Quote of the Week
Drill of the Week
Flex Shooting
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Message from Coach Thompson
Eyes on the Prize
As we get into this January grind it is all too easy to get upset with one loss or focus on the negative. This can easily divert our focus from keeping our eyes on the prize. Just as we are instructed in Philippians to maintain our focus on pursuing the Lord, the scripture at the top of our newsletter each week, we need to be reminded that our job is to get our teams playing at their highest levels at the end of the season. When we have a setback or a loss it is all too easy to keep our focus on that and divert it from what is most important.
Surrounding yourself with people who will help you to keep that focus and get back on track is important. It is easy to “beat a dead horse”. I’ve seen this Dean Smith quote several times in the past month or so. It is a great reminder that when bad things happen to us throughout practice, games, and in the classroom, we recognize it, admit it, learn from it, and forget it. You have to move on and get your eyes back on the prize.
Our spiritual walks are no different. We can easily focus on the negative and dwell on mistakes. However, if we continue to beat that horse, then we aren’t moving on to attack what we can really make a difference in - the future. We all fail in our spiritual walks. We have to learn from those mistakes, pray for forgiveness, and move on. My hope for you and your teams this week is that no matter what happens, you can take the Dean Smith approach and use mistakes and failures to make you better in the future - whether that be with your play on the court or on the Lord’s playing field.
Message from Jason Brand & Billy Holder, Southwest Indiana FCA
Decisions
READY
Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast multitude that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to You. — 2 Chronicles 20:12SET
Every day as coaches, we face many decisions that will affect our team. We need to deal with everything from what to do at practice, to who should be the starters in the next game. Some decisions are bigger than others, but they all have some bearing on our team. Every once in a while we may find ourselves in a position where we have no clue what decision to make or how to resolve an issue. It is at those times that we turn to assistant coaches, athletic directors, and others for help.God wants us to do the same thing with the daily decisions we make as Christians. Some decisions are much easier than others, but they all have some effect on our team—on other ambassadors for Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul declares, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God.’ ” That is a lot of pressure. Sometimes we don’t always know how to be the best ambassador or how to make the best decision. It is at these moments that God wants us to look to Him. We may not always know what to do, but if we keep our eyes on Him, we have already won the battle.
GO
1. What major decisions do you face as a coach?2. Have there been times when you made a wrong decision as a coach?
3. Do you automatically turn to God for big decisions in your life? What about the small decisions?
WORKOUT
Extra Reading: Proverbs 3:5–6; Philippians 4:6–9
OVERTIME
Lord, please give me the wisdom to make the right decisions for You daily. Thank You for Your Word and Your Spirit that I can use to guide me. I pray that I may continue to keep my eyes on You, so that I will not stray from Your path. Amen.Weekly Article from Dr. Dish
3 Tips to Help Balance Basketball and School
By: Jefferson Mason
At Dr. Dish Basketball, we talk to coaches and parents everyday and often hear them discuss the struggles their players go through when trying to balance all of their initiatives between school, sports, and other extracurricular activities. For basketball players everywhere, balancing hoops and school can be a daunting task.
Parents and teachers always stress the importance of being a student athlete and putting academics first. But for young players, this concept doesn't always hit home like it should. Kids get unbelievable recognition for being star athletes and this leads to sports becoming a number one priority in their minds.
Oftentimes parents and coaches get caught up in the hype which leads to kids losing sight of what's most important. There are several things parents and coaches can do to help, like properly managing time and expectations. These are huge pieces in helping kids become the best student-athletes they can be.
Check out these 3 ways you can help young athletes balance basketball and school!
TIME MANAGEMENT
Most parents that have kids understand the importance of academics above all else. When parents have a child that is a good athlete, this can sometimes blur the line. This isn't necessarily because the parent believes sports are more of a priority, but balancing their time can be extremely difficult without a clear plan. High school, college, and professional athletes are given so much praise and fame that it's easy to fall into that fantasy for their kid.
Actionable Steps: Always make sure that school comes first. If the athlete truly understands this, they will work hard to make more time for basketball. Players must also fully understand academic requirements for getting into college and achieving goals after school as well. Lastly, set up a plan for athletes to follow. One example may be to schedule study hall times for your players to be successful at school. This will give them an opportunity to be with their friends but also the chance to learn and get work done at the same time.
MANAGING EXPECTATIONS
Young kids have a tough time balancing out expectations given from parents and coaches. Most players have a tough time expressing these problems and addressing the added stress from a parent, friend, or coach. It's on the coach and parents to make sure their player continues to understand that they don't have to be perfect, but should try to do their best in everything.
Actionable steps: This starts and ends with clear communication. Most players are extremely competitive and genuinely want to be the best. Positive reinforcement and helping them understand it's not the end of the world if they have a bad game is essential to building their confidence while managing expectations. Prioritizing school work and health can help the player navigate through their decision making process throughout life. Basketball and the attention that comes with it can derail a player's progress in other aspects of life. Set the standard and help them get there. Then set it higher and repeat. This is a great way to positively motivate a kid on and off the court.
MENTORSHIP
Once again, mentorship starts and ends with clear communication but also with genuine care. For players, we encourage them to seek out mentors in their life that can help them. For coaches and parents, we encourage you to be proactive in offering your support. Understanding that student athletes have a lot on their plate is essential to sympathizing and ultimately helping them balancing everything in their life.
Actionable steps: When a player does something that draws positive attention, it is something they will want to continue to do. The approval of prominent figures in a kid's life can make or break their future. Be sure to take notice and applaud excellence in school and in basketball. It may be easier to get excited about a dunk or an amazing play on the basketball court than it is to see that your kid got an "A" or "B" on their test. Get excited about success in every aspect of your players' lives and their priorities will balance out and they will be on their way to a successful high school career!
Contact Us
Coach Thompson - coachthompson44@gmail.com - @coachthompson44Luke Zeller - lukezeller@distinxion.org - @distinxion
Nick Bartlett - nick@drdishbasketball.com
Dave Hudson - dhudson@fca.org
Jason Brand - jbrand@fca.org
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