Today we’ll cover the final few points of what makes a good coach/leader/teacher from John Wooden’s book, and then I’ll close this particular series out with a few thoughts of my own.
Wooden: A Lifetime Of Observations And Reflections On And Off The Court.
Public Embarrassment
I feel that hard public criticism embarrasses people, antagonizes them, and may discourage them from being receptive to your message. It is counterproductive, whether it’s on a basketball court or in a business establishment. Occasionally it can be a useful tool, however. One player (and I will not him by using his name) needed to be goaded publicly. I had to make him mad at me at times, until he was determined that he was really going to show me. However, such public embarrassment is very rarely useful.
The Worst Punishment Of All
The worst punishment I could give a team [or player] was to deny participation in what was very hard work. I wanted my players to understand that practicing together on our UCLA basketball team was indeed a privilege, a privilege that could be taken away from them. If we weren’t working hard in practice I would say, “Well fellows, let’s call it off for today. We’re just not with it.”
The vast majority of the time the players would immediately say, “Coach, give us another chance. We’ll get going.” Usually that was all it would take, the threat of taking away their privilege of practicing. Keep in mind that our practices were physically and mentally grueling. On rare occasion when that didn’t work, when the players continued to coast, I would simply terminate the practice session, turn out the lights, and leave. The privilege of practicing had been taken away. It was the worst punishment of all: Gentlemen, practice is over.”
False Expectations
When Sports Illustrated came out with its poll each year saying UCLA was going to be number one in the nation again, what did it mean? I told our players to remember that the poll was just somebody else’s opinion, their guess. Sports Illustrated doesn’t know what’s going to happen in the future, and if you let yourself believe it, you’re in trouble because you will have false expectations.
The so-called experts are basing their opinion on the past, and if you try getting by on that, you’re in trouble. Yesterday’s gone. It’ll never change [nor happen again]. What you do today will determine what’s going to happen tomorrow, not what you did yesterday; certainly not a poll – somebody else’s guess about what’s going to happen tomorrow.
Here’s the only expectation it is useful to have in your mind, regardless of your profession: “I will do the BEST I am capable of doing today to bring out my best tomorrow.” Now you have an expectation that is productive.
Scouting
I seldom mentioned the other team. I believe it takes away from the concentration on ourselves in the preparation. I did less scouting than any other coach I’ve ever heard about. I wanted OUR team to concentrate on what we could do – namely, execute our style of play to the best of our abilities.
I figured we were better off letting our opponents try to figure us out than spending time trying to figure them out. We focused on preparing for any eventuality rather than a particular style of play from a particular team. What if we prepared for something specific and our opponent changed? Uh-oh.
Perhaps we gained an advantage by having so much confidence in our own ability to play near our potential (because of our detailed and disciplined preparation) that it kept us from becoming fearful of another team.
It goes back to focusing on what you can control. We had no control over the many possible variations an opponent might use in a game. We DID have control, total control, over preparing to execute our game. To me, it made more sense to concentrate on that.
So ends the 3-part series on Coach Wooden’s philosophy on being a coach, a teacher, and a leader. I hope the Competition Coaches and Personal Trainers took something away from this that they will incorporate into their own students, clients, and competitors. I would like to add just a bit to what Coach Wooden talked about as it relates to our profession/field.
Public Embarrassment
Weekly, if not daily, I see coaches and competitors ripping into others on social media. I suppose it’s the sign of the times, but to me, it goes back to what my mother taught us as kids – “If you don’t have anything good to say about someone, don’t say anything.” Social media has turned into one big vent-storm. We say what we want, when we want, how we want, to whomever we want. Everything you WANT to say doesn’t necessarily need to find its way onto a social media platform. If you’re upset with someone, CALL HIM OR HER and settle your differences. You simply make yourself look foolish and childish otherwise. If something upsets you, sometimes the best thing to do is take a deep breath, give it 24 hours, and then ask yourself, “Was what I wanted to post/say really that important?” You’ll find that most times it isn’t. As far as being a Competition Coach, it is my belief that you praise in public and you berate in private. What you need to say to a competitor, if it isn’t praise, doesn’t belong on social media.
The Worst Punishment Of All
As far as I’m concerned, nothing sucks more as a competitor than being told, “You’re not ready for this show” and having to be pulled because you didn’t put in the work. And as a coach, it’s difficult to do that, but anything less would be a disservice to your competitor. It’s a coach’s job and duty to ‘make that call’. We don’t compete for last place. So why put a last place look in a show? I don’t have a problem pulling teammates who aren’t ready out of a show. They understand that they will go in when they’re at their best (at this point in their competitive career). “Sitting on the bench” usually works in lighting a fire under a competitor’s butt and having him or her work up to his or her potential. Now I WILL say that if a competitor truly understands where he or she may fall in the placings, and still wants to compete for the fun of it or the experience, then I would allow it. But only once. After that, I look for your best work.
False Expectations
Be careful of those who know nothing about judging when they offer you praise. It’s too easy to get caught up in the opinions of others, and soon you start to believe your own press clippings from the armchair experts. Competitors post pictures of themselves prior to the show, and friends (with good intentions) chip in, “You’re gonna kill it, crush it, BeastMode”, and all the other superlatives that flow from enthused admirers. Just remember this…”Sometimes it’s better to keep your head down, your mouth shut, and go handle your business.” When you do well, the world will recognize your accomplishments.
Scouting
Every season I get team members who expend precious energy trolling the pages of last years’ competitors. My question is, WHY? It doesn’t help you in any way, shape, or form, and it’s taken time away from you focusing on you. A person posts a picture on Instagram. How does that help you? Either it freaks you out because, “OMG, she looks SOOO good!”, or you become complacent, “Well, I don’t have to worry about her..” But what about all the other people who DIDN’T post pictures who are busy doing work? My advice? Do you. Just do you. If they want to troll your page, let ‘em (but they shouldn’t see anything, because why are YOU posting?).
With less than 4 weeks to the stage of the 2015 Emerald Cup, I encourage, challenge, implore, and enthusiastically cheer you on to ‘Be Perfect Today’. Peace…
Doc
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