YOUR TOP THREE WIN more by determining WHO you are as a Coach By Randy Brown, CoachRB,
[email protected]
YOU What are your Top 3? What are your Non-Negotiables? What is your Brand as a Coach?
The Information Funnel
The funnel represents everything you have been exposed to as a basketball coach. This includes discussions, diagrams, clinics, observations, experiences, books, videos, notes. How much have you been exposed to? My collection of 30+ years—Scouting Reports/practice plans/DVD’s, notes, clinics, 3 inch notebooks, computer files……..what do you do what all of this information? The funnel can be your friend of enemy depending on how you are able to sort out the thousands of resources and facts about coaching. Final product is Cloudy or Clear?
What is the Top 3? The Top 3 was first introduced to me in 1987 as a new assistant at Drake University with Gary Garner. The conversation went like this: “Randy, do you consider yourself an offensive or defensive coach? “Coach Garner, I think I’m pretty good at both offense and defense!” Wrong Answer! “Listen to me young man, you better be great at one end because that will determine if you win or lose and for me it’s the defensive end! How about you? “Oh, I guess I’m a defensive coach now, right?” This was the most powerful teaching moment I have ever experienced as a coach!
My Challenge to You: What are your Top 3? What 3 things do you believe are the anchors to winning basketball games? What is your brand as a coach? Do you and others know your Top 3? Do your players know? Explain the 30 minute Test. Great Season Scenario—For the entire season, you can work on only three things with your team & individual fundamentals. What would your TOP 3 be? If you know your Top3, GREAT!
If not, join a large group of coaches who have never entertained this concept.
MY TOP 3 Name Date_____________
1._____________________________________
2. ______________________________________ _
3._____________________________________
Why is having a Top 3 Important? 1. SPINNING PLATES--It makes coaching so much easier. It’s spinning 3 plates instead of 12 plates. 2. CLARITY--Coach with clear mind, direction and intentions is a good, well received coach. 3. The opposite of CLARITY is CONFUSION & FRUSTRATION. 4. Limited off season time, practice time and mental capacity for coaches and players. 5. SLIPPAGE—Much easier to keep thumb on three main areas than everything. 6. Be GREAT at 3 and do the best you can with all else. 7. Difference between All-Time EMPHASIS and what you “talk about/address.” I.e.—you will address turnovers and shot selection even if they are not your Top 3. 8. Youth Basketball Example----Coaches will address everything , all the time. “Block out and rebound Billy!” I asked coach one time how much he worked on blocking out the last week of practice. He said he didn’t so I asked why he was yelling at the kid to block out. About his job I asked, “Coach, should the Sales Associates be in charge of the companies accounting? 9. Your Top 3 are non-negotiable. They are 24/7 anchors to your program. In the summer, camps, individual workouts, watching film, in practice, game preparation, pre game talk, games, post game talk, statistics. 10. Your Top 3 must be articulated and explained to your staff and your players constantly. Your assistants must echo your terminology and emphasis on your Top 3. Players must KNOW and BUY IN to these 3 anchors.
KEY--1. Your Top 3 is ever evolving
2. You must define what each area means to you; example--Defend—Be specific about what “Defend” means and what players are responsible for. MORE TOP 3 THOUGHTS 1. Roles are a Must—Role definition makes it much easier to establish playing time when your Top 3 are part of the program. Players know what they are responsible for, 24/7. If they can demonstrate these parts of the game they will earn playing time. Once in the game, if they can demonstrate these parts, they will stay in the game. Clear Roles definition: a. Present them as strengths; “Joe, this is what you do best to help our team win games. We need you to do these things every minute you are in practices and games. b. Keep from saying; “Joe, you are not very good at these four parts of the game, so we don’t want you to dribble or shoot the ball.” c. Football example! d. There’s a reason the Janitor is not in the board room. e. Roles are like your “looks”—You might not like it but it’s who you are!
2. The Power of Statistics—If rebounding is one of your Top 3 do you keep a Block Out % statistic? Keep stats based on what you want your players to execute. Don’t keep every possible stat because it shows that “everything” is important to you and the team. STATS are an ally; STATS are huge for the BUY IN and for Role Definition. The divide between the coach and players/parents is value placed on: 1. Number of shots taken/scoring average/playing time. Their perspective. 2. Their stats relating to their role. Block out ratio, fouling, defensive breakdowns, shot selection/distribution/quantity.
3. Players In and Out of the game---Do they know why?
2 questions all players must know; Question #1--How do I get on the floor? Question #2—How do I stay on the floor? Will help with Parents---kid at home, I KNOW why I got taken out of the game. Jared Homan story. Do your players now “YOUR TOP 3?” If not, how can they be productive and efficient for you on the floor in practice/games?
Email me your Top 3 as part of a research project for my mentoring business,
[email protected] 1. Name 2. Position/School name 3. Your Top 3
