What I Hope to Learn this Summer, Part III

The new Roger Federer - the one who makes mistakes, occasionally fails, and realizes his limitations - is much more interesting than the old one. Last year’s Wimbledon between Federer and Nadal featured superior tennis but this year’s match between Federer and Andy Roddick was equally as tense.

To complete the French Open-Wimbledon double, Federer needed to honestly re-evaluate his game in order to improve it. At Roland Garros, his improved ability to slide on the baseline was paired with a new drop shot; at the All England Club he was forced to serve impeccably and persevere as his best shots were foiled.

Federer defeated Roddick because he knows how to overcome adversity and change. On the bright side, Roddick is finally a threat to win Grand Slams again because he has evolved his game to become more versatile. Increased mental and physical fitness also helps his cause.

The development of Federer and Roddick over recent months signifies that no athlete should ever stop improving. When the opportunity to increase their level of physical skill passes, an athlete can work on the mental side of the game.

Self-actualization demands continuous learning and I endeavour to learn more from other sports over the summer. There are many excellent resources and it is simply a matter of locating them, reflecting, and adapting them to the appropriate sport.

Managing My Life by Alex Ferguson another example of a thoughtful and persistent triumph. The Manchester United manager experienced a mixed bag of success and failure as a player and rose through the coaching ranks steadily. He was almost sacked as manager at Old Traffold a couple of times but persisted and attained the level of elite achievement where he resides currently.

In his mind, one of the integral components of his philosophy is his tendency to deconstruct every failure and learn what could be done better. Another tenant is the belief that no player, manager, or club should be satisfied with less than their best. Ferguson’s coaching career is forty years of learning from masters, treating others how he would want to be treated (sometimes a professional, sometimes a person), and continually moving forwards. He is a role model for all sorts of coaches and managers. Even his offensive strategy for soccer, based on rhythm and ball possession, contains elements that could influence a basketball coach.

Ferguson’s work the most eloquent book about sport that I have read. It shatters the stereotype that jocks must be dumb and challenges other athletes and coaches to do better. There is never any reason not to communicate in a dignified and respectful fashion.

I am also scheduled to read Scotty Bowman: A Life in Hockey, Inner Skiing by W. Timothy Gallwey and Robert Kriegel, and Football Scouting Methods by Steve Belichick because they emphasize sound coaching, mental training, and game preparation respectively. In the month of August, when I work on Task 4: Nutrition and other units at the National Coaching Institute, I hope to base my work on a theme such as “What Basketball Can Learn from Other Sports.”

Why Not?

One can record a maximum break in snooker in less than five and a half minutes. So why not make 147 every time? Since the balls are always arranged identically, how did the first player in this clip botch the break so badly, without potting any balls, so that Ronnie O’Sullivan was able to easily run the table, averaging one shot every nine seconds?

Why does a curler slip pushing off the hack at the Brier and therefore compromise their release? How does a collegiate wrestler lose their first match against an unranked opponent when expected to win the national championship?

The key characteristic is the formation of good habits. Whether the situation occurs during the General Preparation phase or a Peak during the Main Season, an athlete’s mentality should be the same.

The Carleton Ravens never overwhelm a team with skill. Winners of six of the past seven Canadian National Championships, it seems logical that they would have a much higher talent level than their opposition but they rarely win in a rout and often put forth poor shooting performances. However, the Ravens’ defence is always consistent and carries them through tough games.

It is evident throughout the game - from warm-up to post-game, during all of the huddles - that they don’t find the circumstances out of the ordinary. Even after they won a tough National Semi-Final against Western on a buzzer beating shot, stars Aaron Doornekamp and Stu Turnbull still took the time to clean up their bench area, showing respect and responsibility.

Coaches should continuously promote Intensity and Quality in practice in order to simulate games. Athletes must always display this work ethic during workouts (individual or team). Coaches should instruct effective emotional and attentional control in addition to sport-specific physical performance factors. Athletes should spend time finding their Ideal Performance State before all competitions, from the N.C.A.A. Tournament to Intramural Playoff Games.

Coaches could call timeout and tell athletes to “calm down” but both groups have responsibility. Mike Krzyzewski, in his cursory work Beyond Basketball, talks of the importance of visualization for himself as a youth growing up in Chicago and for players at Duke. Some of the advice in that particular book may be incredibly obvious to anybody with a quantum of common sense but the anecdotes may inspire fans with higher aspirations.

For example, Krzyzewski relates how diligent Michael Jordan was regarding his individual workouts during the preparation for the 1992 Olympics. Although Jordan was the best player in the world, he was still respectful and allowed the college coach to work him out at game-like Intensity and Quality. Even the best must invest time to maintain their physical and mental levels so that they do not slip or stumble during a critical moment.

On Snooker

I was positively uncertain about the content of this tiny tome when I purchased it at the used book store. Reading the synopsis on the reverse, I gathered that Mordecair Richler was an avid fan of the game who would include anecdotes from throughout his life. Perhaps the author would delve into the kinship between the literati and elite athletes or outline the importance of competition in a young man’s life. Perhaps he admired a professional athlete from afar or found similarities between creativity on paper and canvas and creativity on felt (and by extension grass or hardwood since certain skills permeate all sports). I bought On Snooker anyways because I knew only one fact about the volume: that it would be well-written.

Accomplished author Richler weaves a myriad of player profiles together to describe the typical snooker athlete. Despite the formal nature of the sport, the black-tie attire, and the complex rules, snooker players face as much pressure as any other athlete. The sport possesses such a fine margin of error that minute miscues can trigger a run by the opponent and the end of match. Each frame begins with the same setup and players aim to make a similar sequence of shots. However, matches are always unique, a characteristic attributable to the mental not the physical aspect of snooker. Complete concentration during competition and practice is required for success.

Snooker players seem to have problems with gambling and substance abuse. Irrespective of the nature of the match, players must be able to leave the outcome on the table and move on. The skill level has risen so dramatically that the life of a champion snooker player is almost as short as an N.F.L. running back.

Lastly, Richler ruminates about the role sport plays in life. Even the most erudite character can take pleasure by supporting the Montreal Canadiens or boxing from Madison Square Garden. For many, it’s necessary to enter the playing field and prove their abilities to themselves, more than anyone else.

Extraordinary Events

What is the overall effect of an extraordinary event on a single team? The death of Alexei Cherepanov during a game triggered an eight-game slide for Avangard Omsk in the K. The Superbowl champion New York Giants lost four of their last five games after receiver Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg. Teams can collapse when a key player is suspended or experiences a breakdown on the court.

Yet other teams rally together when they experience a critical injury. What is the difference between a positive and a negative outcome in the face of adversity? A lot of a team’s success under difficult circumstances is determined by how the team was put together in the first place.

“Hard Work”: Coaches should clearly define the team goals at the beginning of the season and secure player buy-in. If a player can confidently answer the question “why am I here?” and “what is this all for?”, they are more likely to persevere during the tough times. Team progress will improve before, during, and after adversity.

“Family”: There will be different relationships among different team members and coaches should ensure that they remain positive. Evaluating the team chemistry - how teammates communicate and support each other - can help a coach spot problems ahead of time. Questions to ask are “where could we communicate better?” or “how we help each other succeed more?” It may be necessary to intervene or make time for a team building activity before small conflicts escalate. Athletic success (or success in any field) is strongly linked to how an athlete interacts with their environment.

Pushing each other and pulling together are attributes of a successful team. A team may still experience a shock in the face of a surprise but the players are better able to continue when everyone is on the same page. Creating the support mechanism before they are needed results in better results and less stress for all involved.

The Wrestler

The Wrestler seems to be a series of compelling character studies instead of an amazing story. Mickey Rourke, possibly playing himself - either a washed-up actor or professional boxer - is the centerpiece of the film. Darren Aronofsky’s decision to use hand-held cameras and authentic locations add to the realism of the film but I would have strongly preferred for his screenplay to tie up a few more loose ends. Does Randy “the Ram” die in the ring? Does his daughter forgive him? What about Cassidy the stripper?

“The people who you pass on the way up are the same ones who you will meet on the way down.” Twenty years after main eventing national wrestling events, Randy “the Ram” Robinson finds himself starring in same-time local shows at the American Legion Hall. Randy has trouble finding his identity: he seems to value his action figure and video game persona more than his real self. A dismal failure away from the ring, he decides to focus on what he enjoys: the wrestling ring.

Health problems occur, he becomes closer to a stripper named Cassidy, and he tries to reconnect with his daughter. Randy experiences some success and some disappointment as he approaches a twenty year rematch with his arch-nemesis the Ayatollah. He can’t decide whether to go through with the match or whether to finally call it quits.

I thought that The Wrestler does an excellent job of portraying the wrestlers as real people, with real emotions. A bespectacled Necro Butcher doesn’t want to run the ropes because of his knees; yet in the ring he staples a dollar bill to his forehead. Tommy Rotten and Ron Killings are concerned about reaching the next level; Bob a.ka. the Ayatollah goes from a businessman who owns several used car dealerships to “the Beast from the Middle East” in a matter of moments.

The Killers ask in their new album, “Are we human or are we dancer?” The Wrestler doesn’t answer that question but it does impart the importance of living with yourself and being satisfied with your lifestyle.

Player Development, Part II

The Toronto Raptors held a career forum last week at the Air Canada Centre. A panel of various employees represented different aspects of the organization: concessions, sponsorships, ticketing, facilities, and other jobs. Whilst the speakers were genuine in their desire to inspire the many high school students in attendance, they largely failed.

The seminar was a complete contrast from the hullabaloo of an Association game, which was a bit of a surprise, like seeing all the McDonald’s employees in line at Harvey’s in Union Station before the game. The Raptors promised an interactive and interesting event and fell quite short.

The speakers droned on (to a degree) about what they do each game day. The ticketing manager bragged about courtside seats that she had secured for a Torontonian at a Lakers game. When I attended the Raptors-Pacers game later that evening, it became apparent that many students had not attended a live game before. Discussing the luxury services offered by the company furthered the disconnect with their audience.

For example, a video documenting a game day at the A.C.C. would have supplemented the verbal explanations nicely. The footage would have permitted the students to visualize what the speakers described. Also, the speakers did not discuss how they obtained their jobs. The mantra “maybe someday you’ll be up here giving the speeches” was often repeated but few details were given about the education, experiences, and choices required for a career in sports.

In his book, Understanding Media, Marshall McLuhan cites the case of a high school principal in a destitute neighbourhood in New York City who gave each student a photo of themselves. The school also installed multiple mirrors in each classroom. Given the ability to see themselves as they learned, the students increased their academic performance.

The students didn’t believe what the teacher was saying about their habits until they saw it themselves. On the court, a coach may tell a player that he is fundamentally unsound, does not contribute to the team, or makes bad decisions but if this contrasts with the player’s self-image, he won’t buy it. A tirade may have the same effect as giving the player a dissertation to read.

If a player is good enough, and experiences some success - however superficial - they will begin to think of themselves as an excellent player. There are enough cheerleaders and hangers-on to reinforce that view. Why confront the truth, which is negative and entails hours of work to change, when one can look on the bright side.

The level of discourse has generally fallen recently; the successful politician is the one who lowers himself and communicates at the level of the voting public. Likewise, a coach must show the player simply and surely how his performance affects the team, for example using video of games or practices. Chris Bosh may not realize his body language and actions with his mouthguard leaving the huddle Monday night are unprofessional but hopefully he would be regretful if shown the behaviour later.

A player on the Varsity team or an alumnus can serve as a role model for how to get things done. Also, teaching a player how to critically watch the game provides examples of great performances. Encouraging players to develop an athlete’s vision can be a critical component of mental training before games and practices.

Coaches can’t simply demonstrate the drill like it is part of a lecture. They must connect with players so that all team members see themselves executing the skill correctly, in the context of a winning team with good chemistry.

Sport in Canadian Society

The anthology, Sport in Canadian Society, contains theses about gender, violence, class, and other issues in sport. Although published in 1991, the chapter regarding media remains very salient. The authors believe that broadcasting sporting events can lead to a slippery slope wherein ratings influence telecasts in many ways. For example, a legitimate sport like skiing could be replaced by a dilatory exhibition like arm wrestling on A.B.C.’s Wide World of Sports or commentators might go beyond describing the action and actually create their own storylines. Competing for viewers, the networks distort the competition more and more, in order to create a product that appeals to more viewers.

Watching yesterday’s Raptors-Heat game, I couldn’t help but feel that the game was irrelevant. Spurious activities abounded: the mascot held up placards during play, Rasho Nesterovic was digitally inserted into Saturday Night Fever, and many fans missed the first few possessions of each quarter because they were getting food. Association basketball is tepid and rarely engaging for a full forty-eight minutes. So I watch the weak-side, the trail official, or the post play.

It’s difficult to focus on the weak-side because the Air Canada Centre is excessively loud. It’s much more serene to watch at home but given the attendance figures, Serenity Now is not what the fans want. Instead of educating spectators about the game, teams in the Association have changed the experience to create a noisy, abrasive, and overwhelming experience. For many people, the competition is secondary to whether they can take home a mediocre slice of pizza (too often after a mediocre game.)

Federer def. Roddick 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-2

Reminiscent of that Sampras-Agassi match in the 2001 - which was also regrettably scheduled for the quarter-finals due to a poor draw - Roger Federer ousted Andy Roddick from the U.S. Open in straight sets last night.

Like the classic match half a dozen years ago, the first two sets were played without any breaks of service. However, Roddick could not match Federer’s relentless play. At key times, it seemed that Roddick made poor judgments or tried for too much; Federer remained focused and played his (superb) game.

In the 2001 match, Pete Sampras prevailed because he possessed a more well-rounded game, which proved more consistent in the tie-breakers. Likewise, Roger Federer won because of his shot-making and determination. Not only is he the best tennis player in the world, he knows he limits, and plays within them.

Federer always gets the ball back and makes his adversary hit and extra shot. There is something to say about consistency throughout an entire game, race, or match and letting the opponent make mistakes. Federer was aggressive at times (during his service games, tie-breakers and break points, and when Roddick came to the net) but he was always in control.

Andre Agassi provided a number of salient points on commentary; it was certainly enjoyable to listen to insightful sport announcers (a rare occurrence).

1. One comment concerned Andy Roddick, who has yet to match the Grand Slam success that he achieved at the 2003 U.S. Open. During that time, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Marat Safin have won all of the Grand Slams. While it may be reasonable for Roddick to have a mental block against Federer, Agassi insisted that he should focus on leaving it all on the court. Playing a game with no regrets and losing wouldn’t contribute to his mental and physical struggles with the world’s top player but playing tentative and losing would.
2. “When you get around a weakness by avoiding it, it just adds to your struggles when you have to face it. The best thing to do is to tackle it head on.” - Andre Agassi
3. Agassi also suggested that Jimmy Connors’ biggest accomplishment since he began coaching Roddick last year was convincing Roddick that he had improve, irrespective of what actually happened.

P.S.: Why do athletes grimace or grunt while playing or lifting weights? It consumes energy which could possibly be a factor in longer matches. Does the psychological feeling of comfort and security enhance performance? In the end, the quiet player won last night.

The Blind Side

Michael Lewis’ latest novel, The Blind Side, is part-sport, part-economics, part-psychology, and part-sociology. While writing an article about his high school baseball coach that was published as the novella Coach, he re-connected with teammate Sean Tuohy, who was adopting a 6-5, 350 pound offensive lineman who played left guard for the Briarcrest Christian School football team that Tuohy coached. That student-athlete, Michael Oher, became a living example of how sport and money have become intertwined while the rich and poor and black and white have grown apart.

At the beginning of the book, Oher is a marginal student and physical freak living on a friend’s couch, wishing to be the next Michael Jordan. Lewis describes show teachers, tutors, adoptive family members, teammates, and friends help Oher learn about school, sport, and life. It’s an uphill struggle but the moral of the story - for teachers and coaches - is that it is critical to consider the learning styles of each student-athlete to ensure that they are doing their best. Oher is motivated and works hard but he doesn’t reach his potential until others identify his strengths and weaknesses and adapt practices and class.

Ultimately, everyone can make their own choice: LeBron James can choose whether to be aggressive and crown Rasheed Wallace or pass to Donyell Marshall, Michael Oher can live on the streets of Hurt Village or apply himself to get an N.C.A.A. Scholarship. Obstacles appear in the form of an investigation by the House along with academic and social challenges but Oher persists and achieves his goals.

As he did in Moneyball, Lewis describes how the commercialism of sport has created an artificial world separate from regular day-to-day life. Increased demand for throwing and other skills possessed by quarterbacks led to record salaries for the position, which trickled down to the positions that protect the passer. Increased popularity of college football led to greater pressure on coaches to win, an outcome that required more and more recruiting to realize, which is why an African-American high school student with below-average marks received numerous benefits that his peers did not.

Nevertheless, Michael Oher and those who supported him still had a choice: whether or not to work hard to succeed. They did and The Blind Side has a happy ending for this particular case.

I Never Had It Made

Jackie Robinson - who debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers fifty years ago - recounts his career in sport and business in his book, which he titled I Never Had It Made.

Although known primarily among the general public for his baseball career, Robinson devotes scarcely more than a third of the book to the topic, covering his experiences in politics, business, and raising a family. Two basic lessons that the reader can take away are how adversity affects all sorts of people and it’s important to preserve nonetheless and that it is never to late to change one’s course in life, if one is willing to work and learn.

Robinson’s exploits on the diamond show athletes from all sports the value of smart, aggressive play and a determined, competitive nature. Obviously, his role breaking baseball’s colour barrier and the dignified way that he handled himself is a well-known positive example.

Throughout the autobiography, Robinson isn’t afraid to admit occasions when he did not succeed and would have acted differently if he could choose again. Nobody’s perfect and the ability to self-evaluate and reflect, irrespective of success or failure, is an important skill in life and sport.

Sport in Canada, Part II

Last week, addressing some of the obstacles that Canada faces in its quest to Own the Podium, I ignore a critical consideration: the separation of sports funding by provincial boundaries. Canada manages National Sports Organizations and the Canadian Olympic Committee but ten provinces and three territories control various Provincial Sports Organizations - and far more money - according to vastly different standards.

Certainly, thirteen diverse recipes produce thirteen different outcomes, some more successful than others. For example, the Government of Quebec links sport to the health and fitness of the overall population and spends about $7.40 per capita on sport, four times the amount spent by Ontario, Canada's largest province.

Kouzes and Posner's Five Leadership Practices illustrates how Quebec employs logical ideas and methods to get the most out of their money, generating winning athletes and healthy citizens.

1. Modeling the way
   Quebec's Minister of Education, Recreation, and Sport sees achievements by the province's athletes as a way to demonstrate that "fitness is fun"
   Should Canada choose to follow Quebec's example, international results would improve. Quebecois athletes have access to resources similar to peers in other countries; athletes in other provinces do not.
   
2. Inspiring a shared vision
   Quebec has become a leader among Canada's aquatics and speed skating communities as a result of its top facilities and podium finishes at international competition.
   
3. Challenge the process
   Quebec has made a commitment to building international-level facilities throughout the province, inspiring potential athletes to move to Quebec to train and allowing the province to host more sporting events.
   The province incorporates ideas from various sports into training for all athletes, for example using dance to improve flexibility.
   
4. Enabling others to act
   Investment in coaches and facilities provides athletes with the resources needed to win.
   
5. Encouraging the heart
   Many Quebec athletes were motivated by the success of their predecessors. The province endeavours to create a culture of sport and health.

There are more details to Quebec's accomplishments but these key points, gleaned from a TSN report during their Canada Games coverage, exemplify that sport in Canada has a long way to go to match world standards but that money, hard work, and focus can make success possible in all sports.

Skiing and Sport in Canada

Saturday’s World Cup downhill gold medal win by Erik Guay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a tremendously promising Canadian sporting achievement. Guay’s triumph is full of potential but should not be mistaken as a sign that Canadian sport is positioned to repeat these results consistently.

By stringing together three podium finishes in 2007, Guay has proven that he possess the physical and mental abilities to contend at the international level. Coaches who have mentored him, sponsors who have supported him, and skiing clubs and sport organizations such as Alpine Canada who have allowed him to compete all share credit for the victory. Guay’s recent success demonstrates that Canadians can challenge the Europeans who have traditionally dominated the sport. The next step is winning on the biggest stages: the Olympics and the world championships.

What can Erik Guay do to perform at the best of his abilities over the course of several years? He can continue to condition his mind and body by training (indoors and on the slopes), eating properly, and making use of the sport science resources in Canada.

What can Alpine Canada do to assist Guay? They can furnish the national ski team with the best equipment, provide athletes with financial means so they can devote their full attention to training, and invest in the latest sport science resources and high performance coaching.

Furthermore, Alpine Canada and develop the next generation of Crazy Canucks. Doing this requires the backing of the federal government and the belief of the Canadian people in the value of sport and exercise. This is Canada’s biggest alpine triumph since Kerrin Lee-Gardner’s Olympic gold medal in Albertville and it is a definite starting point.

To climb the international ladder, athletes must seek the competitive fire within themselves. But once they find that drive, sport organizations should help them along the way. This is not the case in Canada, on the slopes or elsewhere.

One anecdote that illustrates the lack of support that athletes receive is the career of Myriam Bédard. She won a biathalon bronze medal in 1992 but she did not want to forfeit her endorsements to Biathalon Canada so the organization suspended Bédard from the national team. Training independently, Bédard won two gold medals in the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. Instead of scorning a top athlete, Biathalon Canada should have fully supported Bédard so she could have modelled the way for others.

In order to improve performance and inspire the average citizen to take up sport, the Canadian government needs to make significant commitments over several years. Multiple sports need provincial and national leagues. Coaching development must be brought up to standard. Sport science lags behind the rest of the world. Currently, token gestures are made and when athletic performance falls short at a major competition, the public is concerned for a month before returning to their three and a half year habit of ignoring sport.

Without changing the culture, Canadian sport will remain barren - highlighted by occasional oases like Erik Guay or Steve Nash - but otherwise barren.

The Death of NYM/STL Is/Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

The team with the best record has not won the World Series since 1998. I have been guilty have making ill-informed predictions although I have been keeping them on an informal basis for some time. This year, I thought that the Yankees lineup would see too many pitches and wear out opposing pitching staffs. This didn’t happen. I was more accurate in the National League Divisional Series but by the time the N.L.C.S. rolled around I had learned not to make predictions. I thought the Cardinals would stick around to at least make a competitive series but otherwise I had not real idea.

Pundits buried the Cards before the series. The Mets were dismissed heading into Game 4. Then St. Louis had no chance and now New York can’t hit Chris Carpenter nor field a reasonable Game 7 starting pitcher. One Cy Young winner in this series is out for the year and both of the others have been lit up during their starts. St. Louis can get to the New York closer. The only effective pitchers have been the ones who have been erratic throughout their careers so John Maine and Darren Oliver may be as effective as Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine.

It seems like St. Louis should win by riding Carpenter’s arm, or because New York has no arms to ride. But they still have to play the games. Nobody thought Detroit would be in the World Series – during Spring Training, May, August, or before the playoffs – and even though they will have an advantage over the National League team, they are not the sure thing they have been made out to be.

Sport allows any team to win at any time. Why bother predicting? Just play. Furthermore, N.F.L. favourites are only 33-36-5 against the spread so far this year.

Sports on Television

When I watch sports on television, why must the announcers spent countless moments discussing minutiae absolutely irreverent to the game? What function do sideline reports serve? Why do commentators feel the need to speak as if the viewers are a gang of mush-heads?

For example, why was Matt Leinart’s dad shown repeatedly during the 2006 Rose Bowl? It seemed as if he was on the screen more often than his son, who was quarterbacking the Trojans. Since Mr. Leinart wasn’t the player who came up inches short on fourth down nor did he score the winning touchdown with nineteen seconds to go, why was this visual noise clouding my screen so often?

Players make plays (Critical, often over-looked note: not all athletes who participate in sports are players). LenDale White scored three touchdowns, Reggie Bush vaulted over twelve defenders to score, and Vince Young largely won the game single-handedly. The Elias Sports Bureau possesses many interesting facts about these players that I would have enjoyed hearing about. Why dilute the intensity of sports with sappy melodramatic storylines? To me, sports are appealing because every game is different. These quasi-theatrical sidebars are merely rehashed versions of the same tired themes (overcoming adversity, redemption, family).

On the subject of U.S.C.’s decision to go for it on fourth down, I don’t necessarily loathe the call. A punt probably seals the victory, but Vince Young is Superman so it’s hard to say. However, why leave Reggie Bush on the sideline? At worse, he’s a decoy to the ball carrier; in the best case scenario, he gains thirty yards on a pitch-out. Perhaps he could have pushed the pile and given U.S.C. the yards they needed (again).

Homer Simpson said it best when he decreed that “you don’t make friends with salad.” To paraphrase: “you don’t leave the Heisman trophy winner on the sideline on the play that will determine the National Championship.”

Why Do We Coach?

Paul J. Meyer once said: “You never work for someone else. The truth is someone is paying you to work for yourself.”

Someone recently suggested that coaching for the purposes of self-actualisation was possibly selfish. In the end, don’t all humans choose their actions in order to satisfy a need (physiological, safety, belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation)? Even those employed in an altruistic occupation do so because helping others meets their belonging, esteem, or self-actualisation needs.

The suggestion was made with a somewhat negative connotation. I couldn’t disagree more. People are free to act as they wish and no one can tell someone else how to make the most of themselves. Conventional wisdom is very popular and a revelation that all action is incentive based (economics is merely a model to understand life) can be hard to accept.

Why do we coach? Obviously, we love the game and the people - players, coaches, referees, and fans - who play it. But don’t coach to indulge ourselves; there are many ways to satisfy our basketball jones without affecting the lives of young people. We chose to assume positions of influence in the lives of student-athletes because we wanted to give back and make a difference.

Basketball (or any sport) is the vehicle, personal best sand self-actualization are the destinations. Since we coach because we want to help players become the people they aspire to, how do we make the biggest difference?

Sport=Art

When you play sports, you are the work of art. The show is ongoing; there is always another chance to perform. You can always improve what you have to offer.

Play sports for fun but take advantage of the opportunity to set new personal bests. Push yourselves and push your team-mates to get better. Don't set low expectations; don't expect to finish last.

Seriously, I was an athletics banquet and “at least we didn't finish last” was a refrain. Anyone can do better than last. I could take up any sport tomorrow and finish last (or better). If it were my first time playing that sport or I could see that at that time, that was where my abilities stood relative to my competitors, I wouldn't beat myself up over it. But I have pride and I would try my hardest to improve my performance the next time.

Athletics, like any other extra-curricular activity, is part of a school's identity. Sports can be a powerful vehicle for student-athletes to achieve their self-actualization goals. Obviously, students go to school to learn so they should hit the books first. Afterwards, it's still important to learn how to be the best you can be.

As Albert Camus said, “There is in this world beauty and there are the humiliated. We must strive, hard as it is, not to be unfaithful to the one or the other.”

Do your best, no matter what the activity. Do it for yourself, your teammates, and the person you want to become. Determine what you want and take steps to get it. You're accountable to yourself and each other. This isn't easy but the rewards are worth it. Set the example.