BE A PRACTICE PLAYER FIRST!

I was reading from Sun Tzu last night and came across this quote which we will share with our team this morning:

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war,

while defeated warriors go to war

 first and then seek to win.”

 –SunTzu

 

The point we want to drive home to our team is that you must first be champions on the practice court before you can compete for one on the court.  You can't wait to be physical with your opponent in the paint in the final two minutes of a game if you didn't first pay the price in the weight room and in conditioning workouts. It's no different for a student.  You cannot wait till the teacher passes out the quiz to decided you want ace it.  You needed to "win" in your homework and study habits.  My favorite of all basketball/life quotations remains"

 

"The will to win is not nearly as important

as the will to PREPARE to win."

-Bob Knight

 

BE A PRACTICE PLAYER FIRST!

CAREER STARTER BOOK #10: THE ART OF WAR

A few weeks ago, I had a post about a book and made reference to the fact that I would have loved to have read it when I first started coaching.  In fact, it would be in my Top 10 books that I think could've impacted me greatly as a young coach just starting out.  I have since received a great number of requests asking for the complete list and so each day, over the next few weeks, I will list a book that I think young coaches would benefit from reading as they start their coaching journey.  I would imagine that many will be looking for X&O books -- just as I did when I first started coaching -- but instead you will find a list of books that will not only make you a better coach, but a better person. Books that concentrate on teaching, goal setting, communication and leadership.

Book #10

The Art of War
Sun Tzu

An absolute classic!  Bob Knight once called it his most valuable coaching book.  Of course there are many versions (I have 8 different ones) but my favorite is the one edited by James Clavell.  I love his simplistic interpretation.  I admit that there will be some young coaches who may struggle with some of the theories of Sun Tzu and how they may translate to coaching but with time, the teachings will become apparent.

I'll start with my favorite passage from the book:

“If you know the enemy and know yourself,

you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. 

If you know yourself but not the enemy,

for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. 

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself,

you will succumb in every battle."

 
In fact, Sun Tzu was incredible big on preparation:

"The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought."

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable."

How about Sun Tzu’s thoughts on transition defense:

"Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy will be fresh; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted."

Some more profound thoughts from Sun Tzu:

“The value of time — that is, being a little ahead of your opponent — has counted for more than either numerical superiority or the nicest calculations with regard to commissariat.”

“He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.

He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.

He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.

He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.”

“Security against defeat implied defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means take the offensive.”

“He who can modify his tactics in relation to his opponent, and thereby succeed in winning, may be called a heaven-born captain.”

“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him.”

“Rapidity is the essence of war.  Take advantage of the enemy’s unreadiness, make your way by unexpected routes, and attack unguarded spots.

 

Bonus blog post from The Art of War by Sun Tzu on The Five Besetting Sins of a General

 

SUN TZU: THE ART OF PREPARATION

I'm sitting in the office on New Year's Eve and breaking down video of our first Southeastern Conference opponent with we will play this Monday.  I have always enjoyed watching video -- not just to study an opponent (or ourselves) but to learn something.  Of course, the preparation equation is first and foremost the reason we study hours of clips.  And it always reminds me of my favorite quote from "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu -- a book that is torn and tattered but always remains on my desk:

"If you know the enemy and know yourself,

you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. 

If you know yourself but not the enemy,

for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. 

If you know neither the enemy nor yourself,

you will succumb in every battle."

THE FIVE BESETTING SINS OF A GENERAL

The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to recieve him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.

There are five dangerous faults that may affect a general, of which the first two are: recklessness, which leads to destruction; and cowardice, which leads to capture.

Next there is a delicacy of honor, which is sensitive to shame; and a hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults.

The last of such faults is oversolicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble, for in the long run the troops will suffer more from the defeat, or at best, the prolongation of the war, which will be the consequence.

These are the five besetting sins of a general, ruinious to the conduct of war.  When an army is overthrown and its leader slain, the cause will surely be found among these five dangrous faults. 

From "The Art of War"
by Sun Tzu (edited by James Clavell)

SUN TZU ON EXECUTION

Do you suppose that the side with the most troops wins?

Then it is just a matter of going into battle based on head count. Do you suppose the wealthier side wins? That it is just a matter of going into battle based on measurement of grain.

Do you think the side with sharper weapons and stronger armor wins?

Then it would be easy to determine the victor. Therefore the rich are not necessarily secure, the poor are not necessarily insecure, the majority do not necessarily prevail, minorities do not necessarily fail.

That which determines who will win and will lose, who is secure and who is in peril, is their science, their Way.

From "The Lost Art Of War" by Sun Tzu as translated by Thomas Cleary

SEEK CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ASSURE VICTORY

Seek Circumstances Which Assure Victory from Sun Tzu: For Success by Gerald Michaelson

Thus, there are five points in which victory may be predicted:

He who knows when to fight and when not to fight will win. (scheduling)

He who understands how to handle both superior and inferior forces will win. (system of play)

He whose ranks are united in purpose will win. (chemistry)

He who is well prepared and lies in wait for an enemy who is not well prepared will win. (practice)

He whose generals are able and not interfered with by the sovereign will win. (leadership)

SUN TZU ON PREPARATION

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable."

From "The Art of War," by Sun Tzu (Edited by James Clavell)

SUN TZU ON TRANSITION DEFENSE

"Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy will be fresh; whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted."

-Sun Tzu-

The Art of War

(Translated by James Clavell)

SUN TZU ON PREPARATION

"The general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought."