To most coaches, August is an exciting and very important month. It is the month when teams get back together and dive into the Fall Season. Duke Basketball Coach Mike Kryzewski once said that “A season is a lifetime”. Each August provides the opportunity for a new book to be written, a unique combination of players and coaches starting over from scratch.
Hope springs eternal as you and the team begin a new season. The best part is starting over each player, coach, and team can get off on the right foot. To do this, a fresh and positive attitude needs to filter from the coach and through the players.
As coaches, one characteristic we expect from our players is consistency. Every day, every game, every play, we want our players to show the same intensity and desire. Some players will only perform well when the team is successful, while others will only perform well against the best teams. There is nothing more frustrating than watching players perform under their potential.
Each player will have strengths and each player will have weaknesses. The coach and player need to build a supportive relationship so that the two can highlight what areas are sound and examine what areas are less developed. This acknowledgment should lead to plan of action, actual training to raise the level of the player.