tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73271307191678079692024-03-13T03:25:31.518-07:00Boyer's CourtUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-66061455670978195082020-04-08T11:14:00.000-07:002020-04-08T11:14:41.872-07:00High Fives...From A Distance<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gj86e6kmI-M/Xo3442GgEEI/AAAAAAAAAVE/KMbuLpS8EIwhn8SedmpeR9cVK6c8ZbHDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/113700705_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gj86e6kmI-M/Xo3442GgEEI/AAAAAAAAAVE/KMbuLpS8EIwhn8SedmpeR9cVK6c8ZbHDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/113700705_original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
In 2011 the Dallas Mavericks, lead by series MVP Dirk Nowitzki, won the NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in 6 games. The Heat came into the series as a heavy favorite. But according to Scott Cacciola in an article for The Wall Street Journal maybe the key to the Mavericks' series upset was that they couldn't keep their hands off each other. During that series The Wall Street Journal charted the number of times players could be seen touching each other, whether it was a high five, a chest bump, a hug or maybe even a pat on the butt. During the first three games the Mavericks touched a teammate nearly twice as often as the Heat. They slapped, hugged, bumped 250 times compared to the Heat's 134 interactions and then went on to win the championship.<br />
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I'm pretty sure anyone that has ever coached will tell you how important team chemistry is to success. But often times it's hard to define what exactly it means and it can come in different ways. This article about the Mavericks series win over the Heat is one that I often referred back to because body language and how a team interacts with one another on the court is a visible sign of team chemistry<span style="color: #000050;">.</span> We had team rules (expectations) in place to help with this. For example if a teammate dove on the floor or took a charge you had to sprint to help them up once the ball was dead. When subbing in for a teammate you had to touch the person you were subbing for (many teams exchange a towel or maybe a warm-up shirt). During free-throws our teams were expected to huddle quickly. It was obvious that these type of rules were difficult for teams with poor chemistry but for the teams that had great on-court chemistry they took care of these things themselves without having to be enforced by the coaches. High fives, helping each other off the floor, hugs, pats on the back and huddling closely all came naturally to the teams I coached with great chemistry. There was a true togetherness through wins and losses with those teams.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cnVcw-azmfg/Xo4AtOKa1eI/AAAAAAAAAVg/0iaOX-pGF4k61wloW54_rcGpOiGpuUuJwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoAnbgbeoJiVuE22Bc-kb4AtGZO-OKCXGIgvDctKXzp177QugikH0hdGK60wuEbjOrfqBpESpNvym4H6_S6rFGbQfQ2yjYm6cPvXdi1SfmMDX4lBXU_TkBJMzpr5yphSUtl527STEfb7plZs9VJVFiW7rGT48mmovSXtlMG_pCJbRtTDpunyJViRX-F4igp6fGcFlH7eDTTcC1CoRoeerPtsZWsDXKSrhrkqxJZ17TlIBWdXKkeeoLVIihbNwVh_0N6Nq5umaP4sQF8DxI3c2C-Q9cJmaVmeI4novRC6v9sQu1fis-c1MTFlyf29TblNMeUoC1gB5wfLhIzg0nQ0zsZtSw7byHGxB00FDo-CvSWy29hhQP9fadcENyrNpIzi4yqzT3m9oGsD_jUyJLoKP46hw2BdZbhN01yRumXgnxzUeH-Jqdk8rQRO5MWjXahDBNnw5L8gi-AP5A_L-zNyhA9TDXPmw9eYXdJBKHuXKN2HERhfZ3WqXV7DPSd_31TMJNa1erOO1zm70mY96k76BJKHl0kcc3ApC3CRHEi6HiYNvcWIeaQD-QJrGSq_U3sr3XW2d0RO_8zjf03__z8PC5F9Lt9L6WDg52QwoKC49AU/s1600/imagesX1MIA00N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #b00000;"></span><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cnVcw-azmfg/Xo4AtOKa1eI/AAAAAAAAAVg/0iaOX-pGF4k61wloW54_rcGpOiGpuUuJwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoAnbgbeoJiVuE22Bc-kb4AtGZO-OKCXGIgvDctKXzp177QugikH0hdGK60wuEbjOrfqBpESpNvym4H6_S6rFGbQfQ2yjYm6cPvXdi1SfmMDX4lBXU_TkBJMzpr5yphSUtl527STEfb7plZs9VJVFiW7rGT48mmovSXtlMG_pCJbRtTDpunyJViRX-F4igp6fGcFlH7eDTTcC1CoRoeerPtsZWsDXKSrhrkqxJZ17TlIBWdXKkeeoLVIihbNwVh_0N6Nq5umaP4sQF8DxI3c2C-Q9cJmaVmeI4novRC6v9sQu1fis-c1MTFlyf29TblNMeUoC1gB5wfLhIzg0nQ0zsZtSw7byHGxB00FDo-CvSWy29hhQP9fadcENyrNpIzi4yqzT3m9oGsD_jUyJLoKP46hw2BdZbhN01yRumXgnxzUeH-Jqdk8rQRO5MWjXahDBNnw5L8gi-AP5A_L-zNyhA9TDXPmw9eYXdJBKHuXKN2HERhfZ3WqXV7DPSd_31TMJNa1erOO1zm70mY96k76BJKHl0kcc3ApC3CRHEi6HiYNvcWIeaQD-QJrGSq_U3sr3XW2d0RO_8zjf03__z8PC5F9Lt9L6WDg52QwoKC49AU/s1600/imagesX1MIA00N.jpg" /></a></div>
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I've said for years that many life lessons can come from sports and team chemistry is no different. Relationships, families, businesses are all closer and more effective if there is great "chemistry". And part of that chemistry is touching whether that is a pat on the back, a hand shake, maybe a fist pump or even a hug. Showing people that they are appreciated and accepted so they feel a closeness within the group. Even prayer whether it is with family or a small group seems to take on anther level of togetherness when the group is asked to join hands.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qY96Pbx1d1M/Xo4AlAvwRkI/AAAAAAAAAVc/tVl8ihSG0OELrC1DQkUrEryQCu379-8KACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoBpZ4e-S_cZXloKdHNO78xQVZdQxg46ZtedivvZdZrhEyPa8-GxfRQ-pcVImmwxNaVWXV4M6bPgP48p1XwkThdUqL4sj7UMrszbnKt1dvcy7E2zbMq6lsttclJEcEBZxezKkvNtV2tCz4T9ojRCM7Gg3ywuFB19XS2cp0QDoTVai4fTjZ2I990_2Ib4hPH02bhiRSvyp6MGIBfoYYJzh9M3Me8OxfJKtUwV-J8MWmpdIgLX5fDUU03ZeEDngkO-tSWvPAuCewf0YSbVCMA7kJB6EM3zxaQkdlfH_DoiX5fzD_AjoJY3mlXZs2jf8ENT36469sLR5I4MpeV4rFTHirOQGxABadHh8KmVb4UA0ykrzoNCOLQbmXF0J5y2cxFgnkwXHI11gtrxscvODLCT7scQR_TI_CYi6ILupwZQXssf4k3ChixnDZsoLClOCz-0CosAsZehk6XbZ9br87rSqkNp3-ujGAXgvpu-DBBK-U1mP3wC44OIlv94_71GOukR3bQy2BnBxIQxpnMqiDnQ4SDlX6hBgNFtsw0tqB52AyTfaYFCidfAtwZPSm9ncb9EKe2uWJ21ZOEFPqoQ6S1k9UhBHcqvvmvyCokw_aC49AU/s1600/PJ-BB210_SP_FEA_E_20110608172559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="239" data-original-width="359" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qY96Pbx1d1M/Xo4AlAvwRkI/AAAAAAAAAVc/tVl8ihSG0OELrC1DQkUrEryQCu379-8KACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoBpZ4e-S_cZXloKdHNO78xQVZdQxg46ZtedivvZdZrhEyPa8-GxfRQ-pcVImmwxNaVWXV4M6bPgP48p1XwkThdUqL4sj7UMrszbnKt1dvcy7E2zbMq6lsttclJEcEBZxezKkvNtV2tCz4T9ojRCM7Gg3ywuFB19XS2cp0QDoTVai4fTjZ2I990_2Ib4hPH02bhiRSvyp6MGIBfoYYJzh9M3Me8OxfJKtUwV-J8MWmpdIgLX5fDUU03ZeEDngkO-tSWvPAuCewf0YSbVCMA7kJB6EM3zxaQkdlfH_DoiX5fzD_AjoJY3mlXZs2jf8ENT36469sLR5I4MpeV4rFTHirOQGxABadHh8KmVb4UA0ykrzoNCOLQbmXF0J5y2cxFgnkwXHI11gtrxscvODLCT7scQR_TI_CYi6ILupwZQXssf4k3ChixnDZsoLClOCz-0CosAsZehk6XbZ9br87rSqkNp3-ujGAXgvpu-DBBK-U1mP3wC44OIlv94_71GOukR3bQy2BnBxIQxpnMqiDnQ4SDlX6hBgNFtsw0tqB52AyTfaYFCidfAtwZPSm9ncb9EKe2uWJ21ZOEFPqoQ6S1k9UhBHcqvvmvyCokw_aC49AU/s320/PJ-BB210_SP_FEA_E_20110608172559.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So what now? Social distancing is now a necessity and honestly probably here to stay for a while. And it's possible that even once this clears up the idea of "touching" will be frowned up for quite some time. While sports will quickly go back to touching as a way of demonstrating togetherness what about everyone outside of sports? We are all going to have to work extremely hard at demonstrating that we care for one another and making others feel accepted and appreciated even if we can't show it by touching. There are many gestures we can all make without touching. Waving at a total stranger from across the street, greeting those we see with a "good morning" or "have a great day" or maybe just smiling at someone for no reason. Back to using sports as an example how often do you see a player hit a shot in basketball and turn and point to the teammate that passed them the ball (assisted...demonstrating a thank you and acknowledging a great pass without touching). So maybe from a distance we can point and say thank you to an essential worker or point and say you're doing a great job and we appreciate you. Health is obviously a major concern right now. But a less talked about major concern is mental health. It's safe to say we are all working hard at distancing ourselves for the health of ourselves and others. But we need to all be working just as hard to find ways to help ourselves and others with mental health. We have to find ways to make others feel loved, accepted and appreciated. Now, more than ever, we have to work really hard at demonstrating "team chemistry" to friends, family coworkers and even strangers. And for the time being we have to be creative in finding ways to give "high fives...from a distance".<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-938394792606969752016-08-11T10:15:00.000-07:002016-08-11T10:15:11.241-07:00Lessons From The Farm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AubFHkSgm2A/V6ypyz0s6rI/AAAAAAAAAPU/3H29VqqNJ3susLW61EHhF33De2hEKkUkQCEw/s1600/Farm%2B8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AubFHkSgm2A/V6ypyz0s6rI/AAAAAAAAAPU/3H29VqqNJ3susLW61EHhF33De2hEKkUkQCEw/s320/Farm%2B8.JPG" width="320" /></a>As many of you know, I grew up near the small town of Memphis, MO. My two brothers, my sister and I were raised on a farm. It's safe to say that I, along with my siblings, have spent a lot more time at home over the past few months since the passing of our Mother and I can speak for all of us in that we've never appreciated home more than we do now. And while I'll be the first to admit that I couldn't wait to leave the farm, when I graduated from high school, I absolutely love going back to visit now. And even though I moved away from the farm, the farm never "totally" left me. Many of the lessons I learned while growing up on the farm have stuck with me to this day. In fact, as crazy as this sounds, many of those lessons I try to apply in my life as a Coach and hope that I can pass them along to my team.</div>
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So, since our team is currently in offseason and soon to be starting preseason conditioning and workouts, here are a few lessons I learned growing up on a farm and how they can apply to athletics (especially the offseason workouts):<br />
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1. <strong><u>Clocks not necessary</u>: </strong>It's safe to say that my Dad could go through each day without looking at a clock. My Mom or Dad (like ALL farmers) never needed an alarm clock...my Dad to this day still <br />
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doesn't need an alarm clock...he wakes up when the sun comes up (or in most cases earlier than that). My Mom or Dad never looked at a clock to know when to stop working...they worked until the days tasks were done (and sometimes this was after the sun went down). I hope our athletes can take the same approach to preseason. Yes, I realize the NCAA puts hour limitations on what we can do as coaches (in the weight room, on the court, etc.) but there are no limitations on what athletes can do on their own time. Have a goal of what needs to be accomplished to be the best and don't simply "punch the clock".<br />
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<strong>2. <u>School clothes, Church clothes, Work clothes</u>:</strong> The four of us kids were always well provided for...we didn't always get the "wants" when it came to clothes but certainly our "needs" were always provided. And even though we often times wore the pass me downs (Brad's clothes passed down to me and from me on to Kevin...pretty sure Beth wasn't included in this) our clothes were always clean and always ironed nicely. But, growing up on the farm, you did learn that sometimes the school <br />
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clothes became chore clothes and sometimes maybe the work clothes needed to be worn to Church if in a hurry (and that was ok). Our athletes today are being trained to be very materialistic. We, here at Arkansas State, are fortunate to have a great all-school contract with Adidas and we pride </div>
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ourselves on making sure our athletes have the best in shoes and gear. As I always say in recruiting, "if I expect my athletes to perform like Big Time Division I Athletes then it's my job to see that they look the part." But all that nice, sharp Adidas gear is meant to get dirty...it's meant to get sweaty...while it may look great wearing to class or around town, it also is meant to "go to work in and do your chores."<br />
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<strong>3. <u>Toughness</u>: </strong>Simply put...you have to be tough to work on a farm. Whether it's 100 degrees out or below freezing the job has to get done. I've witnessed my Dad have to go chop ice in one of the ponds (twice a day) in sub-zero temperatures because the cows needed water to drink. I've seen Mom take a jug of ice water to my Dad while he was on a tractor in the middle of the field during 100+ degree temperatures. Farmers do not work when it's comfortable. I still to this day wonder how my sister Beth survived being raised on a farm especially in a family with three boys. If there's a tougher person in the world than by sister I'd like to meet them...bumble bee stings to the eyes, bicycle wrecks, aluminum doors to grain bins flying open with a gust of wind, barbed wire fences (and electric fences). Farmers are tough...wives of farmers are tough...sons and daughters of farmers are tough. For an athlete to get anything out of preseason workouts they have to be tough. There is no substitute for pushing out of your comfort level and being tough. To be a successful team or athlete you have to be tough.<br />
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<strong>4. <u>Farmers understand PATIENCE</u>: </strong>While you have to practice patience in a lot of professions, <br />
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none more than in farming. Farmers put in long, hard days to make sure their crops are in, but they won't recognize the results of all that hard work for months and months. Planting may occur in May...harvest will probably take place in September...but they may not sell the crops for a few more months. Imagine in your current job if you worked day in and day out but might not get paid for eight or nine months...welcome to farming. Imagine in your current job if you work really, really hard all week but may not see the results of that work for another four to five months...welcome to farming. Athletes need to take the same approach. While we all like instant results and instant rewards, an athlete (and team) will not get rewarded right away. All the hard work in the weight room, on the court or on the track in August will not be rewarded until months down the road. Last February when our team celebrated by cutting the nets down for winning a Conference Championship...that was the reward for the work from last July and last August and last September. Athletes can't expect immediate rewards they have to be very dedicated but yet patient.<br />
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<strong>5. <u>Farmers are the most ACCOUNTABLE people</u>: </strong>People that are self-employed, and in this case farmers, understand the idea of being accountable. My Dad still to this day rarely takes a day off. My Dad still to this day doesn't have a boss or anyone telling him to go to work. Nobody follows up on a farmer to see if they're doing their job...nobody checks on a farmer to see if things are done properly...nobody checks on a farmer to see if they're putting in enough hours. My Dad has always been accountable for his own success. The ol' saying "you don't work, you don't eat" are words that farmers live by. As a farmer if you don't work hard you won't raise a crop, or your cows will not <br />
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bring in any money at market...if you don't raise a crop or your cows don't sell well at the market you won't make a living...simple as that. Athletes have to have the same mindset during offseason (and preseason). Athletes have to be accountable for their own work...coaches can draw up workout plans but the athletes have to put in the work. As I often remind our team, once preseason gets here the NCAA allows us eight hours of work (with the coaches) per week and every team in the country will be putting in the same eight hours. But who's gonna go beyond the eight hours on their own time and who is gonna do the work when nobody is standing over them making sure they put in the hours.<br />
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<strong>6. <u>Farmers know how to deal with disappointments</u>: </strong>While I absolutely love my job, I'm guilty (as most coaches probably are) of getting frustrated at times and saying "it's tough making a living <br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TYbDflbUuIw/V6ypjeQ248I/AAAAAAAAAPY/IebBO0co0wgvQXk3Rz2c840qqmg6_ytuwCEw/s1600/Farm%2B5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TYbDflbUuIw/V6ypjeQ248I/AAAAAAAAAPY/IebBO0co0wgvQXk3Rz2c840qqmg6_ytuwCEw/s320/Farm%2B5.JPG" width="320" /></a>depending on 18 - 21 year olds." Several years ago I made the mistake of saying that to my Dad and he quickly responded "could be worse, your livelihood could depend on whether it rains or not." The point was well taken. So much of being a farmer is out of their control...because of the weather. You can be the hardest worker and you can do everything perfectly as a farmer and some years you may not get rewarded. While it's tough, farmers understand that. I've witnessed the years where the crops were a loss due to a drought. I've seen the years where some of the crops couldn't get planted because of too much rain and flooding. I've seen the years where the crops had an amazing growing season but then almost turned into a loss because they couldn't be harvested because it wouldn't stop raining and eventually the rain turned into snow. But you know what I never saw...I never saw my Mom or Dad give up because of these disappointments. Disappointments are a part of athletics as well. Injuries are going to happen...frustrations are going to set in...there are going to be days where you want to throw your hands up because it's just too hard. But, athletes need to learn from farmers and realize you have to handle disappointments and push through them without giving up.</div>
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<strong>7. <u>You reap what you sow</u>:</strong> While there are certainly a lot of things that are out of control for a farmer the bottom line over time is that "you will reap what you sow." No different for an athlete...all athletes want to win championships...all athletes want playing time and they want to be starters. But <br />
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while there are some differences in God-given abilities, more times than not you will "reap what you sow." You will be rewarded (or not rewarded) by how much time and effort you put into your offseason workouts.</div>
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<strong>8. <u>Farmers never compete against their neighbor</u>: </strong>One of the things I've always admired about farmers is how unselfish they are and how in times of need they always pitch in to help one another. Farmers get the true meaning of "community." I've never once heard my Mom or Dad wish bad on a neighbor. Farmers get the idea that they're all in this together...if I have a good crop most likely you'll have a good crop. I've seen first hand neighboring farmers pulling together to <br />
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help someone harvest their crops. I've witnessed farmers pulling together when haying season was getting late (one mowing, another raking and another bailing) and then all returning the favor for the next neighbor. I've seen cows get out into a neighbors field and instead of getting angry they pitch in to help return the cow to the pasture. Let's face it, in most professions this wouldn't happen. In most professions if someone was struggling the others would be smiling, deep down, thinking it might help their business. While, in athletics, we're in the business of "competing", offseason and preseason is the time to lift each other up and make each other better. Just like the farmer, a teammate has to recognize that if you have a good season, I'll have a good season...if you win a Championship, I'll win a Championship. Preseason is about being unselfish and being an encourager and pitching in to help that neighbor (teammate) be successful.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-46875563390209388922016-05-01T08:40:00.000-07:002016-05-01T08:40:56.836-07:00Be Smarter Than The Elephants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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CNN Breaking News announced that the elephants in Ringling Bros. Circus will be performing for the last time today. Their performance in Providence, RI will be their final show before retiring to a conservation center in Florida. While this might not seem like big news to most, it certainly caught my attention.<br />
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For years, the Ringling Bros. Circus has made the Convocation Center one of its' stops and I guess the kid in me comes out, even to this day, when it comes to town. It was nearly 17 years ago (shortly after I had been hired as Head Coach here at Arkansas State) that the Circus came to our arena and it was an elephant that made the biggest impression on me. Not because of the show, or his talent, or the tricks he'd perform...it was for another reason. The elephant made a HUGE impression on me because he was not very smart.<br />
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The Circus was to be performing in the Convocation Center Thurs - Sun, but it was on the Tuesday before that I walked into the arena and noticed this giant elephant standing all alone. I was fascinated by this. Not only was I amazed by this giant creature standing in our arena I was shocked that he was standing there with a single rope around his leg. This 3,000 - 4,0000 pound animal with this small rope around his leg standing unattended. Well, of course, I couldn't let this go...I needed answers. So I tracked down the training and started asking questions. The trainer explained that they bring the animals into the arena a couple of days before the show so that they can get acclimated to their surroundings. This, of course, made sense but the most important question was why such a small rope around the leg of such a huge animal. The trainer replied, that, honestly, elephants just aren't very smart. He went on to explain that when the elephants are babies they train them with the exact same type of rope around their leg. While they are young the rope is indeed strong enough and the babies can't break it or pull free from it. As the elephants grow older and become much stronger they could easily break the rope but in their minds they can't. They refuse to even try because of the sensation around their leg. They just assume they can't break it.<br />
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I thought about this for a while and it hit me that so often as humans we do the same things. We give in to these perceived limitations that are placed on us...the "rope around our ankle" so to say. We, far too often, just give in when we assume we can't do something (we're not smart enough or we're not talented enough) just like the elephants. One of the things I love about coaching is that I have the opportunity to try and break some of those perceived limitations with our athletes. Daily we strive to take our athletes from average to above average, from good to great, from great to being the best. Nearly once a semester one of our student-athletes will come to me wanting to drop a class because they "think" there's no chance to pass it (early in the semester) but yet they stick with it and get through it. Every preseason, when really challenged, there are athletes that think "I can't" but yet they are able to get through it. An injury might occur, and that athlete may think there's no way they'll come back from it but they do. My job as a "coach" is to try and push and encourage our student-athletes to do more than they think, to be better than they believe and to not easily give in.<br />
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So while the elephants will be retiring from the Ringling Bros. Circus after today's performance the impression that I received from that one elephant standing in the Convocation Center 17 years ago will not go away. I refuse to let the athletes in my program give in to perceived limitations. Because after all we're smarter than the elephants we don't have to just settle and give in to that "rope around our ankle".<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-25433554734826691432015-08-12T17:11:00.001-07:002015-08-12T17:11:12.106-07:00July...Teamwork <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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I'm sure you have heard the story of the businessman who was traveling late at night when his car ran off the road into a ditch. Needing immediate assistance, the businessman walked up the road to an old farmhouse. The farmer came to the door and the businessman explained his situation. The farmer told him he had a mule, named Bessie, out in the barn that was old and blind but he would see if she could help. So the farmer led Bessie down the road and tied her to the front of the car. The businessman watched in anticipation as the farmer cracked his whip and yelled "pull Molly"...and nothing happened. After a few seconds, the farmer cracked his whip again and yelled "pull Gus" and once again, nothing. The businessman looked puzzled while the farmer once again cracked his whip and yelled "pull Bessie". All of a sudden Bessie started walking steadily and pulled the businessman's car out of the ditch. The businessman who was very grateful but still a little confused ask the farmer "why the different names, why didn't you just yell Bessie the first time". The farmer replied "remember me telling you Bessie was old and blind, if she would have known she was by herself there's no way she would have been able to pull your car out of the ditch".<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ECgTr53TxQ/Vcvd6O4eqsI/AAAAAAAAANo/qtUe-bjAq8g/s1600/IMG_2663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3ECgTr53TxQ/Vcvd6O4eqsI/AAAAAAAAANo/qtUe-bjAq8g/s200/IMG_2663.JPG" width="200" /></a>Of course the idea of this story is that we can accomplish more as a team. When we pull together as a group we can achieve so much more. The month of July for the women's basketball program here at Arkansas State is an example of that. While most people think of basketball during the months of November - March a lot of hard work goes on during the other months as well. One of the busiest months of the year for a Division I Women's Basketball program is July. I am extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication that my "team" (I'm not only referring to our student-athletes when I say team) put in during July.</div>
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Here are a few examples of how our team pulled together: <br />
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An entire new staff was put in place this Spring / Summer...in fact, two of our new assistant coaches arrived in Jonesboro on July 1st. We quickly had to get everyone on the same page for recruiting since this is a big year for us (having 5 seniors). On Saturday, July 4th (while most people were at the lake, watching fireworks, spending time with family, etc.) our entire staff met for 5 hours to talk about recruiting, team expectations, players expectations along with coaching duties and responsibilities. Sunday, July 5th our team arrived back on campus for the second summer term. After meeting with the team that night, myself and three assistant coaches hit the road </div>
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recruiting. Over the remainder of the month our staff attended 18 different recruiting events and I am extremely grateful to Autumn Rademacher, Deidra Johnson and Steve Huber for logging a lot of hours and a lot of miles. I also appreciate how easy and enjoyable they made the month of recruiting for me. As the head coach it is important for me to be at as many of our top recruits' games as possible and this takes a lot of organization on the assistants part. When I would arrive at an event one of the assistants had already spent hours mapping out the games and making sure I was at the right location each hour (and while that doesn't sound like a tough task keep in mind that one event had 56 different games going each hour and at different locations). The recruiting piece of July, in some years, has been very stressful to me but thanks to the organization of this group it was a productive and low stress month for me. The fact that they had to organize and pull this month together in a very short amount of time was very impressive. I also have to recognize the efforts of Karan Gilliland, our administrative assistant, who had to quickly get a new staff organized and on the road. She worked several consecutive late nights along with working on July 3rd (which was a University holiday) to help with travel plans and all the required paperwork so that the four of us could go out.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxDcV_pDkmo/Vcvef47PpxI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Vche_dc7Ai0/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wxDcV_pDkmo/Vcvef47PpxI/AAAAAAAAAN4/Vche_dc7Ai0/s1600/FullSizeRender%2B%25284%2529.jpg" /></a>I'm also very excited about the effort that our team put in during the month of July. Again, they all arrived on campus July 5th, started classes and workouts on the 6th. Imagine a team of 14 showing up for a team meeting the afternoon of July 5th, meeting four new assistant coaches and a new strength coach and then as soon as the meeting ends myself and three of those coaches leave for a week recruiting...that is what this team faced. But, it says a lot for this group and especially the seniors for how well they handled the transition and how well they handled themselves throughout the month. There is no question in my mind that our team got better physically during July, they got better as basketball players during the month and they pulled off another successful academic term as they combined to have a 3.27gpa. Very few teams could have handled this as successfully as this group did and I'm extremely proud of them for that. We have five seniors on this year's team and I can't say enough about each of them and how they approached this month with such focus and determination and seemed unfazed by all the changes.</div>
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The other members of our "team" that did a great job this past month are Logan Mittie (our new Director of Basketball Operations), Rebekah Sittig (new strength and conditioning coach), Julie Ellena (Trainer) and Crimsynn Dover (academic advisor). Logan, arrived July 1st and was quickly thrown into the job. While the four of us hit the road recruiting she was given the task of overseeing our program while we were gone (looking out for the players and taking care of their needs, handling requests from myself and the other assistants while we were out of the office recruiting and at the same time trying too adjust to a new environment herself). Rebekah Sittig was hired as our new strength and conditioning coach, on July 1st as well, and quickly had to get to know my philosophy and expectations along with each of the 14 individuals on our team. We are fortunate to have <br />
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Rebekah on staff, she is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about her job and this team. Julie Ellen, continues to do a great job of keeping our athletes on the floor. We did not have any major injuries this month but we had several nagging injuries that had to be addressed all month long. A lot of extra hours were spent by Julie treating these injuries and making sure our athletes were able to push through and develop throughout the month. And lastly, Crimsynn Dover oversees the academic progress for our team and the results speak for themselves. While our team is very disciplined and takes a lot of pride in their academics it is great to have Crimsynn there to guide them and provide assistance whenever needed.<br />
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So as you can see it took a total team effort to make our program better during July. I am very appreciative of the entire staff, and extended staff, that I have in place and certainly for this group of athletes that are gifted in so many ways. When I look back and evaluate the month of July I'm proud of what we accomplished...our team became better athletes (stronger and faster), we got better on the court, they had a great month in the classroom and our recruiting is going very well with the quality of recruits we are in on (or have committed). I would be proud of what this group accomplished any year but even more so this year because of all the changes and new faces within our program. Part of my philosophy in coaching is to "bring together a wide range of individuals toward a common goal"...July was a great example of this. Teamwork allowed our program to get better!!!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-62514742427607749972015-06-29T18:01:00.000-07:002015-06-29T18:01:13.118-07:00The Little Things Add Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another "found money" year has come to a close. That's right, "found money". This year's total (from July 1st to June 30th) comes out to $7.49. I have found a grand total of $7.49 laying on the ground in various places this year. This may not seem like much to you, but I see things differently. To me that $7.49 is a big deal because I was brought up to not take for granted the little things...because if you take care of the little things, those little things can turn into something big.<br />
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Ok so here's the whole story. While, it may not appear so, I am an avid runner. I enjoy running, or even walking, and try to log several miles every <br />
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week. I used to be amazed at how often while running I would see a penny on the ground or a nickel and maybe even the occasional quarter. So 16 years ago (the same year that I became head coach here at Arkansas State) I decided I was going to pick up every coin I saw on the ground and keep it in a container and see just how much change I could find laying around in one year. From July 1st, 1999 to June 30th 2000 I "stumbled" upon a total of $55.17. So, that process has stuck with me. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uoipzntj3Wg/VZHpFZiIVVI/AAAAAAAAAMY/BXWpBmZzv9g/s1600/Loose%2BChange%2B8.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uoipzntj3Wg/VZHpFZiIVVI/AAAAAAAAAMY/BXWpBmZzv9g/s320/Loose%2BChange%2B8.PNG" width="320" /></a>Each year I keep a running total of how much change I find while running, getting out of my car while looking down, on the floor in an airport, etc. I never pass up a coin if I see one and yes I have even fished a penny out of a urinal...hey, that's what they have soap for. The totals have ranged from the $55.17 during the 99-00 year, to as low as $7.25 in 2001-02. Now each year, on June 30th, I calculate how much loose change I have found and then deposit it into a savings account which is strictly made up this found money. After depositing this year's $7.49 I have now found a total of $363.46 just laying around on the ground. The pennies, nickels and dimes that aren't important to most people I have made important to me. I'm fairly confident that nobody would just leave $363.46 laying around on the ground, but it's the little things that seem meaningless to others that have added up to something important to me.</div>
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Growing up I was surrounded by people that understood the concept of hard work and that nothing in life is just given to you. My parents are two of the hardest working people I know and they taught us kids the idea of hard work and earning everything we had. While I know I frustrated them at times with my griping and complaining the message stuck with me. Growing up in Church the message of being responsible and appreciating the little things was preached in Luke 16:10 "He that is faithful in very little is faithful also in much; and he that is unrighteous in a very little is also unrighteous also in much." My high school basketball coaches, Tom Shalley and Dave Shalley enforced the idea of hard work and doing the little things. When I started volunteering at Missouri Western under the men's basketball coach Tom Smith nearly daily I would hear him tell the players "nothing good in life worth having comes without hard work." This list could go on and on because I have always been around hard working people that appreciated the little things in life.<br />
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This weekend our entire team will be arriving on campus to start their team summer workouts. Come January, February and most importantly March our team will be hoping to accomplish big things. Coming off two seasons in which we've combined to win 46 games I have no question that this year's group will be looking forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead this season. But none of that matters if we don't take care of the "little" things now. And just like that loose change that I find laying around all the time, some people don't value it. There will be some coaches and players that won't value the little things that need to be done this summer in order to be successful during the season. Everyone wants to do big things during the season but those that want to do big things in the off-season are the ones that will be successful in the end. It is my job as a head coach to once again instill the idea of taking pride in the little things again this year. Nothing will be handed to this team next season, we're going to have value the little things that it takes to be successful...and that starts this weekend.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-54159345537618566362013-11-10T19:46:00.000-08:002013-11-10T19:46:55.960-08:00Loose Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Friday, November 1st I could hardly control my excitement when I arrived home to find the envelope I had been waiting for in my mailbox. It was finally here . . . this year's Christmas Club check. And it wasn't so much that the check had arrived, it was more about the anticipation of seeing how much interest I had accumulated throughout the year. Drum roll please . . . $1.53. Yes, I had accumulated a grand total of $1.53.<br />
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Now I know you're thinking really, $1.53 and you're excited about that. Well it's not about the $1.53 it's more about how the amount came about. <br />
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I have always had a habit of picking up "loose change". Anytime I see a penny (or any other coin) on the ground I will always pick it up. There's a good chance I will have neck problems some day because whenever I am outdoors running or walking I am always looking down and scanning the ground. So on July 1, 1999 I decided to collect all the money that I picked up and keep it separate. I was curious to see how much money I could find just laying around on the ground in a year's time. From July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2000 I picked up $55.17 worth of change that had been discarded by other people. Change that was not valuable to other people became important to me. Since that time I have played this little game every year. By 2011 I had finally collected enough found money to open up a savings account (Christmas Club). I have keep my yearly findings separate and then on the 1st of July I deposit it in my ongoing savings account. The grand total of money that I have found just laying around is now up to $341. 80 (over a 14 year period) including the interest of $1.53 that I received this year. Think about it for a second, sure it's only $1.53, but I am drawing interest on "loose change" that I have found laying around. This total consists of $29.96 that was found last year, it includes $30.41 that was picked up during 2007-2008, it includes an even $29 that was found during 2006-2007 and it also includes the lowest total ever found which was only $7.25 during the 2001-2002 "fiscal" year (and yes the term fiscal is said with a chuckle).<br />
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While finding "loose change" has become a game with me there is also a hidden message too. The idea that I have found value in the little things that aren't important to others. A penny here or a penny there to some people is meaningless. But how many people wouldn't want to be handed $341.80. <br />
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Tomorrow night we tip-off another basketball season here at Arkansas State. I have used this analogy with teams in the past but the equivalent of "loose change" in basketball is diving for a loose ball, taking a charge, boxing out even if it allows a teammate to collect a rebound, deflecting a pass, sacrificing your body to save a ball inbounds . . . in other words those hustle plays that other players don't find value in. These are the plays that don't require talent they just require desire . . . and they also required the belief that there is value in these plays that won't show up on a stat sheet. Players that find value in these plays are special and teams that find value in these plays will be successful. Hopefully the 2013-2024 Red Wolves will be a team that finds value in picking up "loose change".<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-70087967668517530132013-10-01T21:00:00.000-07:002013-10-01T21:00:31.717-07:00The Traveling Carnival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just recently the fair was in Jonesboro . . . the Northeast Arkansas District Fair. While I didn't get to attend this year I know it was a big time for a lot of people, as it is every year. I've always found it interesting that fairs have seemed to stand the test of time. Fairs or traveling carnivals' roots actually go back to the 19th century similar to the circus. It is said that the 1893 Chicago World's Fair was the catalyst for the traveling carnivals. Even in 2013, County and State Fairs are more popular than ever.<br />
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Here is what is so cool, to me, about a carnival. Just the other day while I was driving to a recruiting visit a traveling carnival passed me while going the other direction. A convoy moving to their next destination. And as they passed I couldn't help but to try and guess what the folded up ride might become once it was put back together. I also couldn't help but to think that there was no way in the world that I would get on one of those things . . . it is not possible for something to be folded up and traveling down the highway one day and then a carnival ride the next. Be honest, you know you've thought the same thing too right? So how can this convoy of 40 - 50 campers, trucks and folded up rides turn into this magical entertainment venue, overnight, for thousands of people one location after another.<br />
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Fifteen years ago when I became a Head Coach for the first time I needed to establish a core coaching philosophy. What is my purpose as a basketball coach. The first idea that came to mind and one that has stuck with me is the idea of "Bringing Together A Wide Range Of Individuals To Work Towards A Common Goal". I love this idea and it is the one core piece of my philosophy that motivates me each and every day. Bringing together 15 individuals from all different walks of life and working daily to get them all on the same page is such a thrill. When you look at our team, we have athletes from five different states, some from small towns and others from big cities. We have players of different race, different religions, different socio-economic backgrounds, different personalities and different long-term dreams. And while it is a thrill it is also very, very difficult. This, in the end, will be the deciding factor in which teams win Championships and which teams' seasons end in disappointment. There are talented teams all across the country, every year, that don't reach their full potential because they were unable to pull together for the common goal.<br />
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So as our team starts practice tomorrow, we can take a lesson form the traveling carnival. Week after week they travel from town to town and are somehow able to pull all these individual pieces together to accomplish the goal of providing entertainment and lasting memories for so many people. I am convinced that we have a very talented group of individuals and I am also convinced that we have a team full of very good people. The question will be can we all put aside our individual desires and goals so that we can focus only on the collective goals. Can we pull together all of our individual pieces to accomplish something special as a team.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-51416598633000850232013-08-18T18:14:00.002-07:002013-08-18T18:14:07.523-07:00Carve Away What Doesn't Belong To The Bear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Last week, I took the opportunity to go on vacation and try to recharge prior to the new school year starting. I traveled out West and into some of the Mountain destinations. One of the stops being Steamboat Springs, CO in the Rocky Mountains. While spending time in the downtown area I happened to</div>
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stumble upon this carved image of a bear . . . and yes you will notice the bear is holding an ice cream cone which is a dead giveaway as to why I "stumbled upon" it. The bear is totally made of wood and one would assume it was carved out of a tree trunk. I think we've all seen at one time or another some type of image carved out of a block of wood or a tree trunk.<br />
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I read a story one time about a guy who was driving down a road and noticed a wood carver actually carving a bear out of a tree trunk. The guy being inquisitive, like I would be, pulled the car over and stopped to visit with the wood carver. He, admiring the bear that was being created from the trunk, asked the man "how do you do this . . . I mean you have a huge block of wood and start sawing and chipping away and you end up with this perfect image of a bear"? The man without even looking up at the passer by simply stated "well it's pretty simple, you just carve away what doesn't belong to the bear" and then he kept on working.<br />
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When I saw this carved bear this past week it reminded me of that story. It's a story we can all learn a lesson from. So often in life everything gets so cluttered that we forget to focus on what is really important . . . we get easily sidetracked and it takes away from the goals we are trying to achieve. I for one am guilty of walking into my office in the morning with a list of tasks to accomplish and I leave at the end of the day exhausted because I've been working all day but yet I look at my task list and none of them have been marked off. <br />
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As we move into a new season I am extremely excited about the team that has been assembled. I feel like the pieces are in place for us to have a successful year. But, one of the challenges with this team and as with any team in the country is can we "carve away what doesn't belong to the bear". Can we as a team recognize our goals, focus on those goals and not get distracted by anything outside of those goals. Our team needs to carve away and remove anything that gets in the way us of winning a Sun Belt Championship, having a successful year in the classroom and staying active and being a positive member within our community. Anything that gets in the way of those three goals needs to be carved away.<br />
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This is easier said than done because there are so many distractions. Families can get in the way, friends will try to become distractions and fans' opinions can create doubt or chemistry issues. Their own bodies can take away from the goals if they don't take care of themselves by eating properly, getting enough rest or using the training resources available to stay healthy. Time management will get in the way of succeeding academically . . . there are enough resources here that if used properly all of our athletes can be successful but it takes time and it takes commitment. Our program is committed to being involved in the community. But, I realize that this once again takes commitment and it takes the right state of mind to be a positive member of the community and for us not to become a negative.<br />
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Our job as coaches is to help funnel these athletes in the direction of these goals. To, in a way, try to protect them from anything that can take away from these goals. I honestly feel like the team is in place for us to meet these three goals but there are a lot of teams that are in place to meet these goals. The difference will be which one is able to "carve away what doesn't belong to the bear".<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-38706050408125507562013-06-25T11:10:00.000-07:002013-06-25T11:10:01.420-07:00"Rope Around Our Ankle"<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week the Circus came to town. Every other year Ringling Brothers Circus comes to Jonesboro and performs at the Convocation Center. During most all of my motivational speaking opportunities or team bonding workshops I like to refer back to the first time that I recall the Circus coming to the Convocation Center.</div>
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It was nearly fourteen years ago, around the time I had just been hired as the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Arkansas State University, when the Circus came to the Convocation Center. The Circus was to perform on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So on Tuesday, as I was going for my daily run, I walked into the arena (I was running indoors since it was raining outside) and noticed a HUGE elephant just inside the door. This elephant appeared larger than life and I was amazed that it was just standing there with a small rope around it's leg. The first thing that crossed my mind was that my office was just across the hallway from where this BEAST was standing. I had been sitting at my desk all morning with the only thing separating me and this elephant was some cinder blocks.<br />
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I of course couldn't let this go . . . I was curious as to why this elephant was standing alone in our arena and also why it had just a small rope around it's leg, knowing that the giant could snap it with very little effort. The trainer happened to walk in and I asked him these questions. First off, he informed me that they bring the elephants into the arena a couple days before the event to get them acclimated to their surroundings. I can certainly relate to this . . . as a basketball coach we try to take our teams into the oppositions arena to practice the day before a game and also the morning of to try to get our team acclimated to their surroundings. Secondly, I quizzed him about the small rope holding the elephant in place . . . and how it wouldn't seem to do any good if the elephant were to get spooked. The trainers reply was quite humorous in that he said that elephants aren't the sharpest of mammals. He said that while the elephants are babies they train them with this same type of rope around their ankle . . . and while they are that small the rope is strong enough to hold them in place. He went on to say that as they grow older there really is no rope strong enough to hold them, but that they refuse to try and break it because of the sensation (of the rope) on their ankle. He said that in their mind they feel the sensation on their ankle and don't think they can break it so they don't even try.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2RDE2vulbI/UcjupSoqtZI/AAAAAAAAAEM/gMuL2gL53wc/s1600/elephant3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2RDE2vulbI/UcjupSoqtZI/AAAAAAAAAEM/gMuL2gL53wc/s200/elephant3.JPG" width="150" xya="true" /></a>I thought about this for a while and it hit me that so often as humans we do the same thing. We give in to these perceived limitations that are placed on us . . . the "rope on our ankle" so to say. But what's really amazing is that we humans are considered much smarter than elephants. But, far too often, we give in when we are told you can't do that, you're not good enough, you're not smart enough, etc. One of the things I love about coaching is that I have the opportunity to try and break some of those perceived limitations with our athletes. Daily we try to take our athletes from average to above average, from good to great, from great to the best. So often athletes come into my office wanting to drop a class because they just know they can't get through it . . . and surprisingly they get through it. Often times during preseason conditioning the thought of "can't" crosses their minds . . . and surprisingly they get through it. And of course there is the occasional "upset" when everyone else says it can't happen . . . and surprisingly the upset takes place.</div>
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I refuse to let my athletes, or coaches for that matter, think like the elephants . . . failing before even trying is not going to cut it in our program. We will continue to break through those "perceived limitations" and break the "rope around our ankle".</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-58266884407288959502012-08-24T10:45:00.000-07:002012-08-24T10:45:49.310-07:00Who Is The Greatest Among You?<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This morning we had our second preseason workout of the year. Yesterday afternoon our team ran a timed mile followed by an hour long "heavy" lifting session in the weight room. Our second day of preseason was this morning at 6:30am. As you can expect there was a lot of soreness and fatigue once this morning's workout got started. Coach Schaefer, who lead the workout, asked the players to do a combination of jumping rope (double-unders) and sit-ups. The timed workout consisted of doing 50 double-unders followed by 50 sit-ups, 40 double-unders followed by 40 sit-ups, 30 double-unders followed by 30 sit-ups and then 20 of each and 10 of each. This was a timed task to see who could finish in the least amount of time. Each member of our team was partnered with someone else who would encourage them along with holding their feet during the sit-ups. While this was a challenging workout, I didn't expect a leadership lesson, team building lesson along with a spiritual lesson to come out of it. Let me explain.<br />
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About half way through the workout, Jane Morrill's shoe came untied (while she was jumping rope). I kept watching as she completed her jumps and immediately went down to the floor for her set of sit-ups. One of our freshmen, Xena King was holding her feet during the sit-ups and without saying a word Xena started tieing Jane's shoe. Within a few minutes Hanna Qedan was jumping rope and the same thing happened. Her shoe came untied and while she went into her sit-ups another freshman, Jessica Flanery started tieing her shoe. I couldn't help but smile as this took place. Remember, this task was timed so none of our players wanted to stop their workout and waste time tieing their shoe.<br />
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This occurrence took place at least two more times (that I saw). I noticed, senior, Andi Watson tieing the shoe of newcomer Carlette Wyatt and I also observed senior Q. McDowell tieing the shoe of newcomer Carlisha Wyatt. I also observed, senior, Ashley Olvera, who was the first person finished with the task walk across the weight room (once she finished) to get her water bottle and also to take a water bottle to freshman Sandy Jackson, who was just starting her workout. Keep in mind, Ashley was exhausted from just finishing her set. I also saw Hanna Qedan finish her exercise and go get water bottles for three of her teammates.<br />
We met as a team after the workout and I told the players that there was a great lesson learned (unintentionally) in the weight room just now. Well, two lessons, the first being we apparently need better shoe strings. The second is that I reminded them that to be a great leader you must first . . . become a servant.<br />
To get on the floor to tie someones shoe is taking on a servants mentality. To take water to a teammate is to take on a servants mentality. I touched on the spiritual message too in that repeatedly The Bible discusses taking on the role of a servant. Afterwards I had to do my research to find examples. In Mark 9: 33-37 the disciples were arguing over who was the greatest among them and Jesus made it very clear by saying "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." Mark 10: 45 says "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." John 13: 1-15 tells about Jesus washing his Disciples' feet. He says in verses 14 - 15 "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one anothers feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."<br />
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Of course Jesus didn't tie the Adidas running shoes of his Disciples but you can see where I'm going with this right? I'm excited about this team and it really gets me fired up to see them (on their own) taking on a servants mentality for one another. A 6:30am jump rope and sit-up exercise turned into a great team building lesson, a lesson on leadership and also a spiritual lesson.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-85919468405522002842012-04-23T21:44:00.000-07:002012-04-23T21:44:42.384-07:00You ever have one of those days when something happens that just leaves you amazed? Late last week I had one of those days. This past Friday I was out of the office recruiting when I received a voice mail that totally caught me off guard. I received a voice mail from a man that I hadn't talked to in over 17 years . . . I received a voice mail that literally made me tear up and at the same time put the biggest smile on my face. I received a voice mail from Stan McGarvey who was the football coach at Missouri Western State College while I was a student there. I received a voice mail from Stan McGarvey who was also my Sunday School teacher while I was attending college. And did I mention we hadn't talked in over 17 years? <br />
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Well tonight we finally were able to connect and since getting off the phone I have not been able to stop smiling. Stan McGarvey was the Head Football Coach at Missouri Western State College from 1991-1996. This was the same time that I was a student at MWSC while also assisting both the men's and women's basketball teams, initially as a student assistant and then as a graduate assistant. Coach McGarvey and I were certainly not close friends at the time (why would we have been, he was a successful college football coach and I was a 19 - 22 year old college student just trying to do whatever possible to get into the college coaching ranks, in basketball not football). While he didn't know it at the time I totally looked up to him and I was ecstatic when I found out that he and his wife Linda lead a Sunday School class for college students at the church I was attending. As I sit here tonight thinking back to those days I remember thinking what a great impact he made on me and yet he probably had no idea. Here he was, a successful college football coach but yet he gave of his free time to demonstrate his faith while ministering to me and several other college students.<br />
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As we talked tonight on the phone he said that he and his wife had been following my career and that they were so proud of me. As he finished saying that without thinking I said "you have no idea what that means to me but honestly I'm surprised, why would you follow my career?" Keep in mind he has been coaching football (at the college, high school and even professional level) since 1973 so think of the hundreds of young men he has coached and the number of men that have worked with him (coaches, trainers, managers, etc.). Right away he responded "Brian, do you remember right after you left Missouri Western for Arkansas State you sent Linda and I one of the nicest hand written notes thanking us for all we had done for you? Since receiving that letter we have made it a point to follow you and your career." Needless to say I was speechless!!! <br />
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After digesting this conversation tonight there are two things that I am reminded of. First off, it is a great reminder of the impact that a simple thank you note can have on someone. A handwritten (yes, I said handwritten . . . not email, not a text, not on Facebook) note that takes less than 5 minutes to write can leave an impression on someone for over 17 years. The second thing that I take from the conversation is that I hope I can have the same positive impact on someone that Coach McGarvey had on me. I didn't work with him, play for him or even have daily dealings but he still influenced me in a positive way (and he had no idea I was looking up to him). There are several coaches that I have either worked with or played for that have been tremendous influences on my life, but Coach McGarvey was a positive influence on me while I observed him from a distance. I wonder if there is somebody out there right now that would be left speechless if I called them 17 years from now and told them I was proud of them. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-79408175129757756472011-11-19T13:33:00.000-08:002011-11-19T13:33:10.574-08:00Kurt BudkeYesterday was a difficult day for many women's basketball coaches around the country. We were all shocked to hear of the the plane crash that killed Oklahoma State Women's Basketball Coach Kurt Budke and one of his Assistant Coaches Miranda Serna. Our staff too was impacted by this news. Although we compete against one another, in this business, we also spend a lot of time getting to know each other through the numerous days we spend out recruiting. And when news like this hits, you immediately think about the games in which we coached against one another, the longs days together while recruiting during July or maybe the meal you shared while out recruiting. <br />
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For me personally I immediately thought of how good Kurt Budke had been to me as a coach. Kurt Budke was the head coach at Trinity Valley Junior College in Athens, TX when I first got to know him. I was a 24 year old Division II assistant coach at Missouri Western. At the time Budke had the most dominating junior college team in the nation with no less than 10 - 12 high level Division I athletes in his program. While at Missouri Western I made it a habit (that continued when I moved to Arkansas State) every year to visit Trinity Valley no less than 5 times a year (the maximum number allowed by the NCAA). Here I was, a young assistant coach at a Division II school coming on campus to visit the most powerful junior college head coach in the nation (while nearly every Division I program in the country was also flocking to the TVCC campus) and guess what . . . Budke treated me like I was the most important coach in the business. Kurt Budke did not have to take time for me and trust me there were and still are coaches out there that would not have given me the time of day. Every time I visited campus or went to one of their games he made time for me.<br />
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That is what I have always appreciated about Coach Budke and now what I will always remember. I consider us friends now but what is more impressive is that when I was just trying to get started in this business he treated me as though I was an equal and a friend. Nothing can change what has taken place but yesterday's tragedy reminded me that there need to be more Kurt Budke's in our business. We all need to follow his lead and treat all people fairly and respectfully regardless of whether they can "do anything for us". It's easy to treat people nicely when there is an agenda or motive but in Budke's case he simply treated all people this way.<br />
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Whenever I attend one of these events I am continually reminded of one of the greatest accomplishments of my life while at the same time being one of the biggest regrets of my life. Spend time around runners and the stories are bound to come up (as they should) of the marathon they are training for, the half marathon they ran, the triathlon they would like to prepare for, etc. And each time I hear these stories I am taken back to May 23rd, 1999 the day that I marked a goal off my "bucket list" . . . but also a day I will always wish I could have a "do over".<br />
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It was on May 23rd, 1999 that I completed that Rock-N-Roll marathon in San Diego, CA. Of course I understand the significance of completing a marathon and it is something I will forever cherish. But at the same time I wish I could go back and do it all over again. Running a marathon, was one of my goals in life (on my "bucket list" if you will). So after discussing this with Rhonda late in 1998 I decided that the San Diego marathon was the one. The date fit into my work schedule and part of the deal with Rhonda was that she wanted it to be somewhere fun so that she could go with me (a goal on her "bucket list" was to see the World Famous San Diego Zoo . . . kill two birds with one stone). I know you're wanting to skip to the "do it over" part so here it goes . . . I had no business running a marathon . . . I had no idea how to prepare and I was too stubborn to seek out help. For someone who's life and career revolves around training and preparation it still amazes me that I couldn't "practice what I preach". <br />
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For months leading up to the race I trained for the marathon but I trained at "my" pace. My eating habits were terrible and I did not take care of my body the way I should have. A few weeks prior to the race I recall Jeff Mittie (my boss and our Head Coach at the time) joking with me that he "was really pulling for me to complete the marathon, but he was concerned that if I did it I would taint the sport forever". In other words if I could complete it that it would ruin the accomplishment for everyone in the future. Well I did and it did. Over 25,000 other runners joined me that morning in San Diego . . . it took nearly 10 minutes for me to even reach the starting line. There are still only a few things that I remember about the race. At the 2 mile marker there was a drink station and as we came through it a lady took a sip from her cup of water and threw it toward the ground and it could not have hit any more perfectly as the cup landed right at the top of my shoe and all the water went straight down into my shoe . . . only 24 miles to go and my sock is soaking wet. One of the other things that still sticks out in my mind is that I could not wait for hills . . . to go UP hills. By halfway through the race the pounding on my knees while going down hill was excruciating while at least there was relief on my knees and shins while climbing up hill. The last thing I remember is that with less than a mile to go (and the finish line literally in sight) a shock of pain went through my left knee so bad that I almost fell to the ground. And the reason I remember it is that there was a police officer right next to me when it happened and I remembered his voice like it was yesterday saying "this is not worth injuring yourself over, stop before you hurt yourself". Are you kidding me? I have ran over 25 miles and you want to tell me it's okay to stop now so that I don't hurt myself . . . with less than a mile to go?<br />
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I won't go into the "ugly" details of the after effects, but I will tell you that Hootie & The Blowfish was putting on a <strong>free</strong> concert for all participants afterwards . . . and to this day I have still not seen Hootie & The Blowfish in concert. After 5 hours, 11 minutes and 9 seconds I did it, I completed a marathon. Crossing that finish line should have been one of the greatest experiences of my life, instead I hardly remember it because I was so out of it. I didn't get to enjoy the finish and worse yet, I didn't get to enjoy the process that lead up to the finish. For most people it is just a cliche' when someone says "satisfaction doesn't come in accomplishing a goal, it's the process leading up to it". But for me it is not a cliche', it is so true. My guess is I'll never get (or take) the opportunity to run a marathon again but I do get opportunities to accomplish other goals daily and I remind myself constantly to not forget the lesson I learned from my marathon . . . to cherish the process. Sitting on a bookshelf in my office is a picture and plaque of me running the Rock-N-Roll Marathon. For those that see it in my office they probably look at it and think that is quite an accomplishment but for me . . . I see it daily and it reminds me to never make the same mistake again.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BtxYI8XOS0/TgiqQUvPr6I/AAAAAAAAAB8/PHa3miMXO3M/s1600/marathon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BtxYI8XOS0/TgiqQUvPr6I/AAAAAAAAAB8/PHa3miMXO3M/s320/marathon.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-14711712693575069562011-06-15T20:47:00.000-07:002014-06-12T07:37:30.833-07:00Rise And Shine Campers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anyone familiar with the 80's pop/rock band The Outfield? Does their hit album "Play Deep", which included Billboard hits "Your Love", "All The Love" and "Every Time You Go" mean anything to you? For those of you that know me you would assume that this group (and this style of music) does nothing for me (since this is not the genre' of music that I prefer). And in most cases you would be right, but in this case every time I hear The Outfield it brings back one of the best memories from my teenage years . . . Basketball Camp at Culver Stockton College in Canton, MO. The first basketball camp I attended was at Culver Stockton College and not only was this my first basketball camp it was one of the first times being away from home on my own. Each morning at camp, over 300 boys would line up at 8:00am, in "roll call" lines, and the "star basketball" players for Culver Stockton College would lead us in our stretching routine . . . while The Outfield "rocked" through the speakers . . . "Josie's on a vacation far away, come around and talk it over . . . so many things that I wanna say, you know I like my girls a little bit older". And even today when I hear this group on the radio (okay, when I go to the 80's station on XM) it brings back memories of my first basketball camp. Next week we will be hosting the girls basketball camps here at Arkansas State and as we prepare for it numerous camp memories come to mind. <br />
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I remember being scared to death at my first camp (at Culver Stockton) and it didn't help matters that during the first session of playing 3 on 3 I had the ball and turned down a wide open 12 foot jump shot instead passing the ball to a guarded post player under the goal. Before the post could even shoot the ball the infamous Coach Strausburg (infamous, because all the returning campers had warned the "rookies" about how mean he was) was in my face screaming at the top of his lungs "BOYER . . . IF YOU DON'T SHOOT THE BALL I'M GOIN' BE ON YOU LIKE A COON ON A ROAST'N EAR!!!" I didn't stop shaking the remainder of camp and . . . I didn't pass up a wide open jump shot . . . and to this day I'm scared of raccoons. <br />
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I've known I wanted to coach basketball since I was a child so when I got to college it just seemed natural to use summer basketball camps as a means of employment. I dedicated the summer after my sophomore year of college to work as many camps as possible. The first camp to give me a chance was at Kansas State University and the legendary Head Coach Lon Kruger (current men's basketball coach at University of Oklahoma). 19 years old, coaching at my first camp and I was put in charge of the kindergarten boys. My first thought was this is going to be a piece of cake but right before our first session Lon Kruger tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to his son . . . who just happen to be in kindergarten and already had the basketball IQ of a college athlete. Apparently I didn't let Coach Kruger down because this camp lead to many others including working the Moe Iba basketball camps at TCU. This is where I really started to get the hang of working / directing camps as I followed the leadership of TCU assistant men's basketball camp Kevin Fricke. Fricke was the master at directing camps in that he would direct 4 or 5 camps a summer with 200 - 300 boys each and by the end of the first day of each camp he seemed to know the first name of every camper. He was in total control of each camp as he'd stick out a hand to camper after camper saying "put it their partner". And the campers never seemed to catch on that the last night of each camp, year after year the camp was "5 pizzas away from setting the all-time TCU camp pizza orders record (and yes I'm guessing there was a kickback from the pizza orders). <br />
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My big camp break came two summers later when I was given the opportunity to help direct camps at Missouri Western (where I was working as a student-assistant coach on the men's basketball team). We hosted several camps at MO West and helping direct the camps was a great experience. Our men's head coach, Tom Smith (who is now in the Missouri State Hall of Fame) was very direct in the way he wanted things run. Late in the day he'd walk by one of the benches and notice a chair moved out of position and he would say "a good camp Coach Boyer is a camp with straight chairs . . . that's the sign of a good camp" or he'd ask at the end of the day if all 70 basketballs had been accounted for (over an area of 6 courts) and he'd say "a good camp Coach Boyer is a camp that doesn't lose any basketballs . . . that's the sign of a good camp". Late that summer we hosted an all-star camp where we invited the best 8th grade boys from an eight state region (this was the top camp of the summer). The night before camp I came up with this great idea, something that had never been done before, at this camp. I stayed up the entire night creating a huge map, with stars that identified the hometowns of each of the nearly 200 campers in attendance. The map covered the entire back wall of the room in which we would be registering in the next morning. I was so proud of what I'd accomplished and couldn't wait for Coach Smith to come in the next morning for registration. Sure enough, minutes before registration Coach walked into the room, looked up at the map and a small smile came across his face. He didn't say a word and honestly I didn't need him to say a word, the smile meant I'd done something special. The smile was enough to know that "a good wall map at registration was the sign of a good camp Coach Boyer . . . that's the sign of a good camp".<br />
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Monday will be my 23rd year of working (in some capacity) summer basketball camps. Some of the best memories of my coaching career and of my teenage years revolve around summer camps. I can only hope that several years down the road the girls who attend our basketball camp next week will look back with great memories of their basketball camp experience here at Arkansas State. <br />
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Oh, and in case you're wondering . . . Monday morning, first thing before I get to the Convocation Center for camp . . . I'll be jamming to The Outfield on my Ipod . . . "I just wanna use your love tonight, oh I don't wanna lose your love tonight" . . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7327130719167807969.post-19312847749581081172011-06-02T19:38:00.000-07:002011-06-02T19:38:04.674-07:00Summer Program BeginsWhile most think the basketball season starts in October, here at Arkansas State it started yesterday. Wednesday was the first day of Summer I classes here at Arkansas State and the women's basketball team is on campus for this term. Of our 15 athletes 14 of them will be here during the month of June taking a class(s) and working out in the weight room with our strength coach, Ross Miller. Brittney Gill, an incoming freshman from Pine Bluff, AR will not be joining us until the Fall semester begins. <br />
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Academically each of our returning athletes will be taking one class (3 or 4 hours) during the month of June. The newcomers are all required by the NCAA to take 6 hours during the summer term (if they are going to be on full scholarship, which all of ours are). We coaches are not allowed to work with our team members during the summer months. They are however allowed to work with a strength coach on a voluntary basis. This is where summer school is advantageous for basketball. Our summer workout program consists of an eight week program and they have the opportunity to work, as a team, with our strength coach for four of those eights weeks. Our returners can use this time wisely by increasing their strength during this month while the newcomers can work on getting the proper technique down in the weight room so that they can take the program home with them during July. For a coach it is quite a tease to have your team on campus and not be able to coach them but it is still a great opportunity for each athlete to better themselves in the classroom and physically.<br />
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When our season ended back in March we started looking forward to the next three phases that lead up to the next season (post-season, summer program and preseason). Post-season was a success and now we are starting our summer program. With the enthusiasm that I have seen out of our team since they arrived on campus I am looking forward to a great summer program.<br />
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Coach BoyerUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0