How many voices?

The amount of information available to all of us at this point in time can be overwhelming. Depending on your tv package you may receive anywhere from fifty to over a hundred channels. If you want news, you have the internet and tv channels to give you a wide variety of choices. There is now

a constant demand for your attention. How many times a day do you check

your phone? How many screens are seeking for your focus each day? Have

you become uncomfortable with silence? I do not think we have ever had

so many distractions/demands on our attention. Try collecting cell phones

before you leave on your next road trip and see how your players react. My

guess is some cannot or will not be comfortable talking directly to their team mates. Is it time to detox from technology for a few hours?

I recently did a search on my computer for basketball coaching blogs and learned two things. One, there are a fairly significant number of basketball coaching blogs on the internet and second, this site is not rated in the top ten. (Yes, I am shocked.)

One of the things you find helpful when faced with a large number of choices is what is commonly referred to as being a "filter." I would recommend to all coaches, but especially to the more inexperienced coaches, to develop their filters. You are going to get a lot of advice from a wide range of sources. Your ability to evaluate the advice and suggestions can be critical to your development. Points to consider:

1) Consider the source when you evaluate the information.

2) Do the people you are listening to know what they are talking about?

3) What is their motivation for advising you?

4) Do they know you or your team well enough to be knowledgeable

enough to give the advice?

5) Does the advice you have been given force you to consider changing

your absolutes?

a) We all have absolutes whether we know it or not. What are you NOT

willing to compromise on?

b) I am not agains compromise, but be careful you don't compromise

yourself into a position that you negatively impact your fellow

coaches and players. (I realize this is being judgmental but I am going

to say it anyway. It's, in my humble opinion, not very difficult to find a

politician who is wiling to flip flop on issues faster than a walleye in the

bottom of your boat.) The people you coach with and the people you

coach will rapidly lose confidence in you if you cannot display to them

a consistent level of purpose.

"No masks!" "No social distancing!"

SUMMARY:

A. You can't please everyone nor can or should you listen to everyone.

B. Practice the "24 Hour Rule" whenever possible. Quick emotional

decisions are often regretted.

C. Carefully consider the source! Who is the advice coming from and what

agenda (if any) do they have?

D. Accept responsibility for whatever happens .... good, bad, or ugly. Once

you make a decision .... own it.

E. Let your team know what you are going to do and why.

F. If you screw up, admit it, learn from it, and move on from it.

G. Be intentional with yourself, your staff, and your team about finding

some creative ways to shut down technology and slow the pace to

encourage personal one on one interactions.