COACHING CORNER
BASKETBALL: Practice a positive attitude
Over the course of my coaching career I have found out the mental approach to the game of girl’s basketball can be just as important, if not more, than the physical approach. I believe the development of a great work ethic and attitude often are overlooked by many players and coaches alike.
In developing a great work ethic, one must commit themselves to giving their very best effort every day in every aspect of one’s life. If you are not committed to giving your best in all areas, eventually you will see this creep into the basketball area as well. It is a choice one must make about how you will approach every area of your life. It is very difficult to separate these areas of one’s life. Either you give your best effort to everything you do or you don’t. If you want to develop your basketball skills to their fullest potential, then commit to working at it with 100% effort each time you practice and make sure you are doing it in all other areas of your life as well.
The attitude one maintains in developing as a basketball player is the other key area as I see it. There is no doubt that in playing the game of basketball one will experience disappointments. How you handle the disappointments directly affects your long term potential development. Anyone can have a good attitude when things go your way. It is the special athlete who can continually spin negative situations into positive ones that become the best and/or reach their full potential. The way to practice maintaining a positive attitude on the court is by practicing it in every aspect of your life.
BASKETBALL: The mentality of a champ
Coaches Corner
What young basketball player doesn’t dream of playing at the Sports Center in March, hitting the winning shot and being hoisted onto their teammates’ shoulders as they celebrate with thousands of euphoric fans in the winning of a state championship?
FITNESS: Educate early
Coaches Corner
A clear, crisp, cool October morning met hundreds of local young runners at our own Lincoln’s Halloween Pumpkin one mile run this past fall. In that sea of humanity was our own four year-old daughter excited and anxious for the gun to sound for the start of this race. As the race begins with Dad by her side, I ask myself, will her interest in running or other forms of exercise continue for a long, healthy life?
YOUTH SPORTS: Variety is vital
Coaches Corner
Today, the child-organized games in the neighborhood that we all remember have given way to adult-organized youth sports.
FITNESS: Tracking progress
Coaches Corner
With the beginning of a new year, people start thinking about fitness goals. Three of the best things you can do are to establish/re-evaluate your fitness routine, make sure you use proper form to avoid injury, and track your progress.
RUNNING: Marathon training
Coaches Corner
Maybe you witnessed the Lincoln Marathon last May and have thought long and hard about this.... you are ready to commit to 4 months of training. Before you jump into this training full bore, there are some points to ponder and rules to follow.
BASEBALL: Beware of myths
Coaches Corner
Back in February, I hosted a coach’s clinic aimed at youth baseball coaches. The guest speakers were some varsity coaches from the various schools in town. The event was a success, and I truly think those that were involved had the right intention; quite simply to try and improve baseball in Lincoln.
SOCCER: First touch is key
Coaches Corner
As Nebraska’s state technical coordinator for the National Soccer Coaches Association, I am consistently asked the question by coaches; what should I should be doing to help my players become better?
BASEBALL: Arm care for pitchers
Coaches Corner
The most important part of a pitcher’s body is his arm. Therefore, he should do everything possible to keep it strong, flexible, durable, and injury-free.
MARTIAL ARTS: Taekwondo
Coaches Corner
Recently I was asked by a friend, "Why do you 'do' Taekwondo?” The answer is that I never tire of learning.
FOOTBALL: Love of game is key
Coaches Corner
For the last 20 years the Lincoln Midget Football program has given me an opportunity to do something I absolutely love doing and that is being a football coach. My brother and I started out coaching just for the fun of it. The last few years when our sons were old enough to go through the organiztion we had the pleasure of coaching them.
SOFTBALL: Keeping pitchers sharp
Coaches Corner
This season, the Lincoln Southwest softball team won its second straight state championship, with the best record in Class A history (37-2). To have that kind of success with a demanding season schedule took talented players, team unity, commitment, hard work, and outstanding pitching.
TRACK AND FIELD: Training throwers
Coaches Corner
The problem faced in planning practices is one of time. The coach is allotted a small portion of the athlete’s day and must try to squeeze in all the components they choose to include. To make this process simpler, the coach must prioritize the activities to fit their philosophy of coaching. These priorities will shift as the training year progresses.
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