Monthly Recaps
November 2004

“Coaching lasts for a day, teaching lasts for a lifetime” — Pete Newell

 “It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels worthy of himself” — Abe Lincoln

"A lie has speed, but truth has endurance.”  — Edgar J. Mohn

“All leaders must face some crisis where their own strength of character is the enemy” -Richard Reeves, 20th-century American journalist

"How many times do you get to lie before you are a liar?” -Michael Josephson, American ethicist 

Finishing Drill!

This drill is designed to teach a player to end a workout on a positive note, while testing their physical conditioning and mental toughness.  The finishing drill involves making 7 consecutive shots (two 3-pointers, two pull-up jumpers, one right handed lay-up, one left handed lay-up and a free throw) and can be used following an individual workout or with a team.  Have player A start at one end.  Place a coach at half-court.  Player A will pass to the coach and sprint to the opposite end of the court and spot up for a three.  Player A receives the pass and shoots the three.  Player A rebounds their make or miss and passes to the coach (still at half-court).  Player A then sprints to the opposite end and once again spots up for three.  Continue with a pull-up jumper going right off the dribble, a pull-up jumper going left off the dribble and a right handed lay-up followed by a left-handed lay-up.  After each shot Player A will pass to the coach at half-court and sprint to the opposite end of the floor.  End the drill with a made free throw.  If player A were to miss a shot anywhere during the sequence, they would start the sequence over.  Example: Emily makes two threes and a pull-up jumper.  She then misses her second pull-up jumper.  Emily would start back at the beginning of the sequence.  Variations may include the order of the sequence and the number of shots.

Member Spotlight!

Lorenzo Hall- The founder and director of First Step Basketball (www.firststepbasketball.net ), Coach Hall has over 10 years of collegiate coaching experience including stops at Eastern Washington, Washington State and Portland State.  First Step is a basketball training organization, founded to help develop young inspiring ball players to achieve their full potential as an athlete, student and a productive member of our society. The philosophy of founder Lorenzo Hall is simple, "Strive for nothing less than best." He believes that through the right development program, children will not only learn the fundamentals of basketball, but will learn how to apply the discipline required being a successful athlete in other areas of their life. Coach Hall played collegiately at Cal State Hayward, where he earned a degree in recreation administration.

Leadership Tip!

One book Win the Tip! Members are reading is “Coaching the Mental Game,” by H.A. Dorfman.  In his book, Dorfman discusses a “Winning Way.”  A list titled, a winning way is to choose and discipline one’s mind, is included.  A few items from that list are: 1) to be consistent, rather than occasional.  2) To know, rather than assume. 3) To want to learn, rather than explain or make excuses.  4) To share with and help others, rather than be selfish.  5) To do more, rather than just enough or less.  6) To concentrate on what to do, rather than on what may happen.  Visit the Win the Tip! web site for more book titles. (www.winthetip.org)  

Levels of Coaching!

At the 2004 Kansas City Coaches Summit, Member Rob Miller, discussed five levels of coaching developed by Dr. Greg Dale Associate Professor, HPER and the Department of Athletics - Sport Psychology Consultant at Duke University.  The five-levels from 1 to 5 are as follows, 1)I’m a coach (realizing the you are actually in charge of running a team),  2) Prove-it stage (trying to prove to everyone that you can coach),  3) Coaching for significance (changing lives),  4)Burn-out stage (going through the motions), 5) Retired Stage.  “Coaches should strive to be in Stage 3,” stated Rob Miller.

Member Spotlight!

Shawn Huse – Shawn Huse is in his third season as Head Coach at Montana State University-Northern in Havre, MT.  Coach Huse previously served as the graduate assistant coach at the University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK) for two years.  The UNK Lopers (2001-02) team finished regular season champs with a 24-6 overall record, a school record eighteen consecutive wins and finished the year ranked 13^th in NCAA division II basketball.  Before coaching at UNK, Huse was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Montana Tech of the University of Montana, for three years (1997-2000).  The teams won back-to-back Frontier Conference Tournament Championships and enjoyed the school's first-ever National Tournament appearances in 1998 and 1999.  As a player at Montana Tech, his team captured the Frontier Conference Championship in 1993.  He was named League MVP in 1995, was named All-Conference in 1994 and 1995.  Shawn has a Master of Arts degree in Education with an emphasis in Sports Administration from the University of Nebraska-Kearney (2002), a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and emphasis in Education from the University of Montana (1997), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering and a minor in Business from Montana Tech (1995).  Shawn and his wife, Stephanie reside in Havre and are expecting their first child in December.

Congratulations to Member!

J.C. Carter- The new Head Boy’s Basketball Coach at Village Christian High School in Los Angeles, CA.

Leadership Tip!

In his booklet “Motivational Strategies for Coaches,” Win the Tip! Member Bruce Brown discusses being a positive demanding coach.  “A positive demanding coach is relaxed and confident while maintaining a naturally competitive personality.  They have learned to teach and coach while keeping a delicate balance between fun and discipline.  A sense of fun is necessary to sustain effort and keep things in perspective.  Discipline in athletics is simply focused attention and effort.”  For a copy of this booklet or more materials by Bruce Brown, please visit www.proactivecoaching.info

Transition Tip!

Note:  This drill was sent out in November of 2003.  Due to its popularity and our new members, here it is again.  “The Advantage Drill is a continuous full-court transition drill that your players will beg you to put in your daily practice plan,” states member Mike Petrino, Central Catholic High School, Portland, OR.  You begin with two teams (Red and Black).  Start Red on one baseline and Black on the opposite baseline.  Black will go (2 on 1) vs. the Red.  When there is a change of possession (score, rebound, turnover, foul) Red will add two players off the baseline and go (3 on 2) against the Black.  When Red completes their possession, Black will add two players off their baseline and go (4 on 3) against the Red.  Change of possession and Red will go (5 on 4) versus the Black.  Finally, Black adds an offensive player and each team goes (5 on 5) until one-team scores.  The team on defense will always add two players after each possession, thus creating the “Advantage” on offense.   The drill ends when one team scores in (5 on 5).  For variations or more details please contact Mike Petrino (mj_petrino@yahoo.com). 

Member Spotlight!

Dr. Steve Larson – The Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Edgewood College in Madison, WI.  Coach Larson is in his 3rd decade as head coach of the Eagle men's basketball team.  Having just completed his 18th year at the helm his teams have garnered 330 wins and he is the all-time winningest coach in the Lake Michigan Conference.  He has never had a losing season in his college coaching career, which includes 18 consecutive winning seasons (the most among all NCAA III coaches in Wisconsin) and eight consecutive 20-win seasons.  He is credited with building one of the strongest small college programs in the Midwest and the nation.  In addition to his duties at Edgewood College, Dr. Larson served as president of the Lake Michigan Conference and was instrumental in leading the conference on its path to NCAA affiliation.  He has been serving as the LMC's Commissioner since 1995 and has been named the Jerry Kruse Administrator of the Year by his peers for eight consecutive years.  He has been inducted into both the St. Mary Central High School Hall of Fame and the Edgewood College Hall Fame (charter member).  His wife, Debra, serves as Administrative Assistant/Office Manager for the Eagle athletic department.  Their four children - Jenny, Josh, Jackie, and Ryan-have all attended or are attending Edgewood College.