Work on your game & Learn in the Process!

I just read an article that talks about players and skill development and learning the game.

I think girl's need to find more time to work on their skills: shooting, dribbling, and offensive moves and stop relying simply on organized ball to get them better.

Once you've worked on your individual game find a pick-up game or two. But don't just play with the intent of improving your physical skills, improve your mental skills and basketball knowledge. Of course you need to be able to create your own shot and score the ball. But can you read the defense, do you know when to cut, curl, or flare, or can you make your teammates better by setting them up with a pass for an easy score.

Mark Lewis (ESPN Hoopgurlz) says, The reality of the situation may just be that we're too organized for our own good. I'm all for opportunity and any day you can be in the gym is a good day. At the same time, we need to find time to just play the game and turn simple basketball back into an instinct and reaction rather than thought-and-learned structure. Focus on two-on-two situations and three-on-three options and we'll see the game move to even greater heights. It doesn't matter whether you run the triangle offense, flex or some new innovative set, if you can't play the game within it, it's just movement.

Recruiting and Retention

Recruiting is the #1 priority to most Division I college programs. If recruiting is #1, then Retention should be your #2 priority as coaches. I have not found a study or much research on the transfer rate in women's college basketball, but I'm very interested in why it happens so much.

Why are female athletes transfering from their current programs at such an alarming rate?
Some of the reasons I have heard are:

1. I'm not getting enough playing time
2. I'm just not happy
3. I'm home sick
4. I hate my teammates
5. I hate my coaches
6. I can't compete on that level
7. I don't like that its basketball all the time
8. I need to focus on academics
9. It's just to hard and I want to quit
10. The coaches changed when I got here
11. My coach is crazy
12. No one understands me

Who's at fault? The coaches or the players

As a coach, I would like to say it's them and not me, but the truth is it starts at the top.
Coaches, we have to do a better job relating to our players after they become a part of our program. Every players is different and has to be handled in a very unqiue way. Every player wants to feel special and needed. I think we overlook that once we get them on campus. In an attempt to become stern and direct, we tend to become cold and distance.


As my wonderful mentor and coach once said, it's always about the kids. The players should always be your #1 concern which goes along with recruiting.

The Key to Retention:

1. Do all that you can to prevent your players from experiencing several negative situations in a row.
2. Find ways to have fun.
3. Know what's going on behind closed doors.
4. Research your players before signing them.
5. Make them love you and they will do anything for you.
6. They must value loyalty and thier word.
7. Must make them understand perseverance and patient. Wait your turn.
8. They must see the Big Picture.
9. Treat losing players like losing games. Find a way to keep them, find a way to win!
10. Love them unconditionally.

WKU Lady Toppers defeat Ball State 61-58!

Muncie, Ind. - On three different occasions Monday night, the Western Kentucky University women's basketball team held a lead of seven points or more at Ball State. Each time the Cardinals fought back, but in the end the Lady Toppers were able to come up with big plays late and pick up a 61-58 win at Worthen Arena.
 

The win moved the Lady Toppers to 2-0 on the year, while Ball State dropped to 0-2.
 "We had to find ways all night, and I'm really proud of this basketball team for doing that," said Lady Topper head coach Mary Taylor Cowles. "We did some things in the second half that just showed our desire to want to win this game."

Don Meyer's Thoughts on Building a Great Team

1. Your Relationship with your players is an important factor in building a TEAM.

2. Older players should teach and help younger players.

3. Your TEAM must know that they will win but more importantly, they must know exactly How They Will WIN.

4. You better be a Great Half Court Team in post-season tournament play.

5. Have Goal Sheets established for each of your players. Check these sheets every week.

6. Schedule tough games during the season. This will make you better in post-season.

7. Substitute on every one of your team's free throws in order to prevent the fast break.

8. Evaluate what your Program/Team needs are at the end of each week.

9. Plan the next week on the Sunday before the week.

10. You need to Win and Lose in practice. When one loses, the whole team suffers. When one wins, the whole team wins. Play games like 7-up and Cut Throat.

Detroit defeats Atlanta 94-89!

Detroit led 90-89 with 16.1 seconds left and fouled Nolan. Nolan, who had been fouled hard by Sancho Lyttle a minute earlier, had to leave the game with what Mahorn described as "lightheadedness". Mahorn said he expected Nolan to be OK for Friday's game.
Her absence, though, meant that Meadors could choose who would shoot the free throws. She could have selected Olayinka Sanni, a career 67 percent free-throw shooter who hadn't played in the game, or Braxton, who has hit 66 percent in her career.
Instead, Meadors chose Crystal Kelly, a career 85-percent shooter who has finished in the top 20 in free-throw shooting in both of her WNBA seasons.
Kelly made both shots, moving Detroit's lead back to three.
Detroit leads series 1-0. Next game on Friday @ 7:30pm ET.

Leadership Qualities

3 Important Qualities of Leadership

1. Leads- Guides others towards a Mission

2. Develops- Creates a Positive Environment/Fosters Teamwork

3. Achieves- Knows what Needs to be Done & Consistently Produces Results

Advantages of Playing Uptempo Basketball

Mike Anderson, Mizz

1. More fastbreak opportunities producing high-percentage shots (lay-ups).

2. Uncomfortable for defenses to recover; especially controlled/patient teams.

3. Forces players to get better, bc they must make split second decisions.

Roy Williams, UNC

4. Allows talented players to make plays.

5. Eliminates teams from pressing us, bc we run like crazy.

6. Forces guards and posts to sprint hard all the time.

Steve Fisher, San Diego State

5. Getting easy baskets help you win.

6. His team always runs to score off turnovers.

Latasha Dorsey, WKU

7. Gets you to the foul line, bc it wears down your opponent, which leads to reaching.

8. Gives more control to your point guard who can make reads and set teammates up for success!

9. Take advantage of your depth.

10. Every player loves to run! Easy baskets create enthusiasm, confidence, and deflates the opponent.

Plus it helps recruiting---talented players love playing uptempo!