When the season ends .... does it really end?
The season is winding down or has ended. Let's take the coaching clothes home and get them washed. Let's hang up the whistle, count the basketballs, and store the whiteboards. Never was a big fan of doing inventory but it needs to be done!
If you have a plan, and you seek to develop your program, you need to do some very essential chores at the end of the season:
ASSESSMENT: It's very easy to just "pack it in" at the end of the season because the season, regardless of the level of success you have had as program, it's still a grind. Now you can do your inventory, lock the locks and turn off the lights but if you wait to evaluate your program until the summer or even next fall I think you are making a mistake. Assessment is about being honest. It necessitates involvement. I don't want the assessment to be the product of a monopoly. The lead coach is just as bias as any other coach in the program. You need to hear the voices of others on your staff who may or may not have a "dog in the hunt." You want to hear from others about every aspect of the program and I mean EVERY aspect of the program from game schedule to facility use. From shooting drills, to post game procedures. The coaches you work with need to feel they are part of the solution. Foster the attitude that WE are in this together. Ask your coaches what they may feel they need further development in. All of us have strengthens and we ALL have weaknesses. Some coaches want to get better and some just want to get through it. The more coaches on your staff that want to get better the better off you will be. Encourage them to attend coaching clinics. Help finance them whenever possible. Show them you are willing to invest in them.
Plan: How are you going to raise the level of performance and the culture of
your program? How are you going to help your coaches continue to learn and make them invest in the program? What are you going to do to give your players the opportunities to improve their skills? What facility needs to you have? Are you going to have open gyms, summer camp, summer practices, and summer tournaments? Are you going to do anything to bring
the players together and have some fun without the ball?
Recover: Recharge means different things for different people. You need to
read well yourself, your fellow coaches, and your players. Recover is very simple. Just answer the question .... "How much is to much?" Everyone needs a break. Everyone needs some variety and change of pace to recharge and regenerate the energy and passion it takes to have a great program. SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE! Someone once said more olympic medals are lost from over training than from under training. I suspect that is true. Finding the proper balance is the challenge. Don't assume everyone in your program has the same goals, aspirations, and desire. Respect individuality. I have heard some coaches have told their players not to participate in summer baseball if they want to be part of their basketball program. I have a HUGH issue with that philosophy! We tried, when planning summer basketball activities, to schedule around other summer programs such as baseball. I did not want our players to be put into a situation where they had to decide between going to camp and going on a family vacation, or having to choose between a Legion baseball tournament, and a summer basketball tournament. Now you can't avoid all scheduling conflicts, but I never held it against anyone for missing out on summer basketball opportunities. Our summer programs were OPTIONAL not mandatory. I wanted our players to want to be a part not HAVE to be a part!! The key to recovery for yourself and your players is finding a balance. We all need time off and away. How much and when are more difficult questions to ask but if you keep the string on the bow always taunt you run the risk of eventually breaking it.
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