Thursday, March 26, 2009

Intelligence/Basketball IQ

According to dictionary.com, intelligence is a capacity for learning, reasoning, understanding, and similar forms of mental activity. I think many coaches use the term basketball IQ, but really don't understand how to relay the characteristics that constitute basketball IQ. It is our responsibility to spend the time and dissect the elements of how to develop good basketball IQ. Through my experiences there are seven elements:

1. Self-Realization of Skills/Role
A player's basketball IQ starts with their analysis of their skills in terms of strengths and weaknesses. Then taking their strengths and weaknesses, and what role does that fit within in their program/team.

2. Styles of Play
I think understanding different types of defenses (half-court, 3/4 court, and full-court) and offenses (transition to half-court). The differences between man to man and zone defenses, and how to execute and exploit both styles of defense.

3. Court Awareness
A player's court awareness comes down to the understanding the location of three elements: the ball, the player, and his/her teammates.

4. Game Situation Awareness
One of the biggest areas that is overlooked and most importantly under-taught to today's player, and especially at the point guard position is game situation awareness. Game situation awareness is broken down into score, clock, fouls, time-outs, and game flow.

5. Floor Situations
Understanding floor situations come through practice repetitions, film work, and then implementation in a game situations (i.e., real game, pick-up basketball). Basketball is a game of match-ups, and understanding where your strengths are in comparasion to the other team is crucial for proper strategy and execution. In addition, understanding the importance of freedom of play, and reading/reacting to what the situation calls for. Also, the player needs to have knowledge of number situations in transition, as well as positions on the floor.

6. Rules and Game Protocol
Rules and game protocol are important in understanding the basic elements of the game. This is usually developed at a younger age, and as the players move up in levels there are minor changes to game protocol But, it is also surprising how many players don't under the simplicity of an over and back call.

7. Terminology
Terminology can broken down in several elements, such as; goals, team/program expectations, and universal understanding of offenses/defenses.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Mental Toughness

As a coach, one characteristic that I think is really missing in today's player is mental toughness. Mental toughness is the ability of someone to perservere and have an inner drive to accomplish goals when someone or something is challenging them. For example, two teams are in the midst of highly competitive game, the team that is the toughest will push through the adversity and challenge to win the game. Of course, there are certain factors that one team might overcome like hostile crowd, poor officiating, travel, or illness/injury. When it is all said and done, the the team or individual that can cope through pressure and tough situations will ultimately be successful in accomplishing their goals/tasks. It is important to be determined, focused, confident, resilient, and remain in control when faced with those situations.

There are four key psychological characteristics associated with mentally tough athletes and teams:

1.) SELF BELIEF
The individual/team needs to have the confidence in their skills that they can achieve those goals that are set out.
2.) MOTIVATION
The individual/team need to be instrinsically moviated to succeed at any cost; must want it more than anyone else. They also are prepared to push through or bounce back from any negative situation/result.
3.) FOCUS
The individual/team must have the skill to focused on the task at hand and block out any unnecessary distractions. They also must be able to play through tough stretches in their performance. For example, poor shooting performance, but doesn't effect the other parts of their game.
4.) COMPOSURE/HANDLING PRESSURE
The individual/team must embrace competition, and have a high desire to be challenged by competition. They know that NO ONE will roll over and die for them. They also must control their emotion through any event or distraction.

According to Dr. David Yukelson, Coordinator of Sports Psychology Servrices at Penn State University, there are seven steps in the development of mental toughness:

1. The team/individual needs to have the right attitude and state of mind.

2. The team/individual must program their mind to succeed ahead of time with positive affirmations and expectations.

3. Routinize your behaviors. Develop a systematic pre-competition routine that clicks on desired mental-emotinal state of mind.

4. Poise and Composure. Learn how to let go of mistakes quickly if things do not go the way you want.

5. The team/individual must take control of negative self-talk; reframe "stinking thinking" into positive task oriented suggestions.

6. The team/individual needs to look at failure as a stepping stone for future achievement.

7. Thea team/individual must be a difference maker, step up and have a great performance when it matters most.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Character

In today's athletic arena, where everyone is looking out for themselves and how to get theres, the issue of character is undervalued and under-appreciated. Character is the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. As an educator, there are six steps in developing good character in your student-athletes:

1. Understand the Quality - you need to illustrate a clear understanding of the character quality you are trying to reinforce.

2. Grasp Its Actions - describe the character quality in term of thoughts, words and behaviors that are representative of those that result when a person possesses this quality.

3. Realize Its Benefits - you need to show the student what are the benefits of good character. For example, help individuals reach their full potential, increase productivity, improve relationships, benefits and encourages others, and contribute to success.

4. Practice Its Actions - put your student-athletes in positions on a daily basis where they must exhibit the character qualities that you are teaching. Tackle enthusiastically a task that you typically dislike doing. On occasion, implementation of the desired end action may be too demanding to accomplish in a single step, and may have to be approached in a sequence of smaller steps.

5. Encourage It in Others - encouraging the character qualities in others is beneficial to others when everyone is encouraging, not only the teacher or coach. Encouraging others will keep sharp your awareness of the character quality itself, keeps you actively communicating about it and possibly gaining a new understanding of the quality, and encourages you to keep actively developing the quality in your own life.
a. Model - demonstrate the character quality
b. Remind/Emphasize - remind the importance of developing the quality
c. Expect/Require - by attitude, actions, and words make expectations clear
d. Recognize - affirm and bring attention to good character and decisions

6. Be Encouraged - invite your fellow coaches/educators to encourage you in developing character qualities, and keep yourself accountable. You are a leader!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Discipline

Year in and year out, how many times do you hear a coach or commentator say so-so can be a really, really good player. Many players today will tell you that they want to be a good player and that that they want to be successful, but it takes a tremendous amount of discipline to maximize one's potential. Discipline is the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience. Many coaches today don't put in the time and effort to teach discipline to their student-athletes. It takes a tremendous amount of hard-work and focus to do so, and in the end it will tremendously help the student-athletes maximize their potential as a player and more importantly as a person. There are some things that coaches can do to promote self-discipline in their players:
  1. Make your expectations clear.
  2. Praising initiative and self-discipline when the athlete demonstrates it.
  3. Treating your athletes as adults.
  4. Applying all team policies to all athletes.
  5. Making your practice a safe place for all your athletes to try new things and make mistakes.
  6. Spend time meeting with players and coaches on a regular basis.
  7. Knowing what is going on with your players and coaches.
  8. Encouraging open communication with the players and coaches on the team. Honest is crucial to growing.
  9. All coaches and players are human, and they will get away with as much as you allow them to get away with.

Bio of Mario Trutanic, Jr.

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Westlake Village, CA, United States

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