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!

Crystal Kelly headed to Detroit Shock

Shock Acquire Forward Crystal Kelly from Sacramento in Exchange for Kristin Haynie

Auburn Hills, MI - The Detroit Shock announced today that the team has acquired Crystal Kelly from the Sacramento Monarchs in exchange for guard Kristin Haynie.
“In acquiring Crystal Kelly we add a solid young player to our post rotation who comes with a reputation of not only being a skilled player, but a smart one as well,” said Detroit Shock General Manager Cheryl Reeve. “We are in need of a post that can spell Taj McWilliams as she has been logging heavy minutes at the 4 position.”
In 22 games (three starts) this season, the second-year forward is averaging 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game.
Kelly was acquired by the Monarchs as a free agent on May 18, 2008, after being originally selected by the Houston Comets in the third round of the 2008 WNBA Draft (31st overall).
Kelly played in 33 games (four starts) as a rookie last season averaging 7.4 ppg and 3.3 rpg in 16.7 mpg. She scored a career-high 18 points at Minnesota (6/12/08), and ranked second on the team in free throw percentage.
In 20 games (two starts) this season with the Shock, Haynie averaged 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.1 minutes per game.
“This trade is a good trade for both the Shock and Kristin Haynie,” said Reeve. “We've thoroughly enjoyed having Kristin on the Shock but know that Kristin wanted to be on the court more often. The return to Sacramento reunites her with former teammates and coaches and puts her in a better situation relative to playing time. We thank Kristin for her efforts in Detroit.”