Much has been written about Coach Bob Hurley Sr. and his teams at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, New Jersey. Invariably, the stories revolve around the tremendous success achieved on and off the basketball court. Coach Hurley has developed some outstanding teams and players but, more importantly, some incredible young men and citizens. His graduation rate is excellent, his compassion is unquestionable, and his commitment knows no bounds.
Earlier this week, on many PBS affiliates, the new documentary that chronicles St. Anthony and Coach Hurley was shown in prime time. Given the impact of the film, especially considering how well it was done (Teamworks Media), it fits with the philosophy of this blog to share information on how you can see/obtain the movie. Simply click on the active links to:
- go to the St. Anthony School website to find out more about the school
- contact Kathleen Staudt to order copies of the DVD directly from the school
- watch a terrific interview on Chicago Tonight with Coach Hurley
- watch (on Expressvu) the documentary on the PBS East affiliate of WGBH Channel 2 on Sat. April 3rd at 6:30pm or Mon. April 5th at 2:30pm
- watch (again on Expressvu) the replay on PBS West (KCTS 9) on April 5th at 3am
- go to Amazon and order a copy online (for a reduced preview price)
- go to the Teamworks Media site to order a copy from the filmmaker
In the ongoing development of their program's philosophy, many coaches are looking for tools that will help them emphasize certain aspects - both during the season as well as in the quieter times. With that in mind, give some thought to:
- in practice, if there are two consecutive turnovers then there should be some sort of consequence for that poor action
- no matter your style of play, and no matter how many players you want to play, the season reaches a point when you must know your top eight players and not be afraid to shorten your bench
- TEAM IS EVERYTHING - anybody that complains about another person behind their back is NOT on board (they are a drain when they need to be a fountain)
- support each other - we ALL need help
- when running scrimmages in practice, remove one ball from the available pile after every turnover - when all of the balls are gone, there should be a consequence
- recognize that not everyone is coached the same way - players need to earn the right to make mistakes (hence, each will play with a shorter or longer leash) - overall, this will help with team success both on and off the court
It is a given that coaches have MANY responsibilities - both in the big picture as well as in a detailed sense. Paying attention to small details, beyond being good for your program, can also help you gain an advantage in games. Consider substitutions. The strategic subbing of players, if done well, can be of tremendous benefit to your team. Give some thought to:
- how do your players sub in?
- encourage them, much like free throws, to have a routine (while waiting to sub in) that helps them focus and get ready to work
- subs need to hustle over to you then the scorer's table when called upon
- players should sprint on and off the court (with enthusiasm and/or good body language each way)
- subs entering need to shake hands of teammates exiting the game, get matchups, and communicate current defensive/offensive calls
- in order to slow down tempo or set up defensive pressure, sub after a made free throw
- to disrupt opponent's matchups, sub at timeouts (preferably at the end of the TO)
- to help your first subs off the bench prepare mentally and develop a game-to-game routine, consider advising them of what time they should expect to enter the game for their first substitution
- end of game situations may require you to sub for defense or offense - be prepared, have a plan, anticipate the scenarios, and execute
Playing the sport of basketball requires, amongst many qualities, tremendous strength and discipline. Not only physical, but mental. Being disciplined requires players to have a "present focus" (applies to coaches too). Players need to learn how to let go of mistakes as they happen so that they can then re-focus on the present moment. Here are some ideas to help your players with their discipline:
- educate them that the LAST play (or shot) does NOT affect the NEXT play - every moment in a game is independent of others
- teach your players how to "park" their negative thoughts. Letting go of, or moving beyond, negative thoughts is essential to success as an athlete
- watch your player's body language (make sure they are aware of the enormous difference between positive and negative signals)
- pay attention to your player's tone and choice of words
- help your players understand THEY are in control of their thoughts and reactions to events that involve them
Philosophy
- get to know the players – coaching is all about relationships
- challenge me and ask questions
- don’t be a locker room lawyer – players complain to me
- nothing is told to you in confidence by a player – player must understand that
- everything WE talk about is in confidence
- absolutely no drinking or partying with the players
- no cell phones at practice, games, meetings, etc.
Practices
- breakdown drills – most will be mass taught
- during team drills, take a responsibility – defense, offense, rebound – EVERY MISSED BOX-OUT/T-UP SHOULD BE POINTED OUT
- coach/teach/communicate
Games
- check the scorebook
- contact news media with game results
- pick up videotape/statistics on the road and at home
- keep me informed about fouls, shot clock, time and score
- offer suggestions
- coach players when they come off the floor
- MAKE SURE I ACKNOWLEDGE IMPORTANT INFO
