THE EXCUSE MAKER

In sports, when things go wrong you begin to hear excuses. You find out what athletes are made of when a team begins to lose games.

A few weeks ago when I began to compose this blog entry,  I read an outstanding quote from Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin;

“Excuses are the tools of the incompetent.”

When a team is struggling the athletes tend to point fingers.

A team loses a game, someone blames a coach or even a teammate.

If an athlete is unhappy with their role on the team, they look to place blame.

Or the latest one, “They are not having fun.” Or how about, “It’s all about having fun.”

FUN is an interesting word when it comes to competitive sports. How do you mix intensity, hard work, toughness, focus, and concentration with FUN?

Here’s a secret that many successful people subscribe to; instead of blaming others, why not find a way to fix it? No excuses, no explanations. We know the team is struggling – go out and find a way to get it done.

How about playing a little harder?

How about hitting the open man?

Playing tougher defense?

Bringing energy to practice.

How about spending time working on your outside shooting? Working on your dribbling. Doing some push-ups to get stronger. Running a few miles at night or even in the morning. Whatever happened to dedicating oneself to improvement?

Everything we do that helps us achieve success is due to energy; and that comes with committing to a goal.

If an athlete directs their energy into doing a better job, instead of complaining, things will improve.

Success in sports is like a potter’s wheel. When you put pressure on that clay, something useful comes about. If he doesn’t apply pressure, he will never have a useful object.

A few losses in the beginning of the season is not the end of the world for a team. There’s no need to panic, its way too early. But instead of talking about the problems, why not try to find a solution? Why not work harder?

Magic Johnson, the greatest point guard the game has ever seen once said, “Ask not what your teammates can do for you, but what you can do for your teammates!”

Don’t be part of the problem, be part of the solution.

HOOPS135@HOTMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CoachFinamore

HAVE FUN WITH IT

The off-season is a great time for a coach.  One thing I enjoy as a basketball coach is sitting back and thinking about the past season.   Mainly, what I can do to improve as a coach.   We all talk about what our players should be doing to improve but do we as coaches think about how we can improve? It’s not just X’s and O’s either.

ESPN.com on BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall and living in the moment and having more fun.

“Why are you doing this if you can’t really enjoy what you’re doing?” Mendenhall said. “That doesn’t mean we’re not working, We’re working harder than ever. I just think we’re having more fun.”

I’m entering my third season as men’s head basketball coach at Jackson Community College in Jackson, Michigan (home of Tony Dungy).  I have promised myself that I am going to enjoy this year and have much more fun than in the past.  I tend to over analyze things too much, get upset way too much and put too much emphasis on whether we win or lose.  We worry about how big our play book is, do we scrimmage enough, do we work on the opponent’s plays, etc.   I get upset at my players for turning the ball over, missing layups and taking bad shots.

This year it’s going to be different.  We’re going to play a lot more loose.  We’re going to play fast and not worry about mistakes.  I’m going to encourage my players to ‘just play!’

As a coach, do you have more fun with your team? How about the journey, does everything have to be so serious and rigid? You can work hard and have fun, no? Sometimes I look at game film of our team and I can’t help but notice how upset I get on the sidelines.  I’m still going to bring enthusiasm and energy but it’s going to be all positive.

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT 24-7

THE LAST LECTURE

I’m sure if you’re a coach, you like to read. And if you’re a coach, I’m sure you have some kind of college education background. You probably enjoy teaching, reading and passing along motivational material.  Maybe you try and send inspirational messages to your athletes or your coaching staff and there’s a slight chance you have children.

If you’re none of the above, it’s ok, here’s an entry you’ll enjoy.

Randy Pausch has died, he was 47.

Who’s Randy Pausch you may be asking?

He’s only one of the most inspirational people I have ever heard. The A.P. has the story by way of Yahoo News.com

Pausch was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer in September 2006. His popular last lecture at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007 garnered international attention and was viewed by millions on the Internet.

If you have never heard of Pausch, I suggest you head out to your nearest bookstore and pick up his book. (or try Googling him)

A few weeks ago I was sitting pool-side at a hotel and my nine year-old daughter Taylor was swimming. There wasn’t anyone else around, “Look daddy, we have the pool to ourselves!” she said as she splashed around.

I was taking in the sun, enjoying the newspaper and a cup of coffee.

A few minutes later Taylor said she was bored.

I had just finished reading something about Pausch in a magazine article, his story, book and lecture.

“Have Fun!” he emphasized in one of his lectures.

I looked at Taylor, then at the two powerful words in black and white by Pausch.

Off went my shirt and sneakers. Luckily I had some shorts on.

I dove in, Taylor and I had a great time!

More from the good professor:

“I don’t know how to not have fun,” he said in the lecture. “I’m dying and I’m having fun. And I’m going to keep having fun every day I have left. Because there’s no other way to play it.”

Randy Pausch, age 47 – R.I.P.