Attack!

I once heard a coach admonish his team to “smell blood” during a timeout.  Admittedly, I was slightly taken aback by this admonition.  Of all the years I’ve spent around the game, this was the first time I had heard that kind of comment and I didn’t know exactly how to react.  However, after thinking about it for a little while, I understood what he was trying to tell his team.  Essentially, when you know you’ve got a team cornered – when you “smell blood” – then be like a shark and attack!  It is one of the elements that make the best teams the best teams.  I didn’t understand at first, but after watching more games and listening to great coaches, I finally saw what they saw – If you let a team hang around till the 4th quarter, then your chances of losing become greater.  You have to attack at your opponent’s weakest moment.

This is a great spiritual lesson as well.  I think a lot of Christians forget what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  In order to best understand this we must realize that Jesus said “the gates of hell”.  Gates are defensive structures that are designed to keep something out.  So, if “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”, then that must mean there is offensive opponent.  Jesus points out the opponent in his preceding statement – the offensive opponent is the church.  I believe that we as Christians, the church, are so concerned about not offending non-believers that we have stopped attacking and have instead “slowed it down”, or “pulled the ball out” so to speak.  What we don’t realize is when we, the church, stop “attacking” we give our opponent (the devil) more opportunities to win the battles in our homes, careers, and our church.  The church has forgotten that we are fighting a spiritual warfare on earth.  If we think we can simply stay back and sheath our sword (the Bible), then we will give up ground, and, although the Lord will win in the end, we will lose important battles in the present.

Players and coaches need the ability to “smell blood” on the court and the courage and strength to continually stay on the attack.  The church also needs this “attacking” mentality, to go forward in faith knowing that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against us”.

Attack!

In Christ
Coach CJ

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Hold the Fork the Right Way!

While eating dinner, my 3 yr-old decided to try and hold her fork like an adult, so she asked me if I would help her.  I showed her a few times and tried to help put it correctly in her hand a couple of times.  However, she didn’t want to do it the way I showed her, so she said “Daddy, I’m going to do it my way”.  She did it her way a couple of times and got super-frustrated simply because she wasn’t holding the fork the way she was coached to.

Such is the way with a lot of players.  So many time athletes show up at practice/games and ask their coach how to “hold the fork the right way”.  Coach’s get giddy with excitement when players ask for help, but excitement quickly turns to frustration when the player decides to do it their own way.  For whatever reason, most players think they know more than their coach and so they constantly hold the fork the wrong way.  The result of this, players never get fed enough soon enough because coach’s are always having to wait on their players to “eat” what we have already given them.  This leads to frustration for both the coach and player and essentially hurts the entire team.

This attitude is a direct result of the pride in our nature.  Too many players think they know everything, and if not everything, then more than those in authority over them.  It’s easy to feel that way if you are the best player on your team, or have been to a lot of camps and clinics, or just happen to be good friends with a professional.  BUT, it’s never true.  Players never know it all and must always be in a constant state of learning.  Even the best athletes in every professional sport understand this concept and they will routinely contact the best coaches for help in their game.  In order to become the best, players must first realize that 1) they are not perfect, 2) that they need wisdom (James 1:5) , and finally 3) humble themselves (1 Peter 5:5).

Once my daughter realized that she couldn’t hold the fork the right way, she came back to me with humility and asked for help again.  This time, she listened to what I said and was able to hold the fork the proper way.  This led to great excitement as she was able to eat the rest of her dinner like a big kid and was able to get fed more food.  The same is true for athletes.  Once they admit that they don’t know everything, humble themselves, and submit to the coach’s authority then they are able to “hold the fork the right way”.  Once they start to “hold the fork the right way” they will be able to be fed more basketball food.  And just like life, the more they eat, the more they grow.  This is the desire of all of the best athletes – to grow and get better in their game.

Hold the Fork the Right Way!! 

Coach CJ

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How to Earn More Playing Time

Every player that doesn’t play the whole game is always wondering – “How do I get more time?”  Too many times parents and players think that game performance should dictate whether they (or the son/daughter) ‘deserves’ more time.  That’s very rarely the case.  There’s no doubt that game performance is important, but game performance is simply a result of preparation.  The best players are not the best players because they were born with incredible skill and IQ.  They are the best because they spend hours and hours in preparation for the game, so that they can be the best during the game.  In other words – their playing time is earned by sweat, blood, and tears outside of the actual game.  More time spent working out at home, being at all the practices, and giving 100 percent in practices results in earning the coach’s respect – and in turn – more game time.

However, it’s important to remember that practice is simply not shooting the basketball on your goal or playing 3-on-3.  Players who work their way into the game rotation are the players who are structured in their workouts – they workout with a purpose.  When they shoot around they are thinking about their footwork, form, and release points.  They push themselves to their limit at every practice and pay attention to every detail of each play and drill.  They take home what they learned at practice and work at it until it becomes a habit – a habit they perform during a game without thinking about it. 

Do you want to earn more time on the floor?  Work twice as hard at home and in practice as everyone else.  Sooner or later your coach will realize that he can’t afford to have you on the bench. 

Coach CJ

CHSM Crimson Knights

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Keys to Winning the Big Game - Part 2

In part 1 we talked about the first 2 keys to winning the big game – Ball Control and making your free-throws & lay-ups.  The last 2 fundamental keys to winning the big game are:

1.  Ball Control (time of possession)

2.  Free-Throws & Lay-Ups

3.  Minimizing Turnovers

4.  Rebounding

(3)  Minimizing Turnovers – You can’t win the big game by giving up the ball.  In order to win the big game, you must not only win the turnover battle, but you must set a goal of how many turnovers your team will not exceed and work to achieve that goal.  My high-school coach set a goal of 10 TO’s or less every game.  While that may seem extreme, the fact is, if your team can average less than 10 TO’s a game, then you will have a chance to win every game you play – especially the big game.  Also, while everyone knows about turnovers such as traveling violations, dribbling violations, and bad passes/balls that are dropped, not everyone knows that bad shots should be considered turnovers as well.  Bad shots are a not a stat that can be easily tracked as turnovers, but coaches and players should understand that forced shots lead to defensive rebounds, which can lead to opponents points.  Rushing the shot is just as good as giving the other team the ball, so players need to be disciplined in executing the offense and being patient – working hard for the GREAT shot.

(4)  Rebounding – Teams that are not very skilled on the offensive side of the ball can still beat the best teams if they win the rebounding battle.  On the defensive side, it’s important that your team only gives up 1 shot every possession and take away the second & third chance opportunities from your opponent.  You can take 10-20 points a game away from your opponents score just by winning the defensive glass.  You can also add 10-20 points a game to your score by winning the offensive glass.  Winning the offensive glass will give you second chance opportunities, and if you capitalize on those opportunities, you can swing the scoreboard by 20-40 points!  Rebounding is the very reason why non-powerhouse college teams have a chance every year to win the NCAA tournament.  Winning the glass and capitalizing on your possessions will help you win the big game!

Coach CJ

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Christmas!!

It’s Christmas Eve and the excitement of Christmas has my little Autumn in a bundle of emotions.  She is so excited!  Christmas brings on all of the emotions.  Excitement, sadness, bitterness, joy, sorrow, peace – you, or someone you know is going through these very emotions right now.  This is the power of Christmas.  There is really only one thing that is greater than the power of these emotions – The Love of Jesus Christ.  

On this Christmas Day, I pray you will take a few moments and think about the love God has shown us by giving us His Son – our Peace and our Joy!

In Christ

Coach CJ

Keys to Winning the Big Game - Part 1...

As coach's, we've all been there - in the gym scouting the next team we may go up against, looking for that one weakness that will propel us to victory.  Yet, sometimes we forget the basic keys to winning the next game.  Yes, you can out-scheme the other coach, but if the match-up is even, or if the other team is better, then you need make sure the basics are natural habits for your team.  It's important to remember these as they are the foundational elements required to win the big game.

Part 1 of our topic will cover the first two basic foundations your team needs:

1.  Ball Control (time of possession)
2.  Free-Throws & Lay-Ups

(1)  Ball-Control:  It's really simple - control the ball longer than the other team and you will limit the amount of points they can score against you.  However, you can't simply hold the ball and think you are going to win.  You need to maximize your opportunities by working your offense until you get the shot you want.  Don't settle for GOOD shots if a little more work will get you GREAT shots.  GREAT shots will yield points more efficiently than GOOD shots, and if you are not as skilled on offense, then you need GREAT shots.  The difference between GOOD and GREAT is just a little bit more.

(2)  Free-Throws & Lay-Ups:  Go through your score-book and look at all the losses you have that are within 10-15 points.  Then total up the number of your teams missed free-throws and lay-ups.  Now compare the total of your missed free-throws & lay-ups versus your games point differential.  How many of those games would you have won if you made your 80% of your free-throws and all of your lay-ups?  I bet it would be most of them.  Your team must make this a focal point if you want against great competition.  Free-Throws & Lay-ups do win ball-games!

Be on the lookout for part 2 where we will give you the last two fundamental Keys to Winning the Big Game!

Coach CJ
CHSM Crimson Knights

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What Champions Do During a Break in the Season

It's Christmas Time!  Family has come in from out of town and your attendance is required at half-a-dozen Christmas parties!  It's easy to think that there is no time to get some shots up, hit the gym, or run when there is so much going on.  BUT, the best don't think that way.  Yes, you need to take some time off and enjoy your friends and family.  However, if you are playing competitive basketball, then I recommend that you don't take too much time off during your break.  You have already spent the first half of your season getting into game shape and you are finally getting into a groove.  Don't let it go by ignoring practice time just to stay up until midnight watching the latest movie or playing the newest game.

Champions know the importance of balance during breaks, which is why they do 3 things:

(1)  Still maintain a schedule.  Yes, that schedule might change slightly day-to-day, but champions still go to bed at a decent time and get up at a time similar to what they do during the season.  Don't go to bed at midnight and sleep in till 11.  Think about it - you now only have 13 hours to hang out with family, open some gifts, go to your friends, AND work-out (don't forget about your personal time with the Lord).  Champions make sure they get 8-9 hours of sleep, but they don't abuse their free-time.

(2)  Set practice goals during downtime.  I always challenge my players to shoot 1,000 free-throws during the Christmas break, and if they are really gung-ho, do 1,000 jumps on a jump rope in 10 minutes a couple times during the break.  It's always good to jump rope first and then shoot as it simulates shooting when you are tired and your heart is racing.  Run & Shoot - always keeps the mind and muscles ready to react when you start playing again.

(3)  Don't "Pig" out.  Holidays usually bring out the best food!  Egg-nog, pies, cookies, or your grandma's secret recipe of greatness always encourage us to eat a lot (especially if there isn't much left!)  But champions understand, that although it might be "ok" to eat some REALLY good food, they need to be careful to not eat so much that they can't move their feet on defense in the first game back.  Enjoy the food, but don't end up on your coach's naughty list.  Running is never a good gift to receive from your coach when you are out of shape.

These 3 steps may seam easy, but they seldom are.  However, if you are committed to performing at your best during the season, then you may want to pay attention.  Could be the difference in who wins and loses in that first game back from break!

Coach CJ
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