Few parents can say they have had more success than Dennis Poppinga at raising their kids to be successful athletes. Dennis is from a small town in Wyoming and he has 3 sons. All 3 sons excelled at High School Basketball and Football and all 3 eventually made it to NFL. To have 1 child make it to the professional level as an athlete is amazing, to go 3 for 3 is unheard of! Obviously Dennis had a positive influence on his kids and he was fortunate enough to talk with us and answer the questions we had about parenting an athlete.

After listening to this interview you’ll know:

• What type of relationship you should have with your child’s coaches
• Why coaches pay less attention to some of the kids on their teams and how to keep this from happening to your child
• Whether or not you should be worried if your child doesn’t show a big interest in basketball
• How much time you need to spend with them teaching them the game
• What other surprising activities you can involve your kids in that will help with them becoming a better athlete
• Whether or not kids are born with the desire to be athletes or if it is something that comes with nurture

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! There is much much more that you don’t want to miss out on. Listen to the call and you’ll see what we mean.

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Coach Wooten agreed to do an exclusive interview with HoopSkills Academy just so we could pick his brain and tap into the vast amount of basketball knowledge he has. During this interview he talks a great deal about what young coaches need to do in order to build a solid program and he shares numerous tips for players wanting to play at a very high level.

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Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player that has ever lived.  I get some people who argue with me on this but I have more on my side than against.  What made Michael Jordan so good was his mental toughness.  His ability to handle and overcome failure was nothing short of amazing.  He missed a ton of last second shots and he’ll attest to that fact.  He’ll attest to bad shots that may have cost his team some games.  Where other players shy away from situations, Michael Jordan embraced them.  If you listened to his hall of fame speech you were able to see this side of him.  Even in retirement and being placed in the hall of fame he still acted as if he was disrespected in his career.  He was still competitive and displaying his mental edge.  Kobe Bryant is like that today as is Dwyane Wade.

What it boils down to is the fact that players don’t often consider working on their mental game or don’t even know how.  When you have an hour or so to play ball you go to the gym and shoot instead of sitting down and doing some mental drills and that’s ok.  Work on your mental game away from the gym and you’ll see it pay dividends when you get in games.  Here are some ideas that I’ve put together:

Visualization

Players should spend time every day visualizing in their mind themselves performing well on the basketball court. It should be uninterrupted and it should be taken very seriously. Ever wonder why players have their headphones on before games?  They are trying to relax and focus without interruption.  Take the time to sit down and imagine being successful.  Imagine playing solid defense on the best player and stopping him.  Imagine making a tough shot to put your team in the lead.  Imagine getting a rebound in traffic and the feelings that those positive emotions give off.

I love watching players go from one level to the next to see how they respond mentally.   I love watching a kid who was a great shooter in junior high have that translate to high school and then from high school to college.  The reason why is because the game is the exact same.  The hoop is still 10 feet in the air but the player somehow plays the game differently.  The player gets timid and doesn’t take the open shot.  Those players need to work on mental toughness.  In the same sense I’ve seen many kids who come in and realize the game is the same and just play.  They are mentally tough and ready to play at that level.

If you haven’t already thought of using mental visualization and meditation then you are missing the boat.  Try it.

NEVER SHOOT A SHOT THAT YOU THINK YOU WILL MISS BECAUSE YOU WILL

Study the Game

Many people know the game of basketball and casually watch games but that isn’t enough anymore.  You have to study the game.  Watch teams play to get different perspectives.  Watch DVDs or instructional tapes to give you an edge.  When I think of a player who knew the game I can’t help but think of John Stockton because that man played the game like a genius.  He called his team plays because he knew his team and the other team better than they knew themselves.  In football this person would be Peyton Manning.  He is prepared and is rarely if ever surprised by something the defense does.  Watch the game intently, watch game tape and study successful players.  Be a true student.

Study your opponent

As you get older the importance of studying your opponent becomes even more apparent and necessary.  Any player that is at the junior high level or above should know who they are going to be going up against.  They should know what defense they will be playing and what offense they will have to guard against.  What are the opposing player’s strengths and team strengths?

I had a coach in high school who would give us a 10 page scouting report on each team that included the player’s strengths and weaknesses as well as the team and players tendencies.  It was very in-depth.  As I got to college we were even more in detail but so much of our personal growth and study had to come from within.  Now it is even easier for players because of what is accessible over the internet.  There are so many advantages of knowing what your opponents want to do that it’s not even funny. 

Preparation Negates Fear

Something I preach over and over is that preparation negates fear.  Players and coaches that have put in their time and work need not fear about the performance that is about to take place.  Recently we watched Cliff Lee pitch in his first world series ever for the Phillies and after the game he was asked how he remained so calm out there and he said this in a nutshell.  He said that the game was still the same game.  It I involved pitching and hitting.  Then he said the best part.  He said that he has prepared for this and put in his work and that he had the confidence because of that to be successful.   He showed no fear because of the prep time that he had put in to becoming a great pitcher. 

Summary

Basketball players that use their mind to make themselves better are the cream of the crop. You could be the best conditioned and most skilled player in the world but if you’re mind is a wreck it will all go to waste. Bad players that understand the potential of their mind become good players. Average players that understand the potential of their mind become elite players.

Other coaches have been around a while and can’t seem to buy a win or get any consistency from your team.  You fight feelings of not being good enough and you are probably questioning everything from your offense to your substitution patterns.  

The HoopSkills team has had the opportunity to speak with and interview some phenomenal basketball coaches the past few months. Some of their names include former NBA Head Coach Eric Musselman, current NBA Coach Barry Hecker, NBA Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley, basketball guru Herb Welling and most recently Morgan Wootten of the famed DeMatha High program.  In our conversations with these coaches we tried really hard to get them to talk about specific things they did to make them successful coaches and create successful kids as a result.

To no surprise that all have very different personalities and takes on what makes a successful coach and program.  Some were very similar but some couldn’t be more different.  For new coaches take the list below and print it off.  Use it as a tool and guide and it you are an experienced coach who may have lost his/her way a bit then refer to it as a way to get you back on track.

1. Team Identity

What do you want your team to be known for?  Is it team defense, is it a high scoring offense, or as a great rebounding team?  What do you want for your team or program?  When I say Michigan State most people think of rebounding.  When I say Phoenix Suns and now New York Knicks people think of scoring points under Coach D’Antoni.  When I talk about Illinois people think of tough defense.  When I mention Rick Majerus people think of preparation.  What identity do you want your team to have? 

2. Find a mentor

Recently I was speaking to the greatest high school coach in history and probably one of the greatest coaches ever in Morgan Wootten.  He is a class act and a gentleman in every sense of the word.  His mentor was Red Auerbach.  He went to lunch with Red nearly every Tuesday for years and that was the coach that he wanted to emulate.  We don’t all have that opportunity but Coach Wootten created that opportunity by seeking Auerbach out.  If you want to be a great coach then seek out someone who has been successful and study what they do.  Basketball coaches are great at sharing information because it’s all about the love of the game.

3. Organization

Very simply put:  PLAYERS NEED STRUCTURE.  If organization comes easy to you then you won’t have any problem here but if it doesn’t then work extra hard at this or seek out sources for greater insight.  Organization and time management are very important in basketball and this includes making sure that your practices are structured as well as your pre-game routines.  It’s all important in the overall scheme of things because this helps determine your team identity.

4. Listening to the past

For new coaches a good idea is to talk with as many people as possible about coaching experiences that they had.  What they liked and disliked?  Have them throw ideas out and write down the feedback.  If you are an experience coach then I suggest talking to kids who played for you and get their feedback.  Listen to what they liked and disliked and take it to heart.  I’m not saying to change who you are because you have to be true to yourself but really listen to the past and make it a tool to improve yourself in the future.

5. Set Goals

Are team goals being set?  Are personal goals being set for yourself when it comes to the team?  Make sure the goals are realistic and achievable and for everyone to see.  If the goal you want to set is personal and about your success then make them the same way and review them often.  The goals can be as simple as out-rebounding the other team or winning a national championship.  Coach Wootten told me that each of his teams had the goal to be the best in DC and the Nation and they won 4 High School National Titles.  But with him it all started with having fun and enjoying the great game of basketball.

6. Have a clear vision & philosophy of how your program will succeed

If someone comes to you and wants a quick snapshot of your program what do you tell them?  I compare it to when my wife asks me “why do you love me?”  I had better have an answer ready or I’ll be in trouble. You want to know what type of team and program you have and that is established by creating a philosophy and vision.

Successful basketball coaches always have a clear philosophy on how to win and so should you. Here’s an example:  At Illinois if you ask Bruce Weber he’ll say that his vision/philosophy is tough man to man defense with a motion offense.  Roy Williams at UNC will say that he has a fast break team that plays tough overplaying defense and takes advantage of every team’s mistakes. 

What do you want your philosophy to be?

7. Focus on fundamentals

Every team should focus on fundamentals.  The fundamentals are passing and receiving the ball correctly.  They include being able to dribble the ball with both hands with your head up. Also shooting the ball at the basket and taking good shots with correct form.  Every player should be able to defend in a man-to-man situation and use the correct footwork.  Screening should be taught as well as understanding game situations.  When in doubt go back to the basics.

Let me end with a story Coach Wootten told me.  When he was a beginning coach he didn’t know how to correctly orchestrate a practice so for 20 minutes of each practice his team would focus on making layups.  20 minutes is a long time to be doing layups.  The team didn’t miss a lay-up the entire season. Point is that if you want your players to be good then teach them correctly how to do something and then give them the time to do it.  Keep it simple.

• Understand the point of offense

Every possession has the same goal and that is to get the best shot possible.  This means that you’d like a shot that is un-contested and closest to the basket by the player who has the best chance to make it.  That’s basic but true on every level.   How do we do this?

• Correct Spacing

Make sure that you are never in a situation where 1 defender can effectively guard 2 players.  When you feel yourself too close to a teammate you can cut to the basket or just simply move away.  Correct spacing leads to open shots.

• Understanding roles including coach

Each player needs to know his role and the coach is the key to this.  If a player is a terrible shooter then the coach needs to tell him what he can or can’t do.  I know it sounds a bit harsh but the goal on offense is to get the best shot and if you can’t shoot then you can’t shoot.  Focus on areas where you can be successful.

• Be ready at all times

Every player needs to always be ready to shoot and score despite it being your role or not.  No coach will turn down an uncontested lay-up so be prepared for that if it comes. 

• Keep the hands up

I don’t know how many times I’ve passed the ball to someone and hit them flush in the chest or the head because they neglected to be ready with their hands up.  Players with their hands up indicate that they are ready and focused on what they are doing.  I learned this the hard way from Coach Rick Majerus and I have a couple Wilson JET scars on the side of my head to prove it.

• Cut to the basket

This can be specific to the offense but cutters can make or break an offense.  No defender likes to play against someone who is always moving or cutting around the basket.  When a cutter goes through it can create situations where help defense is deployed and an open shot can be created.

• Screening

1.  Help each other get open

The point of the screen is to help other players get open.  Be selfless and set a screen to free someone up.  Stephen Curry for Davidson last year wouldn’t have got half the shots he wanted without his teammates freeing him up with screens.

2.  Move the ball

It is often forgotten that effective screens are made more effective by ball movement and creating proper passing angles and lanes.

• Passing

Once the screen is set and the best shot is available the pass and reception is very important.  I’m not going to get into footwork coming off a screen in this article but know how important keeping your front foot pointed at the basket really is.  The pass needs to be put in a place where only the offense can catch it and where the shot can go up with the least amount of effort made to catch it.

1.  Think of leading the player into the shot

2.  Meet the ball

3.  Don’t bring the ball down

4.  If the pass comes to you in the correct position go straight up into the shot, don’t bring the ball down and spin it and all that fluff.  Wasted motion never scored anyone any points.

5.  Triple threat – catch the pass with the ability to dribble, shoot or pass

In closing….as a coach or player make sure that you never allow yourself to play sloppy.  If you are working out by yourself and find yourself slacking a little bit then stop and collect yourself and start over or else you aren’t getting any better.  Coaches, once you see a sloppy screen set and the players going through the motions then refocus them on the task at hand but NEVER ALLOW A BAD HABIT TO BE PRACTICED because it only gets worse.

During this interview Herb shares some very helpful tips for beginner coaches, he reveals what he considers to be the most under-rated facet of the game, he talks about how our youth have changed the past 10-20 years and how coaches should adpapt, along with much much more.

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