Coach K on Practice

Practice
*Should be no longer than 2hrs (Not counting Pre & Post Practice)
*Eliminate as much standing time as possible
-Allocate all of your resources to get players as many reps as
possible (Especially on individual drills Ex. 1 on 1 Denial Drill)
-Good physical habits are not developed without reps
*Match-up players for drills so they don't end up going with the same
person every time
*Throughout practice, let players sub for each other…If you want a
definite group…then call for them
*Make drills and practice situations…Game-Like (including instructions)
-Don't walk and talk players through drill instructions (Not Gamelike)
*Have a 10 minute period where you have a "Sprint Practice"
-Change things a bunch
-Continually alter what you are doing on the run (Like in a game)
*Practice Game Situations
-End of quarter, End of Game, All Game Situations
*Simulate Halftime
*Vary the places and times you talk to your team (limited attention
span)
*Videotape everything that is 4 on 4 and 5 on 5
-You might focus on an individual player or specific drill
-Remember:HEAR-SEE-DO
*Free Throws
-Do Pressure Free Throw Drills
Post Practice Meeting with Staff
*Critique Practice
-"We did a good job with this"
-"I think we need more work with this"
-"Lets come back tomorrow with this"
-I was going to come back tomorrow with this, but I think it is better
that we do this"
-DO NOT BE A SLAVE TO THE PRACTICE PLAN

Coach K on Game Prep

Game Preparation 
*Preparation for the next game starts directly at the end of your last
game 
*First, watch the tape of your last game 
-Make sure of what you think you saw during the game 
*Scouting report of your upcoming opponent with stats 
*First part of next practice is a team meeting 
-Have to have closure from previous game 
-Then, leave that location "Shutting the Door" 
-Switch to a different area and start talking about next game… 
"Opening the Door" 
-Give a real quick summary of the next opponent, then start practice 
-Offense and Defense can revolve around a few things the next
opponent will do 
-You can also work on areas in which you struggled in previous game 
-It is not all getting ready for the next team. It is getting us ready 
-"I want to take care of us before getting into elaborate game plans" 
-"Your kids don't know your plays…How the hell are they gonna know 
their plays?????" They should know tendencies 
-Respect your opponent; Whether it is the lowest team in your 
conference or the #1 team in your conference 
-"We PLAY in every game" 
-"I want our team to be GREAT every time we play 

USA Olympic Basketball: Gold Standards

What we do all the time and what we hold each other accountable for
1. NO EXCUSES
We have what it takes to win.
2. GREAT DEFENSE
This is the key to winning the gold.
We do the dirty work.
3. COMMUNICATION
We look each other in the eye.
We tell each other the truth.
4. TRUST
We believe in each other.
5. COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
We are committed to each other.
We win together.
6. CARE
We have each other's backs.
We give aid to a teammate.
7. RESPECT
We respect each other and our opponents.
We're always on time.
We're always prepared.
8. INTELLIGENCE
We take good shots.
We're aware of team fouls.
We know the scouting report.
9. POISE
We show no weakness.
10. FLEXIBILITY
We can handle any situation.
We don't complain.
11. UNSELFISHNESS
We're connected.
We make the extra pass.
Our value is not measured in playing time.
12. AGGRESSIVENESS
We play hard every possession.
13. ENTHUSIASM
This is fun.
14. PERFORMANCE
We're hungry.
We have no bad practices.
15. PRIDE
We are the best team in the world and we represent the best country.

Dukes Standards for 09-10

Coach K Thoughts

We aren’t coaching X’s and O’s, we are coaching people. So the more we learn about people the better. I really think it is one of the secrets to our success. We spend a lot more time on the relationships.

On Character
The most fundamental thing about being a good leader is the ability to communicate in a trustworthy manner. If you do that on a consistent basis, the element of trust is developed, which is the cornerstone on which every coach-athlete relationship should be built.

Coaching is about relationships. It goes way beyond X’s and O’s. You have to create an environment of trust among your staff and athletes. Without trust, you have nothing. If you do have trust, you will be able to accomplish great things.

On Commitment
A leader can’t ask anything of those he or she is leading that he or she is not willing to do as well. As a leader you have to do it really well - at a much higher level than anyone else.

On Caring
I think you show someone you care about them by being willing to listen to them. There is no better way to show you care than to give them time. Certainly if you develop programs that will help them academically, you talk to them about their personal lives, you handle their training properly, you handle their nutrition properly, you remember their birthdays, you know their parent’s names, you know their girlfriend’s name, you will show that you care.

The key word for all of this is empathy, not sympathy. On a day-to-day basis we all have pressures we have to deal with. You have to try to understand their world. Basically having empathy shows that you care.

On Confidence-Building
If an athlete knows you believe in him or her, then when that kid goes through dark moments, he or she will know they are not alone. We all have those moments and it is important to know that others are with you. Our guys know that they are never alone because we develop relationships and let them know we believe in them.

Do you get on them for mistakes of omission or commission? We get on guys for mistakes of omission. I will really get on people who don’t concentrate or those people who don’t play hard. You have to create an environment where people can make mistakes without worrying about it so much. If they are concentrating and playing hard and make a mistake that is different than if their heads are in the clouds.

On Communication
A good leader listens-and more so than that, gives time to listen. The bigger the leader, the busier the leader, the harder it is to take the time to listen. You have to get it in your mind that you have to listen-that there couldn’t be any time better spent than listening.

If You Dont Talk, You Dont Play

The quote above comes from the first chapter of the book Pursuit of Perfection from UConn Women's Basketball Coach Geno Auriemma. I have never met a coach who says that there team talks to much (On the court).  All of us are trying to get our kids to communicate to their teammates and be vocal.   There is a quote out there that says that with average teams you hear squeaking shoes, with great teams you hear constant communication.

Another good quote about communication would be from Buzz Williams: "If there was a blind man that came to your practice, what would he think of your team?"  Buzz has been known to show film to his team minus the visual part -- simply a black screen for them to hear practice. He said he even has practice dumped on CD at times so he can "listen" to it in the car on the way home.



 So why is communication important on Defense
 - Promotes Team Building - When teammates are communicating with each other it increases the sense of a common goal. Cohesive individuals make for a well-balanced team.
- Reduces Individual Errors - It's hard to think about making a mistake when you are constantly encouraging and supporting your teammates. Less worry means less anxiety. This means your body can relax and perform at it's optimal levels.
- No Mental Lapses - Communication helps players stay focused on the game. More focus means increased awareness. Plus with communication, if someone does have a mental lapse, the talk and directions from the other players on the court help guide this player to the correct spot lessening the chance that a lapse turns into a costly error.
-Talk intimidates
-Talk Energizes
-Talk Wakes up a disengaged defender