In this episode, we discuss the importance of building a strong culture in a basketball program. I share my personal experience of taking over as head coach and establishing a culture at Heritage High School and turning around a team the year before that went 4-20 to 14-12 and making the playoffs again. There is a clear need to define and communicate the desired culture and I am working more and more on the role of actions built on core values that play a large part in shaping culture. I will recommend several books on building a culture and shares specific strategies I implemented, such as high fives, picking up teammates, intentional communication, and effort-based goals. I go over my strategy for preseason, in-season, and offseason activities that focus on building a cohesive and successful team. I will also reflect on some mistakes I made in the past and the lessons I learned from them and what I am looking to adjust for this upcoming season.
Previous Episode - Becoming A Head Coach
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Key takeaways:
* Building a strong culture is essential for a successful basketball program.
* Defining and communicating the desired culture is crucial.
* Actions and behaviors shape the culture more than words or preaching.
* Implementing specific strategies like high fives, picking up teammates, intentional communication, and effort-based goals can reinforce the desired culture.
* Continuous learning and improvement are important for both coaches and players. Establishing and reinforcing team culture is crucial for success in basketball.
* Preseason activities should focus on reestablishing the team culture and setting expectations.
* In-season activities should include regular check-ins with players, culture days, and culture moments in film sessions.
* Offseason activities should involve consistent check-ins, attending games, and setting goals for individual skill development.
* Mistakes to avoid include neglecting culture-building activities, not preparing bench players for their roles, and keeping players who do not fit the team culture.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
01:54 Defining and Establishing the Desired Culture
05:40 Strategies for Reinforcing the Desired Culture
09:55 Continuous Learning and Improvement in Building a Culture
31:05 Building a Strong Team Culture
33:56 In-Season: Regular Check-Ins and Culture Days
52:37 Mistakes and Lessons Learned
Books & Resources
Extreme Ownership
Jocko Willink Bundle - Best Leadership Books
Culture System
Atomic Habits
Coaches Guide To Teaching
Start With Why
The Culture Code
Practice Perfect
Moleskine Notebook
Note - all books above are Amazon affiliate links.
The Husky Way
Culture Folder
Pre-Season
-Establish Culture Standards
-Introduce The Husky Way
-Conditioning Tests
-Sniper Tests
Beginning Of Season
-Captains Council (Culture System)
-Ask players 3-4 things they like & respect/expect out of a team captain
-Vote blindly on 3 players who exemplify these characteristics
-3 captains in charge of the council (4 if you think someone needs to be on there)
-Meet With Players Weekly
Throughout Season
-Meet With Players Weekly
-Alternate Coaches Meeting With Players
-Culture Days
-Culture Moments (Film)
-Culture Drills
End of Season
-Culture Recap
-End of season exit meetings
-What was bad or negative experiences
-What was good or positive experiences
-What was your favorite part of practice
-What was your least favorite part of practice
Offseason
-Consistent Check Ins
-Attending AAU games
-Give space & time off (July/August)
-Iron Husky & Snipers
📝 Playbooks:
2023-24 Boston Celtics NBA Champions Playbook | 2024 Uconn National Champions Playbook | 2024 NCAA Tournament Playbook | NCAA Tournament Bundle (2018-2023)
🏀 Resources:
Basketball Playbooks | Coaching Clinics | Coaching Membership | Newsletter
👉🏻 Follow:
Twitter | YouTube | Instagram
Enjoy!
Coach Pyper
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