he wants to. Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.

7. Quarrel frequently in his presence. In this way he will not be too shocked when his own home is broken up later.

8. Give a child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own. Why should he have things as tough as you had them?

9. Satisfy his every craving. Denial may lead to harmful frustration.

10. Take his part against neighbors, teachers, policemen. They are all just prejudiced against your child.

11. When he gets into real trouble, apologize for yourself by saying, "I never could do anything with him."

12. Prepare for a life of grief. You will be likely to have it.

-John Thiesen

Most Parents are Great, but Some Do "Bad" Things

2011-09-26T09:46:00.002-04:00

I feel that I have been relatively blessed throughout my coaching career in having supportive parents, both mine and my players'. Of course, you are going to get some parents each year that are not on your side on all things, but rarely have I had some that are intentionally (or unintentionally) trying to implode your team.

There are bad parents out there when it comes to having teams, most are very good, but there are some that need to reassess what they are doing when it comes to support of a player, team, or program. There are behaviors that I have observed in 20 years of coaching sports and will help me to be a better parent.

If parents are consistently bad mouthing other players, there needs to be some reflection done on their part. Most times those players are just doing what the coaching staff has told them to do and jealousy is a huge issue here. Unfortunately, there is competition and sometimes that competion goes back a generation or two. You can bad mouth the coach (though it isn't helping or changing anything...probably), but other players should be off limits unless it is about behavior issues.

Those parents who do not or rarely attend their child's games. I realize that many people are working and working and working, but your children should be a priority. That is why I will not continue to coach if I am missing my own children's events. I remember when I was a kid, my parents attended most of my events and I didn't think it was a big deal at the time, but looking back on it, it was.

If you are allowing the violation of team rules or worse yet, hosting "parties" in which team rules are being violated, as a parent, you need to reflect on what kind of example you are setting. This defiance of not only rules, but universally agreed upon good parenting skills is a negative that needs to be reflected upon.

Finally, there are parents who will not pay for items or help fund raise out of spite of the coaching staff or school. If your child chooses to participate in athletics, you should pay your fair share. Also, you should help in fundraising despite your feelings about the coaching staff as your child will benefit from the items that are bought. I do understand that times can be tight, but some communication would be helpful. Most coaches are willing to work with parents to make sure your child can participate in sports.

What is interesting about the "bad" parents is that they are highly defensive and will flat out lie for their children and their own bad bahavior. They will also justify what they do because they are dealing with a horrible coach, a jerk of a coach, or....well, whatever.

I probably deal with one or more of these kinds of parents every few years. It isn't a yearly thing, but it has existed and will continue to do so. I am so thankful for those parents who help with our program by getting their children to practice and games on time. Those parents who help in observing our team rules. Those parents who pay for their items and help us fundraise in a time when the economy is bad and jobs are hard to find sometimes. Those parents who will give you an encouraging word or email when things don't seem to be going the way we all wished they were.

I am sure we all have some "bad" parent in us for selfishness or necessity, but I think it is something that we need to look at. It is like any of our behaviors, we must reflect and then be honest in that reflection. Are we doing things to help or to hurt the team? Are we doing things out of spite or anger? Or are we allowing our children to participate, have fun, compete, and allowing for a positive atmosphere?

2011 Henryville Athletics Golf Scramble

2011-09-23T10:20:00.000-04:00

Henryville High School Athletics
Golf Scramble
October 15, 2011
Champions Pointe Golf Club
1:00 PM Check-in 1:30 PM Start Come join in the fun at the
2011 Henryville High School Athletics Golf Scramble. This event represents an opportunity for you to experience fun and excitement while also supporting Henryville High School Athletics. Your fee will include the following benefits and opportunities: 18 holes golf with cart, door prizes, long drive contest, closest-to-the-pin contest, prizes for winning team, dinner (soups, chili, desserts), and awards ceremony.

Format: Four-Person Scramble. Organize your own foursome or we can assign you to a group.

Dinner & Awards Ceremony: Immediately following scramble.

Club Rules: No metal spikes, shirts must have collar, no cut-off shorts or gym trunks.

Information: For more information contact Chris Hall (812.670.0129) or Robin Embry (812.294.1789)

Event Sponsor: Includes primary advertising at the event & all post-event communications, recognition at dinner, logo on winning team prizes, and 4 teams in the golf scramble.

Eagle Sponsor: Includes advertising at the event & all post-event communications, recognition at dinner, and 3 teams in the golf scramble.

Birdie Sponsor: Includes advertising at the event & all post-event communications, recognition at dinner, and 2 teams in the golf scramble.

Par Sponsor: Includes advertising at the event, recognition at dinner, and 1 team in the golf scramble.

Hole Sponsor: Includes advertising at the event and recognition at dinner.

YES, I WILL PARTICIPATE AS A:
Event Sponsor—$2,500 (includes 4 teams)

Eagle Sponsor—$1,500 (includes 3 teams)

Birdie Sponsor—$1000 (includes 2 teams)

Par Sponsor—$400 (includes 1 team)

Hole Sponsor ($125)

Foursome ($300 per team)

Individual ($75 per person)

Name ___________________________________ Company ______________________________________

Address _________________________________ City/State/Zip ___________________________________

Phone __________________________________ Email _________________________________________

Team Captain ____________________________ Player _________________________________________

Player __________________________________ Player _________________________________________

Please make check payable to: "HHS Athletics" (contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law)

Write it Down

2011-09-21T10:37:00.000-04:00

I recently got into a discussion about coaching clinics with a friend and writing everything down. I made the comment that you can tell the new/younger coaches because they write everything down. Older more experience coaches (from my experience) write less down. Someone made a great point that the longer you coach, the more secure you are in what you are trying to get done and now what can or cannot be used for your program.

That sounded much better than my thoughts. When I was younger I would write everything down and then clutter my mind up with so much new stuff that we rarely used any of it because I could remember everything. I don't write as much down to keep it simple for me, to not clutter my mind. I will write down 3-5 things and I can much better remember that than 3 pages of notes.

When I went to listen to Coach Meyer speak, he did say, however, to "write it down". We can't expect with all that is going on to remember everything. I have started to keep a notebook with me all the time just for that very thing. It has helped...with little things that I often forgot. I already write down my schedule in a calendar book, but writing down in the notebook little things that pop into my head helps me to remember them.

So, I guess in wrapping up that I "write it down", but not too much which I think is what you should do. You shouldn't feel that everyone is writing down all of the things coming out of a coaches mouth at clinics and you should and vice versa. There is no right and wrong with writing things down...do what is best for you.

What I Won't Do For My Friends From Coach Don Meyer

2011-09-20T10:12:00.001-04:00

•I won’t steal for my friends.

•I won’t cheat for my friends.

•I won’t act dumb for my friends.

•I won’t do drugs for my friends.

•I won’t disrupt the class for my friends.

•I won’t disrespect, laugh at, or ridicule others for my friends.

•I won’t intentionally fail for my friends.

•I won’t behave irresponsibly for my friends.

•I won’t knowingly hurt others for my friends.

•I won’t destroy my life or anyone else’s for my friends.

•ANYONE WHO WOULD ASK ME TO DO ANY OF THESE THINGS IS NOT MY FRIEND.

To Whom Much is Given

2011-09-19T07:38:00.002-04:00

I have a friend, she is a single mother and her son has SMA. It is a disease that attacks the muscles. She blogs about her experiences, and I can tell you that blogging helps to get certain feelings and issues out and to help things not get bottled up. But you can read and admire so much what they deal with by reading her words.

When you read about their issues it helps to put certain things I/we deal with in proper perspective. I get pretty much fed up with certain things that go on as a teacher and coach, but in the grand scheme of things...it isn't that big of a deal. Many of the things my players deal with may seem large to them, but in the grand scheme of things, it isn't that big of a deal.

I try to get through to our guys how fortunate they are in that they get to play basketball...in Indiana and sometimes I wonder if they get it. I think I need to get across more so that they are lucky that they get to play basketball...period. There are many people who would love to trade them places and there are many of those people that admire them simply because they can run up and down the floor playing a game.

How many of my guys take that for granted? I would bet most if not all and the reason I know that is that I was a dumb kid once, too. The kind of perspective to understand how special and lucky you are, I fear, only comes with the benefit of experience and suffering through that experience brought on by bad decisions.

My goal is to get our guys involved in more community service and to visit those who are less fortunate. Because I do believe that for those to whom much is given, much is expected....and we should be expecting more from ourselves.

Selfishness

2011-09-16T07:39:00.000-04:00

The longer I am around people (it's been 41 years), I notice in myself and in other people two things, jealousy and selfishness which I guess are pretty related. I wrote about jealousy the other day, today I want to write about being selfish.

Being selfish. It is a fine line as a coach. We teach our kids to be selfish in positive ways. Do what you can do successfully, selfishly to help the team. I know, I kinda twist it at the end, but if we have a kid who can score the basketball, we want him to shoot it...a lot. If he can't score and he shoots it a lot, it's a bad selfishness.

But I am not talking about playing. Selfishness, a bad selfishness, shows its ugly head off the court more than on. If you are partying and participating in negative actions that could harm the team either by your poor play or being suspended is a bad selfish. If you are not keeping up with your academics, of course getting help when needed or at least asking for help, to remain a member of the team, you are selfish. If you are hanging out with the wrong people casting negative thoughts and words to be said about you bringing a negative image to the program, you are selfish.

To be part of a team, you must remove the negative selfishness and thrive on the positive side. It is hard enough for a 41 year old man to do so, it is harder for a young man to do so. Peer pressure is strong and if you are not a leader, it is easy to succumb to your own selfish behaviors. You want your entire team to be a group of leaders, but a team full of leaders has no one to follow which can harm on the court cohesiveness.

Yep, you are getting it. Coaching isn't that easy and much of what we deal with deals with a lot of psychological stuff. I teach psychology so I get it and I do tell the kids that psychology is everything...so is mental toughness which so few possess and is our job to develop.

Coach Them Like I Would Want My Own Child Coached...OK...Maybe Easier

2011-09-15T10:50:00.001-04:00

Last Saturday in the youngest group of our intramurals, we had a boy who did not want to participate. He was crying and his parents finally took him out, probably angry, I don't know I didn't see it happen. You know that the basketball form went home for intramurals and the boy wanted to play. Mom and/or dad probably said "Are you sure? We aren't going to pay for this and you back out." Then they get to camp and it can be overwhelming.

It happens every year. Some child cannot handle all of the balls bouncing around, all of the kids running around, and all of the noise. The first 5 minutes or so, we let them have a good time trying to get some of the nervous energy out.

BP (Before Parenting) I wouldn't have too much patience for a kid like that. "Get out here and let's go, quit acting like a baby!!!" AP (After Parenting) I see it a lot different. I can understand how it can be overwhelming to a young kid especially one not around that type of stuff consistently. My own son last year (and he is around this kind of thing a lot) was so overwhelmed that he decided after one day he was finished with basketball camp (that has since changed, he is going crazy having fun with that and soccer, yes Coach Lefevre...soccer). But I can say that when dealing with my own children, I am still BP acting, but when it comes to other people's children and watching the parents of these kids, I am very much AP.

I feel for the kid, but I feel for the parents. Being a parent is quite a confusing thing, for me any way. You want them to be tough and independent, but yet still want them to cling to your leg and need you and if we could pick the times of what and when we wanted the behavior it would be better. But we can't, they are little kids. They are the ones in charge of their behavior and often it doesn't quite mix with what we want at that point and it can be embarrassing and cause you to get angry.

So what do we do? I try to make it better for all involved. If the parents want their money back, we give it and keep them on our birthday list. If they don't come back one single day and don't want their money back, I will find the child and give them their shirt that they bought and keep them on our birthday list. And this week, I went and found the boy gave him one of our basketball bracelets and told him we wish to see him at the next camp date. Will it help? I don't know, but it is how I would want my child treated and that is the kind of coach I have developed into....mostly.

Sometimes Music Soothes the Soul

2011-09-15T07:14:00.000-04:00

Building 429: Listen to the Sound

Thin Skin vs. Thick Skin

2011-09-13T14:59:00.000-04:00

I deal with criticism in different ways. I can't explain why, but sometimes certain criticism stings and some times it doesn't. Again, I can't explain it, but sometimes it bothers me. I think the criticism that bothers me most is by people who are coaching or have coached, but have gone on to never been seen again. One thing you notice if you coach long enough is that there are people who don't care about the program (maybe a little, but mostly deciding if you are qualified for their future star), then they really care about the "program" for four years, and then you hear nothing from them again.

What happens is that they care about the "program" only when their son is involved with the program. I get that, it does make complete sense to me, but it does make it harder to stomach while in the middle of a career in which there is an unrealistic expectation on their son because of where you know it is heading; them gone. Meanwhile we have been part of the program before, during, and after their son graduates. It also never ceases to amaze me how someone who coaches or has coached can be so vocally critical of other coaches on staff at their school in public. I have learned that you aren't going to agree with everything a coach does, but you will rarely hear me critisizing someone who is putting the time in to help my child.

The jealousy that occurs between players is nothing compared to the jealousies that go on between and among parents and coaches. Many coaches have told me they will never coach again anywhere than in an orphanage. That might seem like an ideal situation, but I have found (knock on wood) that most parents at the least will leave you alone if they believe you are working hard and being relatively fair.

Criticism does sting. It depends sometimes on my own thoughts on the person critisizing whether it bothers me as much or not. You have to take in whether it is someone who complains about every coach, or someone who clearly is worried not about the program, but about their own child. I do understand that better now that I have children. As I have written, at camps, I want to focus only on my own children, I have to force myself to go and help others. So I understand where this selfishness comes from with our own children.

When you decide to be a leader or coach a sport, you will be critisized, it is a part of it. There isn't any whining that goes on, but we as coaches have complained to each other at times. We are the ones who expected to be professional often holding back all of our thoughts and opinions so we have to vent to each other. But ultimately when you decide to coach, when you decide to be a leader do not sit in the big chair if you cannot handle criticism, some times extremely personal.

More from the Don Meyer Leadership Seminar: Essay Questions and My Answers

2011-09-12T17:02:00.000-04:00

Don Meyer Leadership Seminar: Nashville, September 6, 2011

1. The following statement was discussed during the workshop: “Your example is not the main thing in influencing others; it is the only thing.” Explain what this means. Provide examples.

If you are in a position of leadership, people are watching. Depending at what level or what kind of leader you are depends on the eyes that are upon you. The words that come out of your mouth mean little compared to the actions that you perform. Those actions must connect to your words or you lose all credibility. Credibility may be considered “the only thing” when it comes to leadership because without it, you are not a leader.

Examples are dependent, often, on the opinion of the person observing. Certain individuals like a basketball college coach like John Calipari and even President Barack Obama is dependent on your opinion of them if you believe that they “walk the walk”. I believe it has more to do with the leaders that are in the daily lives of those that they lead. When you see a teacher/coach/administrator arrested for a DUI, the actions are not consistent with positive leadership. It is hard for these leaders to recover to the point that they were before their failure. Unfortunately, many of the greatest leaders/people that have ever walked the earth will be known only to God as they did their good deeds by not keeping score and under the anonymity of life.

2. Explain the acronym “TEAMS” and describe what each letter represents. How do you plan to apply these characteristics in your professional and/or personal life.

TEAMS – Tough, Effort, Attitude, Motives, Servant Leader

Tough is mental toughness. Mental toughness is everything. You can be physically tough, emotionally tough and any other kind of “tough” you want to be, but mental toughness is what gets us through anything. We must be mentally “tough”.

Effort is how much time you are putting in. If you are putting in the extra time and working intelligently, you are showing good effort. Lots of movement done in an ignorant way is not effort.

Attitude. I think the best example of that comes from the book Fish! By Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christenson in which they describe how we choose our attitude…every day. A positive attitude is easy when things are going well, but when they are not; we must continue to be positive which takes us back to mental “toughness”.

Motives describe why we do what we do. Are we doing them for us to look good or to genuinely help? I think this is something that we struggle with if we strive to have unselfish motives. Because as we do things to help, it is natural for us to feel good about it, to want attention for something we have done therefore we must fight to be less selfish. By doing so, we will lose the negative motives.

Servant leader is everything. I have found that the more I care less about myself, the better my life is. I think the goal here is to give it all, as Jesus Christ did for us, and expect nothing in return. This is another thing we will struggle with as we grow in being a true Servant Leader.

I have tried to implement these in my daily life as teacher, coach, but more importantly as father. It is my job as the man of my house to make sure I practice these parts of TEAMS and to pass them on to my children. I realize also that I am going to fail, probably more often than is needed, but I have to get up, dust myself off and continue on.

3. Explain the “Lamar Hunt Goals” and describe how you plan to apply these goals.

1. Determine what you really want.

2. Find out what it will cost.

3. Decide if you want to pay the price.

We use this often in dealing with our basketball program. I coach a high school program, so we get quite a few players each year who start with conditioning and don’t make it through. It doesn’t make them bad people if they do not decide to continue they have just decided what they really want and they are not ready to pay the cost.

We also use it with players that do make it through our conditioning. What do they want? Do they want to start? Do they want to play? Do they want to just be on the team? In each example they have to decide the cost for what they want and they have to decide to be willing to pay the price. However, hard work does not guarantee success, but not working hard does guarantee failure.

We have found that when we have unhappy parents and maybe even unhappy players when we sit the players down and have an honest conversation, they admit that their decision to pay the price does not equal what they said they wanted. However, that price does equal what they really want or are “ok” with because of what they are willing to give up.

4. Explain how the “Sound, Solid, and Simple” concepts are applied to teamwork. Describe how you plan to implement these concepts.

In all things, we should be Sound. Sound is described by Coach Meyer as fundamentals and servant leadership. We need to have the basics to anything that we do in life or with our basketball program. Start from the ground level, build to the big picture and then let them play.

Solid is character, team attitude and work ethic. We hope that from day 1 through the summer our example as a coaching staff and what we will accept shows what we believe solid is.

Simple is what I call the KISS method. We try to implement the keep it simple stupid for the players, but also for me as a coach. I believe that if you are sound and solid, you can be simple and be highly successful.

Bob Knight believed that if you did what you did it wouldn’t matter what the other team did. They played man to man defense and ran a motion offense his entire career. Teams were able to scout them and know what was going to happen, but his teams were able to do what they do, to execute.

5. “Get mad; Cool Down; Act Mad” – Explain the concept. What does it mean to you?

It means to respond with wisdom, love, firmness, and positive self-control when not happy with behavior, performance or the response of others.

What this means to me is to not react with our first feelings when not happy. I believe that the first thing we do when confronted with something negative is to react in a negative way. It may be saying something negative or, God forbid, doing something physically that hurts someone. This means to get mad, but don’t react. Calm down, think it out, and then let them know in a firm way that you are not happy. We will do less harm to them and ourselves if we act in this way.

6. Explain “Mark McCormack’s Rules” – How do you plan to implement these rules?

Mark McCormack believes that you should get a system, any system; stick to it; and write everything down. In basketball, you should get a style of play in all ways that you believe in and when things are not going your way, stick to your beliefs.

Last year we struggled and many people wanted us to change what we were doing and we did manipulate a few things. But we stuck to the “style” that we had come up with maybe to the detriment of the team, but we stuck to our style. Changing styles in the middle of the season would not have made things better and may have made things worse for us.

We have always written down our practice schedules, but I plan on writing down even more stuff. I plan on carrying a notebook with me everywhere I go in case new ideas come up. We can’t expect to remember everything and good to great ideas can be lost without writing it down.

7. Explain how you will use the “Stop and Think” card and the four questions that are asked.

What we have done is gone to vistaprint.com and made our own type of cards. We use the Stop and Think, but also the same questions and on the back we have printed my mobile phone number, my home number, and my wife’s mobile number. We put the thoughts on the front to help them remember, but we put our numbers on the back because as leaders, we believe that if they find themselves in situations that they need to be removed from, I want them to call me…24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it is my responsibility and my wife agrees and is supportive of this idea.

Also, we took the card and on vistaprint.com, we have created a banner that we have up in our locker room. An assistant coach said that what we need to do is put plexiglas over it which we have done, and then have a ceremony about following the Stop and Think banner and understanding that to not follow is a sign of selfishness. The assistant said that we should have all the players sign the plexiglass with a dry erase marker which we will do. Finally, I am going to take a picture of the banner signed and give copies for the guys to put in their lockers at school.

8. Explain the “3^rd Place” concept.

Third place is a place for you to get away, to recharge your own batteries. What I got from it was that there is your family “place”; there is your professional “place” there needs to be a “place” for just you. You have to have alone time to read, pray, to prepare for the day or to wind down at the end of the day.

If you don’t do this, if you don’t find a Third Place, you will wear down and not be as effective a leader as is needed. It will allow us to pour out our cup, fill it, and pour it out again.

9. Explain how you will implement the “plan, prepare, practice, and play” model.

Everything we will do in the future will be as Lon Kruger put it. We must not be satisfied with what we are accomplishing because if you are not moving forward you are moving backwards. We must do all of these things as if we lost our last game.

It is usually after a loss that a sense of urgency comes across the program. That sense of urgency should exist all of the time. In preparing to win, you must have the will; you must be willing to give the effort to prepare to win and doing so as if you lost your last game.

10. What is a “Need Assessment”?

What IS subtracted from What Should=the Need.

I believe that as a servant leader that you should look around and not complain about what is, you shouldn’t complain about how no one does anything. I believe that as a servant leader you should look around and be willing give of yourself and do more than is expected not for yourself, but to help others.

I truly believe that Jesus Christ willingly died for my sins and if I believe that then I need to pay back the greatest gift ever received. I should be willing to give away and help others trying to earn a grace that has already been given and that I could never earn.

11. How do you plan to implement the “Beswick Scale”?

I think the best way to implement it is to understand who we are dealing with on our basketball team. We need to understand what we have and where or how to put them in situations that will make them successful individually, but more importantly, as a team.

12. List the 5 C’s (the five daily vitamin C’s). Explain each in more detail.

Concentration

Courtesy

Communication

Compete

Consistency

Concentration is being able to focus on the moment to “know the situation”. We must be able to make the main thing, the main thing. We have to be able to filter the needless information and overblown situations into information and situations that are serious and need to be dealt with.

Courtesy is realizing that every single person we encounter is dealing with something. That something may be big or may seem big to them, but we should treat everyone the way we want to be better, in fact, probably better than how we want to be treated. I recently gave the Baccalaureate speech at our graduation and I said there are certain words that can open doors and calm situations immediately. Some of those words are “Thank you”, “I’m sorry”, “I love you”, and “You are welcome”.

Communication is making sure they hear what you are saying. Because you may know what you want accomplished and you know the words you are using, but if they don’t understand it doesn’t matter what great idea you have. There are certain words that you should avoid in communication such as “You never”, “You always”, “all people”, and other sayings that leads to confrontation.

Competing is something I believe you have to do every day. To me, it goes along with mental toughness. You compete when you get up every single morning with a good attitude to go and make a difference. You will compete in trying to get your classes to be better, to get students to think. You will compete at practice to get players to do things they don’t think they can do as well as the team itself. You will compete in getting proper rest and using your Third person, and you will compete again the next day doing it all over again…hopefully better.

Consistency is doing what I said with competing, every day. It is living and leading with actions for the words you use. If you are not consistent people will see it, in fact, they will seek it. They will seek to try and find your inconsistent behavior.

13. Which concepts in the Family section really struck a chord with you? What changes do you anticipate that you will implement as a result of the suggestions provided in this section?

All concepts in this section struck a chord. We will implement the “What I won’t do for my friends” on a banner in the locker room. We will go over “The Easy and the Hard” every day before practice. We want to enforce and reward positive behavior.

I believe that if when I finish all they can say is that I was a good basketball coach then I will have been a failure. I want to use the podium I have to stand up for more than wins and losses. I want to stand up for more than being revered as a basketball person. I want to stand up for Christ and spread what I believe a servant leader should be to as many students and players as I can until my time is finished here as a teacher and coach.

The End of Western Civilization....or Maybe Not

2011-09-12T10:26:00.000-04:00

As adults, it is our job to complain about children and where our society is headed. It is mandatory...every generation does it. But when I watch videos like this one, it makes me feel a little bit better about the direction of our society. At least for a small moment.

Always Learning....Pay Attention

2011-09-12T07:29:00.000-04:00

If you aren't trying to learn something new every opportunity that you get, you are moving backwards. I honestly believe that. It can truly be a sign of arrogance to think that you know everything there is to know about everything. I watch older people, mostly basketball coaches, that are much older than I am and yet they are constantly striving to learn something new. I guess it is the respectful side of me that if I am watching people older and more importantly, more successful than I maybe it is something I should be doing.

We recently had Paul Hoover come in and give a shooting clinic to 4th-8th graders and he had some different ideas. At first, the rigid part of me didn't appreciate some of the things he was saying or I should say "how" he was saying it. His ideas on shooting, some of it was radically different and some of it was just little techniques to help what we teach already.

But I paid attention as he worked with young kids. I paid attention because I want to find something that would help my guys out. I paid attention out of respect. I paid attention because he has been successful with his techniques. And I paid attention because it's basketball...come on....it's basketball.

Resolution for Men

2011-09-09T07:29:00.000-04:00

Just started reading the above book. Wow...it is no joke. So far it is honest and challenging. Well worth the read if you are courageous enough.

It is from the movie Courageous. The movie follows a group of police officers and fathers. In the movie something terrible happens that makes the group want to be better.

I want to be better....good enough isn't enough.

Coach Don Meyer's Leadership Seminar in Nashville, TN

2011-09-07T08:29:00.000-04:00

This week I attended about an 8 hour seminar presented by Coach Don Meyer in Nashville TN. It was located in Brentwood Hills Chruch of Christ and it was him talking the entire time about his philosphies on leadership, life, and coaching which to him are all one and the same.

I have no idea what to write about. If I were to start writing about everything I learned or was impressed by, I would be writing all day. If you want to see the stuff he covered just go to his website...great stuff here.

The power point that he covered is here. Just go to the top of the page and follow the directions. However, I am not sure a website and power point can do justice for what this man knows and is doing with it now.

If you don't know his story just click here. You know that in all of his wins (all time winningest men's coach in college basketball) that he knows something about coaching and leadership, but you get an understanding that he has changed.

He has changed since his accident, there seems to be a different kind of attitude coming from him. But he feels a sense, and may have whether he had an accident or not, that he should pass on his philosphy. In his words yesterday he said that he is not coaching anymore, but is still coaching people like us which may be more important because he is reaching many more people than just 12 players per team.

Coach, your time and efforts didn't just reach 12 players per team. Those people who played for you took your values and philosphy and are spreading it around. Like the "soaking rain" you used often, your former players and coaches are doing that now all over the country and world. You admire Coach John Wooden greatly, you can tell by how you speak of him, but there are many people who feel the same way about you.

To spend that short period of time around Coach Meyer this week reinforced what I believe coaching and leading are to be. I just hope that I have half the influence that Coach Meyer has had.

When I Retire or Resign or Am Fired

2011-09-03T23:32:00.000-04:00

When I finally quit coaching basketball as either the head coach or as an assistant, I want to be remembered for more than just being a basketball coach. If all that people can say is that he was a good or bad basketball coach, I will feel that I didn't do my job. I realize that more people will be vocally critical, it is something I have come to grips with, but is it only basketball these guys are getting from me?

I have spoken to other coaches and I often wonder how they feel especially when I listen to the words they speak. Unfortunately or fortunately, our lives as a coach are controlled by teenage boys or girls if you coach females. I can tell you from experience as a teenager that I often had no idea what I was doing I just listened to people in charge. Those people in charge might be teachers/coaches, but they just might be peers on any given weekend night. The fear I had as a player of letting people down kept me on a relatively straight and narrow path. I remember one time my father coming home and saying "Perry, you have a lot of people that you could let down because I was just over in town and some people talked about how much they admired you. If you ever do anything stupid, you will let many people down."

You can imagine as a 16 year old kid how weighty that was, very similar to what I felt when I got the head coaching job. A weight that seemed like too much of a burden to carry. Now, it is a burden that I fully accept. What is the difference? The difference is that I realize that the "burden" I thought I felt was nothing more than self pressure. I find it pretty easy to stay out of trouble...always have. To embrace what I already have is easy. It is like embracing the love of basketball or the love of my wife and kids, or loving teaching. It isn't complicated, yet knowing that I can fail and will because everyone's expecation is different is not something that keeps me awake at night.

When I finish coaching, if all they say is that I was a basketball coach, I will feel that I didn't use the platform that I had been given. In fact, I think I want my former players to talk less about basketball that they learned, but as they age to understand what we tried to teach them about life. Their life and serving the lives of people surrounding them is what I want them to understand. I want them to listen and see and hopefully learn because of my poor example how to be positive men; how to be positive husbands and fathers.

1st Basketball Meeting

2011-08-30T13:12:00.000-04:00

Every year, we have a meeting once school starts to talk to the prospective players about many different things. The main thing we do is give the schedule of open gyms and conditioning. I also think it is important to give them the dates of Thanksgiving and Christmas practices well in advance so that everyone is prepared for the upcoming season and families can work around basketball schedules if possible.

Also, we talk about staying on top of their grades, making sure they are behaving in class, and that they will be held to a higher standard than most students. We want to make it clear that when they decide to play basketball, they will put much time and effort into a sport that many people choose not to do anymore, that they will give up free time during holidays, and that they will be held accountable for their actions both on and off the court.

One thing that happens every year is that there will be a few people who show up for that meeting who probably have zero intention of playing. They may think they are planning to play, but once some things are spelled out...we won't see them again. I really believe that some guys 100% believe they are playing until that meeting. Sometimes it is until conditioning starts. Sometimes after practices begin. It is different for every guy, but at some point they decide they do not want to do what we want them to do.

The seniors and juniors who have played have a great understanding of what is expected as well as most sophomores because of their experience in playing. However, the freshman are new and no matter how serious you make junior high, it is not the same as high school basketball especially in Indiana. I often wonder when I look at the prospective players which ones will make it.

Playing and surviving basketball is similar to, but not anywhere close to, military boot camp. Many start and few finish and if you suceed you are special, but if you do not...well, let's just say it isn't for everybody.

Twenty-four players in 9th-12th showed up at the meeting today, how many will be there at the last regular season game?

Sports Reach

2011-08-25T07:42:00.000-04:00

Today I am headed after school to Sports Reach Ministry's Annual auction and dinner. I have had this marked on my calendar for quite some time. It will hopefully be a way I can mix two of my favorite things together: basketball and my faith.

Sports Reach is a not for profit group that uses sports to reach the world and to spread the gospel. The people that I have been in touch with are professional and first class people. I look forward to helping them in some capacity in the future whether through coaching or running copies for an event.

The auction tonight will be interesting as there are tons of great things to bid on. I asked my wife how much I could spend...she just laughed. I probably won't bring anything home, but I will be able to fellowship with like minded people and listen to UK AD Mitch Barnhart deliver his testimony.

It should be a great evening.

West Clark Community Schools Substance Abuse Policy for Extracurricular Participants

2011-08-24T12:20:00.000-04:00

WCCS recognizes that athletes, cheerleaders, and extra curricular participants stand in a special relationship with their school, community, and other students. It is understood that wearing the uniform of the school and/or reperesenting the school in competition confers both extra recognition and extra responsibilities upon the student.

Therefore, the use of any alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs is prohibited among all students, including athletes, cheerleaders, and extra curricular participants.

This prohibition extends 365 days a year, 24 hours a day for athletes, cheerleaders, and extra curricular participants in WCCS.

Possession or use of illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco or participation in an activity which would reasonabily be considered criminal activity, such as theft, will result in the following penalty:

1st offense: Suspension from participation in 1/3 of the contests for that particular season. Participation in practices MAY be permitted, depending on the circumstances.

2nd offense: (during career in elementary, jr. high, and then high school): Suspension from participation for 365 days.

3rd offense: (during career in elementary, jr. high, and then high school): No participation in athletics, cheerleading, or other extra curricular for the rest of the student's years in that level school.

In the event the offense occurs late in the season or out of season, there will be a carry-over to the next season, whether that season would be the same school year or the next one.

(re-printed directly from the Henryville Junior/Senior High School hand book for 2011-2012)

Who You Are When No One's Looking

2011-08-23T09:40:00.002-04:00

Just finished a pretty good book by Bill Hybels Who You Are When No One's Looking . It is funny because when I started reading it, I wans't too enthralled, but came back to it a week ago and couldn't put it down. I will give you a brief rundown of what is in the book.

The first chapter is over character. We really are who we are when no one is looking. Hybels covers that if you are living one life in public and a different life in private where you could develop spiritually will be stunted or even stopped.

In the second chapter he covers courage. He covers spiritual courage, the courage to follow, relational courage and moral courage. He states that we must face our fears, rally around role models, and allow our minds to be transformed.

Next he spoke of discipline. One of the main points he used was in being successful we have to delay our gratification on almost all things. The easy, "feel good" way often leads to being unsuccessful. Our lives are intended for greatness, we must be patient.

Vision, be able to look beyond the obvious in finding solutions to problems. In this chapter, he used an anology of two men trapped in a prison cell. One prisoner could see no further than the bars on the cell to the window outside. The other prisoner was able to focus on the stars beyond the window, he was able to have vision and he had hope because of it.

Endurance, we must be able to break through "quitting points". All of us feel that moment at some point where we do not want to go on, we do not want to fight the good fight. We must be able to break through those moments. Proceeding when wanting to quit doesn't make you a bad person, it makes you a great person. Often when we do quit it is just short of the success we were searching for.

In the next few chapters he spoke of different types of "love". The first was tender love. Before we judge and critisize we must walk in the shoes of another. We must understand that no matter what is said or done by another that they were created by God and loved as a special person, just as we are.

Tough love...at some points in life, you have to confront certain issues. Telling people what they want to hear all of the time even when they are wrong is not what they need.

Sacrificial love...which taken all the way to an extreme is giving everything and expecting nothing in return. That is probably never going to happen, but striving along the way to that point shows sacrificial love.

And finally he covers radical love. That is the kind of love that you find for everyone. Everyone is worthy of it as a human being. He does concede that there are times that trying to realize that about someone who is visibly upset with you is not an easy task.

"When I listen to the evening news or read the morning paper these days my reaction is always the same: what's wrong in the world will not be set right until people who love God and who refuse to cave to these overwhelming challenges put the things they believe into action, things like courage and discipline and love." Bill Hybels

Schools Starts; Gearing Up For Another Run

2011-08-18T07:35:00.000-04:00

We started back to school this week. You never quite remember just how tired you are when you go back that first week. My voice gets weak because I am not as used to talking, but my legs...and feet...from standing up in shoes that aren't exactly made for that, it seems.

I get excited, the kids get excited and the basketball players want to get going ASAP, some of them. We usually let one week go by before we get too much into anything. They need to get into routines and I need to rest!

We will start with small group workouts next week, then in September we will have open gym. We will work small groups out, but in another gym we will have guys playing. They will be trying to get some kind of legs under them before conditioning starts. Conditioning will start in October and go right until practice starts in November.

I don't foresee me coaching forever, but I often wonder what I would do without being at these things when the school year starts and then during the long winter months when we are in season. I know that by the end of the school year when I don't do anything basketball related, I lose a little focus and long for June to get here.

What I Have Found, or Noticed, or Know

2011-08-15T21:21:00.000-04:00

We often dislike with great intensity in others what we are ourselves and even more so, what we dislike with great intensity in ourselves.

Reflection, honest thoughts, change, reflection, honest thoughts, change...and so on. That is the way of life. No reflection, no honest thoughts and no change may make you worldy successful, but is it worth it?

Is it okay to gain the whole world only to lose your soul?

Some Try to Intentionally Inflame: Understand and Ignore....if Possible

2011-08-10T00:40:00.001-04:00

Understanding non-moderated message boards.

How Do I Stay Positive?

2011-08-05T09:49:00.000-04:00

Some people think I am a pretty positive person, some maybe not. I have tried and I am sure, in fact, I know that I am not always positive. I am human and sometimes let the world bring me down. But there are two things that I do to try and remain positive....every day....no matter the circumstance and I am saying this from a perspective that I have been very fortunate in my life. Fortunate in that I haven't had to deal with severe adversity. I am not untouched by it and have dealt with it in my personal life, but in the grand scheme of things, I am highly blessed.

1. I force myself to be positive. When I cannot handle what is going on or something is really getting to me, I will blog about it (quite cathartic) or I will sit and think about how blessed I am. I have a job/career that I enjoy; a family that is relatively healthy and happy; and financially doing "okay". Comparatively speaking, it isn't that bad and I remind myself that it isn't about me in every way you can take that statement, so I tell myself to quit whining and to stop feeling sorry for myself.

2. It can always be worse. Last year we weren't winning. It could be worse. We had suspensions. It could be worse. We had injuries. It could be worse. We lost close games. It could be worse. We lost by large margins. It could be worse. If your professional life isn't what you want at the moment, focus on how lucky you are to be alive. If your own health isn't what it should be, look at your family, specifically your children and see how lucky they are to be healthy. If they aren't think about how blessed you are to have had the years you had or the time with your family. I do believe there are certain things that even I would struggle with but it has to do with my own children. There is nothing that could happen to me or any other adult that I wouldn't be upset about, probably depressed, but eventually "get over" because of my children. My children are my weakest spot, the place where I would need much help in dealing with something that happened to them.

I don't like to claim or boast about my faith, but I won't back down from it either. If you ask, I will discuss it, but I also use my faith, my belief in Jesus Christ. When I realize that I am not in control of this world or the plans laid out for me, it takes much of the worry out of me. As I have told people that doesn't mean I can just lay around and expect anything, I must use the gifts I was given and help to give back the many blessings that I have.

With all of that said, I fail. I fail often in being positive (claming that is inherently negative isn't it?). I look around and see people who don't do things ethically and sometimes illegally and wonder how they can be successful and I haven't been. And that is when I realize that "the world" is seeping into my psyche and turn my eyes elsewhere.

Sharing Hoosier Hysteria

2011-08-03T12:36:00.001-04:00

(Me, Bobby Plum of Milan and Butler fame, Coach Shane Matzen from Chesterfield, MO)

I realize that coaching in Indiana is a special place. Basketball here is different, it just is. I realize also that most people think that about their own specific places are special, but until you have been to Indiana, you just don't understand. We have a high school gym that seats 9,000 people. I think 15 of the largest 16 high school gyms in the world are located in Indiana with towns whose populations are much smaller than other major cities and the size of their gyms are double if not more.

I meet coaches each summer from other states and now other countries, who ask about Indiana basketball. They ask about the history, the gyms, the teams...they know about our state, our game. One guy in particular stands out. Shane Matzen who lives in Chesterfield, MO and is the coach of Marquette HS there. They have over 2,000 students at his school and they have a very good team year in and year out. Yet the gym holds around 1,300 people. They can't hold a convocation with the whole school which is the norm to most people.

I met Coach Matzen at Murray State University a few summers back and he started asking me about some of the gyms in Indiana. I felt like he and I hit it off pretty well and stayed in contact though the years. Coach Matzen does a great job and one of the things he does is have his own t.v. show online. Marquette Mustangs: Mustang Mania TV show He invited me to be interviewed for the show (watch Hoosier Hysteria episode )when he came on a small visit of Indiana. What an honor it was for me and I got to tag along and share Hoosier Hysteria with people who were seeing it for the first time.

First, we went to Bobby Plump's restaurant Last Shot. He interviewed him and I got to meet him and have a picture taken. Then it was off to Hinkle Fieldhouse, The Hall of Fame, Hoosiers Gym, and New Castle HS gym. It was Coach, his mom and dad, and two sons that I got to be with and share our state treasures with. Hinkle where Butler plays and is in the movie Hoosiers, The Hall of Fame, you have to visit it to understand, Hoosiers Gym where the Huskers of Hickory played their home games and then NC gym...the largest gym in the world.

(Coach Matzen and family at the world's largest high school gym in New Castle, IN)

I gave them some Henryville t-shirts and after a day of fun, I headed home. Then I got an email from Coach Matzen's mother, Gloria. She and her husband Merle were going to be in the area and wondered if I could show them the gym at HHS. Of course, I would love to do that. Sharing not just Indiana basketball, but my own gym....sure thing! My wife and children and I gave them the grand tour of HHS and then sent them on their way to Bloomington, IN where they were able to get into Assembly Hall. On the way back, they stopped at Springs Valley, HS to see where Larry Bird played. She said a secretary allowed them in and gave them a tour.

(Merle and Gloria Matzen at H.G. Furnish Gymnasium in Henryville IN...seating= 2,400)

Sharing our heritage is something that I love to do. I have been to most of the places that are special here many times and I wouldn't say I take them for granted, but I have lost that little kid aweness of the places...somewhat. But I get that back when I take people to these places and look at their reactions. To see them smile and look overwhelmed reminds me why it is special to coach high school basketball in Indiana.

Some Stuff from the Cards of Coach Don Meyer

2011-07-29T16:21:00.005-04:00

Coach Don Meyer has good stuff on his website: Coach Don Meyer: Home

DON'T:
Don't listen. You might hear.

Don't think. You might learn.

Don't make a decision. You might be wrong.

Don't walk. You might stumble.

Don't run. You might fall.

Don't live. You might die.

Love Life:
Be grateful for it always
and show your gratitude
by not shying away from its challenges

Try always to live
a little beyond your capacities....
you'll find that you never succeed

STOP! and think
1. Is this a risk I can afford to take?
2. How will this affect my future?
3. How will this affect my family?
4. How will this affect my teammates and coaches?

Nothing Moving Me to Write, I Thought I Would Offer Up Another Movie Selection

2011-07-28T14:25:00.000-04:00

I am currently reading The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. I had seen the movie first and if you picked either you would be entertained, I guess is the best word. The movie, however, does go along with the book. It is about being an innocent boy growing up during the Hitler Reich in Germany. Good movie with a shocking ending.

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Trailer

Dead Poets Society: Carpe Diem

2011-07-26T21:44:00.000-04:00

This is by far one of the better movies I have seen. I can remember being in my mid 20's watching this and this scene really hit me....hard.

Watch and enjoy this 5 minute clip.

How Much is Too Much?

2011-07-26T08:57:00.000-04:00

Before I had kids, I often wondered why we didn't have consistent attendance when we had camps from some students. Most of it was based on the fact that when I was a kid, I was there every time the doors were open. But when I was a kid, I did two things...Little League baseball and basketball camps. That was it. The rest of the time I did something really crazy....I played in my yard with my sister or by myself.

Now I do have kids. Only one is old enough to participate in camps and little league, but I wonder what is too much? Do we schedule too much of her fun. She has attended boys' basketball camps, girls' basketball camps (2 different schools), volleyball camps, tennis camps, gymnastics, played soccer, and played coach pitch baseball. When I write that down, I wonder if it is too much. We never force her to participate, we ask her. And if she were to say "no", my wife and I would be fine with that. But she says "yes". Should we hold back some of these things to allow her more unscheduled time or is it part of the world we live in, she lives in today?

I try to be a pretty even minded parent which might be virtually impossible to do. But I observe her when she is doing what she is doing and she doesn't act bored. It kills my son who is 3 years younger. He wants to do everything that his sister does and we have allowed him in my camps and started him in gymnastics to help with his coordination.

I think we have to be cautious in comparing the world of our children with the world we grew up in. I think that is true for every generation. Because there are always changes in culture and each generation thinks they had it better than the current generation. Maybe we did, maybe our parents and grandparents had better than any of us. I guess it is going to be a debate on what is too much not in activities for kids, but also is it too much on toys, technology, and just about everything else.

So, this morning, we take the kids off to tennis camp, we will sign my daughter up for basketball camp, gymnastics this week, and soccer sign ups soon as well as my basketball camp for both kiddos...geez, I am worn out just thinking about it. As they age, we plan on narrowing what they do based on their likes and ability, but for now this is it for kids; and it makes more sense why we don't get consistent attendance in our camps from some kids. We are just but one of numerous things that kids have the opportunity to do every week and every day.

Support Base

2011-07-24T21:33:00.000-04:00

In the coaching world, you need to have a support base. You need someone who will be there when you win, but more importantly when you are losing. You need someone who is going to be there when you are the unofficial mayor of the town, but more importantly when you can't find a friend anywhere.

With me, it is my wife, mom and dad, and kids. I have plenty of friends in the school, in the community, and surrounding the team that support me, but I don't go home with them. That doesn't make me appreciate them any less. Other coaches in the building as well as other teachers at HHS are hugely supportive and I am glad that they are there. My parents, I know, have my back. They will support me no matter what happens. My mom may even be a little more aggressive in her support.

But my kids are always welcoming me after a game with hugs and kisses...and honesty. Last year, my daughter said towards the middle of a tough season "dad, your team always loses, but I love you". I said "uh, thanks, I think" and had a little laugh about it. My daughter could care less if we win or not, she just wants to cheer at the games, and the cheer sponsor has been great in allowing her to be with them during games. My son could also care less if we win or not. After games, he just wants a basketball to dribble and shoot with.

My wife, however, is the best. She is the one who keeps my book, listens to me vent, supports and reassures, and also brings me down to Earth. She is the one who listens to my doubts, my conerns, and my frustrations. She does all of this by reminding me why I coach and putting things in proper perspective. She might be the best coaches wife that there is, though many would debate that comment. But she does not complain when I have to scout, when I want to go to camps to work or attend basketball clinics. She does not complain when I am refereeing elementary games, and I ask her to work the "gate". She does not complain when after a game, win or lose, that we go out to either sulk or celebrate. She played and she has an understanding of what it takes to be successful, she understand how you are supposed to do things when it comes to basketball.

I will debate anyone that she is the best my wife Kristi. And as she approaches her 32nd birthday on Monday, July 25, I hope she knows how much I appreciate her. I appreciate that she is supportive, but also has to endure many of the same things that I do on the negative side, the only difference is that I can control some of it...she can't.

When Bad Things Happen to Good Coaches

2011-07-23T09:46:00.000-04:00

I will be the first to do two things:

1. admit that I have coached for 1 A.D. and 3 Principals and have had full support, to my knowledge, from all four people. I have zero stories of threats by administration towards whether I am coach or not, I will even go so far to say that I have had zero problems with school board members. I realize that they hear talk and complaints, but it hasn't reached the level that they have spoken to me. Maybe it has gotten bad, but they have been professional and kept it to themselves. With that said, it could change at anytime, I understand that.

2. admit that basketball coaches can do some really stupid things. I am not going to discuss details here, but there have been coaches fired for doing immoral and unethical things. We are human beings, we will make mistakes...that doesn't make it any less stupid. I will also admit that I have done some pretty stupid things that haven't broached a fireable offense, but that would be subjective to many people.

With those two things being said, there have been many coaches in the last 5 years that I have noticed that have resigned or been fired that should not have been forced in either situation. Some of these coaches were successfull, but someone (board/administration) was wanting to make room for someone else (I would not want to coach in that situation at all). Some of these coaches were let go in the time that their talent level had dipped. It happens at all schools, but even more so at smaller schools.

Most people don't put much thought into what this pressure puts on a coach, but more importantly to a coaches family. Most coaches are big boys, or girls, and can handle this...it isn't fun, but they can handle it. But imagine their wives or children having to hear and deal with these things. These negative situations are usually public and everyone is dragged through the proverbial mud. It isn't something that happens when doctors, accountants or salesman lose their jobs. It isn't fair, but it is part of the job when you take a job like high school basketball coach in Indiana, you realize that it happens.

It's unfortunate to see highly successful coaches who are doing things the right way to be under pressure and then removed. Believe it or not, most high school coaches are not coaching for the money. They might be coaching for themselves, their need for competition and their need to feel good about themselves, but most are coaching because they want to compete and want to help kids. Maybe that is idealistic but it is what I believe.

I think it is important to understand that all coaches do not want to lose. If winning were easy everybody would be doing it, but we are all trying to beat each other. Therefore, if your talent level is down that team probably won't do as well. I think it is important to take into everything that is going on around a program before you remove the coach. Is the talent down? Do the kids respect the coach? Is the coach working hard? Is the coach a moral guy? and many other questions that have nothing to do with winning, but.....

I do realize that it is high school basketball in Indiana and that many people want to win. I understand that at some point if you don't win the grumblings will get louder and louder. I understand that at some point the administration and school boards may get tired of hearing about the basketball coach (squeeky wheel gets noticed). I understand that when that happens, they will find anything they can to pressure you to step down or be fired. I understand all of that, and I understand that it might be time for the coach to go which won't usually be an easy parting. Think divorce and you understand maybe a little why it could get ugly.

The only thing that I can offer is this and it goes not just for basketball coaches, but in any position where there is negativity. If you are a supporter, speak up. Usually people are most vocal when they are unhappy, just look at politics especially during election time. A small minority can affect the outcome of job positions especially basketball coaches. If you think your coach is doing a good job, tell the administration and school board members. I would bet that often the silent majority is shocked and/or upset when something like this happens but hasn't spoken up. So speak up when you hear rumors or grumblings.

Most people wouldn't understand that high school coaches are pretty close. We are willing to share information on other teams and even our own philosophies to other coaches. We are trying to beat each other, but besides our family, we probably support each other more than you could understand and it is because of shared experiences. This isn't a personal issue for me because of something I have gone through (a coach once told me that there are two types of coaches: those who have been fired and those who will be fired), but it is a personal issue in that I have seen people I consider friends go through this. It is personal because I know what we go through as coaches and most coaches, not all, deserve better.

Can There Be 4 Worse Words to Say as a Coach Than "Well, When I Played..."?

2011-07-21T13:49:00.001-04:00

(Back row Buddy Coats, Erik Furnish, Charles Bottorff, David Moore, Darrell Bischoff, Head Coach Terry Rademacher
Front row Bryan Coomer, Doug Boggs, Matt Rice, and Perry Hunter)

Well, when I played....many people thought I was a smart player. Some thought I was skilled, some thought I was quick, some thought...whatever, but many people thought I was smart. When I think back about when I played high school basketball, I wasn't very smart, I just did what my coach told me to do which I guess in hindsight is pretty smart. But I have watched game tapes of when I played and I can remember playing in those games, but I don't remember knowing why I did what I did. But I look back and see that not only me, but many of my teammates did some really smart things and it had to go back to coaching because none of us were that smart.

My senior year, picture above, we were not that good. We were not athletic, but the team GPA was relatively high, we played hard, and we were coachable. The scoring was done by 3 guys. Charles Bottorff, me, and Matt Rice would take most of the shots and score most of the points. We had many good role players after that. Some of the guys would focus on rebounding and some on defense, and some on handling the ball.

We played many good teams that year and finished 11-9 in the regular season. We got a break and drew Borden in the bye game of the sectional which is the first round of our state tournament. This was the one class era, so two small schools playing for a chance to get to the championship was a big deal for both of us. We had beaten them twice that season in close games, I hit two FT's with seconds left to beat them at home and Matt Rice hit FT's at Borden to win in the last seconds. We felt like we were better than them and they were confident they could beat us. We came out and got a big lead immediately up over 30 points at halftime.

That got us to the championship game vs. the host school Floyd Central. Floyd Central was a junior dominated team led by Pat Graham. The next season FC would go to the State Final Four, Graham would be named Mr. Basketball and would sign with Indiana University. But on this night, this group at FC hadn't won anything yet. We were down 10-0 and called a timeout. By halftime the game was virtually over but in the 4th quarter down by 20, we made a run and cut the lead to 12, I believe, and had the ball. FC stopped the run and defeated us easily to win the sectional and for us to finish 12-10.

I can remember fouling out of that game with a few minutes left and I can remember the absolute emotional drain that I had. You see, all I had wanted to do when I was a kid was play for Henryville. I was born in October of 1969 and my mom started taking me to games in November. But as I walked off the floor to the bench, then from the bench to the locker room and finally in the locker room I could not believe that I would never get to put on a uniform again. That everything I had ever wanted as a kid was over.

You can probably understand why many of us coach. We want to be able to never grow up in some ways. By coaching we get to still be a part of our childhood, by being part of others' childhoods. The difference now is that when a player's career is over and they are extremely emotional, my career can go on as long as I want to coach or do not get removed from the job.

(The 10-11 team at Purdue the summer before the season)

Making Basketball Goals Out of Nothing...or Something

2011-07-19T09:39:00.001-04:00

(Hanover Basketball Camp above before my freshman year of high school. I am third row from the bottom all the way to the right)

When I first started playing basketball, I had an urge inside to play...all the time. It would drive me crazy if I couldn't shoot, or play. I was around 10 years old when a friend of my cousins told me what he used to do. We didn't have Nerf goals, so he taught me how to take a metal coat hanger and make it into a rim. You spin the top off, then put it in the top of your door. I got more elaborate as time went on by putting string on for a net and cardboard cut out to make backboards. At one time, I had a full court in my bedroom, and I played full schedules. Usually, as Henryville playing every top team in the state and we never lost...always undefeated. The ball could be any ball, but what I ended up doing was taking a sock or two and wrapping them up in gray tape. It would bounce and you could shoot it and it would last a long time.

What I think back on now is the unbelievable patience my parents had. I played games with play by play. I played games and was fouled by bumping into the walls. I played games running up and down the court, throwing the ball off the walls for give and go plays. When I had friends over, we would play one on one and it could get pretty physical. I don't know if as a parent, I could put up with what I did. I would play music and that would be the length of the game. 5 songs would be halftime, 5 more would be the end of the game. I got to where I knew towards the end of the last song when the half or the game would end.

My father built the goal that I had in my yard. He used wood from an old house he had torn down, dug the hole and put it up. It had no area to shoot a layup with a gap...the boards were right there. It was built on a small hill and the rim broke hanging down in front. It was why my shot was so flat early in high school because I shot so many times at that goal.

The court wasn't paved, it was grass until I turned it into dirt. It was dirt when it was dry, it was mud when it rained and when it snowed....it was both snowy and muddy. I can remember shooting on that goal in the dirt, the mud and wearing gloves in the winter to go and shoot. I remember watching basketball games on t.v. and I could not stand it, I had to get up and go out and shoot, yet I wanted to watch the game so it was a continuous back and forth. Inside to watch the game, outside to shoot, back inside to watch...and so on. Again, the patience of my parents.

How often do kids do that now? I know my own children have many basketball goals in the house, none made by them. There are many basketballs in the house, none made by them. Are we stealing something from our children by not allowing them to use their imaginations? Are we stealing something by having everything they do organized and scheduled? I think so, but I might also be a parent who remembers the "good old days" but while participating back then, my parents and grandparents were probably looking at me thinking of what I was missing out on from their own childhoods.

113 Days Until The Boys' 1st Practice

2011-07-17T20:45:00.000-04:00

Yes, having a few days off from basketball has gotten me looking ahead to this season. I really believe that if the guys keep working and learning that we will be highly competitive this season. Seniors Brad Everage and Evan Embry, juniors Cody Reister, Dakota Harrell, Ty Collins, Jade Jones and Jacob Guernsey, sophomores Andrew Jones and Devin Richey played the bulk of the varsity games this summer and all did some good things at different times. We have some size, some quickness, and some shooters and our defense improved. And all those guys who played some J.V. also improved this summer.

But until the first practice, we have a few things to do. First, I will meet with the girls' coach and we are going to talk about starting a "league" that combines both boys and girls starting at the pre-K age to junior high, at least what I am hoping for. We will start open gyms soon, but we have to work around the fall sports schedules especially volleyball, but having a third functional gym now will help. Then in October, we will start conditioning. We really want to be in great running shape when practice starts so we are ready to go.

That may not seem like a lot to do, but it will start about 2 to three weeks after school begins making us have something to do with basketball August thru April, nothing in May, much of June, off in July. So in 12 months, we do nothing basketball related 2 out of 12 months. That is why I think that any boy who is willing to put the time in to play basketball deserves respect. However, I do not think that because they are willing to put the time in that they deserve any special treatment inside the building when it comes to academics or behavior, in fact, I would hope they are held to a higher standard in many situations.

Our goal is to win games, build better men who will be responsible husbands and fathers. Our goal is to win games and teach them the game of basketball, but more importantly the game of life in how to deal with success and adversity. Our goal is to win games and to work hard. Our goal is to win games and represent Henryville H.S. and the Henryville school community in a positive manner. Our goals are many, but they are what I believe in and what we will work towards as long as I am the coach.

Balance in Life

2011-07-14T13:53:00.001-04:00

We did something a little differently this summer basketball wise, we are taking all of July off. We used to have the "old school" open gyms, but we had low turnout and I think we all needed a break. I know I did but many of the guys wanted to play some more once the down period was over after July 4th week, but I told them no. I think it is good that they want to be IN the gym and not want to stay AWAY from the gym. So we will get started back up once school starts with open gyms and conditioning starting sometime in October.

It is nice to take some time and stay away from not only the gym, but also the school. I have not been up there, but one time in 3 weeks. I have done a lot of yard work and spending time with the kids, trying to make up for all the time I miss from October to March. I have tried not to miss their events since the season ended even though it won't kill them to have me not there, it is something that I don't want to look back on and regret because I didn't go enough. It is like when I get frustrated at night when the kids want me to read to them, yet I am tired. All I have to do is think about how it won't be long when they won't want me to read to them, they won't want me around, and they will be reading to their own children...so I stay, read, and smile.

We all got away for a few days to Michigan City, IN for a mini vacation. There is a nice beach up there at Washington Park and I just wanted to be on a beach without driving forever and spending a ton of money. Who knows, maybe we will go back up in August. But I have been writing my "autobiography" lately and I think about all of the great times that I had with my mom and dad as a kid and I want my kids to have positive memories too.

I really like the picture to the side that my wife took while walking to the car and without my knowledge. Hopefully, they will want to hold my hand for a long time as we walk because I don't know if I will see them as anything other than my "little kids". I hope that I do a good job in being a father that it will help my daughter to understand what she deserves in a man to marry and my son understands what it is to be a father. I know that my parents did that and it is something that I hope I can pass onto them.

You see, basketball is important to me, but it isn't my life. All of this stuff that I write about is important, but isn't necessarily my life. My life is the picture above, along with my wife, trying to live a good life and helping to better the world by sending two more good people off into it. To me, it isn't about what I have done, what I am doing, or what I will do, it is about giving back. I have been greatly blessed, sure I have had some down times, but who hasn't, and I feel it is only important to give back. Hopefully, I am doing that most days and teaching my children the same thing.

(We did stop by Valparaiso University and take a look at the gym and their facilities...come on, it is a basketball family for crying out loud!)

Coaching at a Smaller High School

2011-07-09T08:19:00.001-04:00

Coaching where I do, and I am sure it happens at most high schools but I can only speak for myself, the jobs (plural) we do almost make us some sort of administrator besides varsity basketball coach. If we could worry just about coaching the varsity basketball team, it would make the job easier, but maybe not always as fulfilling. Here are some of the things that I am either responsible for or have taken on myself.

Supervisor: I try to attend as many games as possible from the 5th grade level on up. Since I have children of my own the total amount of games has dwindled, but I still attend some. While there I try to help whoever is in charge with supervision, but you also deal with parents who may want to vent some of their frustrations about the current situation about their's son's team. This sometimes carries over to phone calls at home about these teams.

Director of Basketball Operations: from scheduling and officiating elementary games, but more importantly scheduling the summer games we play in June to finding hotel rooms and transportation during that time, we become mini Athletic Directors. Hopefully, we are giving these guys an experience at different colleges and Indiana basketball history that they will remember the rest of their lives.

Fundraiser: I have written about this before, but fundraising is a necessary evil. We cannot do or afford some of the stuff we get without it. This past summer, the only thing our players paid for with 4 trips was food they wanted to eat while away from home. The tournaments and hotel rooms were taken care of for them and that is something that doesn't happen everywhere.

Custodian: Sometimes before and after the season, but during the season I am constantly cleaning our floor. I want the facility to be as nice as possible to practice and play on for our guys. We ask so much from them during the season the least I can do is to make sure the floor is clean, free of coke spills, and non slippery.

Counselor: Very often I find myself making sure our players are staying on top of their grades, but I am also talking to them about family issues and, unfortunately, girl issues. These are all situations I have found myself in while coaching and though I don't like it, we find ourselves dealing with them. I can either look the other way or help, I choose to help.

Mentor: For former players and current players, I am trying to teach, but also set a good example of how to be a good person. They don't have to be me, I don't want them to be me, but I want them to feel comfortable to come back and talk any time. I want them to have something that they can draw upon from their past that will help, maybe, in their current lives.

Public Relations: It is one thing that I didn't like as much when I was a young coach and trying to be someone other than who I was, but it is something that I have embraced as I have gotten older, more experienced and being who I am. I enjoy developing relationships with the elementary camp players, but also their parents. I want them to know that I care about their son not just as a basketball player, but as a person. When it comes to my own team, I have become more open about discussing what I do even if they don't agree with it. Being a leader is making decisions and when you make decisions you are not going to make everyone happy. But being a parent now, I appreciate feedback from my child's coaches and I can understand that though some parents may not like what I say, they will appreciate that I say it....but I could be wrong.

These are a few of the things that I can sit down and think of right off the top of my head. I can write on a resume my job experiences and I can write about the clinics or camps I have attended or worked, but I don't think they do justice to what high school coaches do on a daily basis. Luckily, I have great administrative support and help so what I have to do is minimal compared to other coaches. But the job is not just about coaching basketball, it coaching life and trying to do things the right way.