-Nick Saban
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
NICK SABAN: PUSHING PAST NORMAL
-Nick Saban
Monday, February 6, 2012
"CONSTANT" PRACTICE VS. "VARIABLE" PRACTICE
THE LADDER OF SUCCESS: REPETITION
I say ironically because I came across an interesting article from last summer on this same topic. The article was written by Sean Gregory for Time Magazine. Here are some key components of that article:
The next time you putt 100 balls at the range, because you know the practice will improve your short game, know this: it probably won't.
Why? Because it's not just practice that makes perfect. It's practicing intelligently that improves performance.
Such are the conclusions of a study published this week in the journal Nature Neuroscience by a group of neuroscientists at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles. The authors compared the performance of people who tried to hone a skill through "constant practice" — that is, the rote repetition of a task, like taking 100 serves across the net — and those who underwent "variable practice," in which you work on a mix of skills during a training session. An example of variable practice: taking a serve, followed by a backhand, then mixing in a drop shot and forehand.
In the study, participants were asked to mimic a 60-degree forearm movement that was represented as a wavy line on a computer screen. They moved their forearms while holding a lever, and their results were superimposed onto the target line after each movement. The more the movement mimicked the target, the better the performance. Those who repeated the movement 120 times (constant practice) performed just as well during the practice session as those who did the 60-degree movement 60 times, and a 30-degree, 45-degree, and 75-degree movement 20 times each, in a jumbled order (variable practice).
Of course, you can knock the cover off the ball in practice. But it's the game that counts. About 24 hours after the volunteers finished their practice sessions, the authors tested their performance again. This time, they found that those in the variable-practice group performed better on the 60-degree movement than those who trained with rote repetition. The suggestion is that during the key postpractice period when the brain processes and retains the lessons it has just learned — known by neuroscientists as the consolidation phase — mixing tasks pays off.
Why? Psychologists have long known that variable practice of motor skills leads to better retention. The current study, however, offers a neurological explanation for this phenomenon. Immediately after the practice sessions, some study participants (from both the variable- and constant-practice groups) received transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a procedure that temporarily interferes with brain activity through the application of electric coils on the primary motor cortex, the area of the brain associated with simple motor learning.
Tedium is bad for the brain. "In constant practice, people just go into auto mode, and are just like, 'Whatever,'" says Kantak, who is now a postdoctoral fellow at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. "In variable practice, your brain is more actively engaged and actively processing information, which allows it to hold information better. Our brain is like a muscle, and when it gets a good workout, it gets stronger."
So go ahead, take those 100 serves. But don't forget to work on your drop shots. Your brain will thank you for it. And your opponent, perhaps, will rue the day you mixed up your workout.
Read the entire article: http://ti.me/cQFNgK
LADDER OF SUCCESS (PART IV): REPETITION
CLIMBING THE LADDER OF SUCCESS
One thing we constantly talk to our players about is the ability to work consistently within the framework that we give them. The development of a basketball player, as well as that of the team, is something that does not remain constant. In other words, you will either get better or worse everyday based on your working performance.
Repetition also plays a key role in the mental part of the game. By constantly repeating something physically, we are conditioning ourselves mentally. An important part of athletic movement is muscle memory. This is when the muscles perform what they have been conditioned to do and this can only come from constant repetition.
One more key thought for coaches is that constant repetition is important -- but it must come with variety. They may sound contradicting but I believe it's critically important. For example, you can teach the proper mechanics of a defensive blockout. And certainly you can be repetitive in teaching those very fundamentals each day in a 1-on-1 sitution. But you will eventually lose the student to boredom. If you think that a 1-on-1 situation for teaching blockout is best, certainly return to it as often as you think you need but also utilize other means. For instance, you can teach blockout 2-on-2 and 3-on-3. How about a rebounding game 4-on-4 with winners and losers? Make sure you check those same fundamentals in whole method work. You can teach and demand the same techinique in a variety of ways to keep some freshness to the approach.
Another part of variety is "advancement" in your drill approach. For instance, you can do a dribbling drill through cones or chairs stressing the same fundamentals of stance, footwork, head up, etc. But it's importat to find a way to streatch the growth of your player by making the drills increasingly more difficult. In this case, give the player a targert time to navigate through the obstacles -- without losing the fundamental teaching points you are stressing.
Some more thoughts on repetition:
“A baseball swing is a very finely tuned instrument. It is repetition, and more repetition, then a little more after that.”
-Reggie Jackson
“Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought.”
-Napoleon Hill
“Constant repetition carries conviction.”
-Robert Collier
“It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
-Muhammad Ali
“Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex.”
-Norman Vincent Peale
BRIAN BILLICK: BE A MOTIVATOR
“Knowledge along is not enough to get desired results. You must have the more elusive ability to teach and to motivate. This defines a leader; if you can’t teach and you can’t motivate, you can’t lead.”
-John Wooden
“A leader has two important characteristics; first he is going somewhere; second he is able to persuade other people to go with him.”
-Maximilien Fancios Roberspierre
“If you wish to succeed in managing and controlling others — learn to manage and control yourself.”
-William H. Boetcker
Any efforts by leaders to improve the motivational levels of their followers should be preceded by self-examination by the leader themselves...they should be aware of their own strengths and weaknesses as motivators.
With regard to motivation, it is important that leaders recognize that differences exist between individuals. Leaders should be sensitive to the divergence of needs, interests, and skills among their followers. As such, leaders have a responsibility to get to know each of their subordinates and to treat them as individuals. Leaders should be aware of the fact that the most effective, productive way to deal with a human being is to treat that person as a unique resource.
...the factors that help satisfy a person’s needs can be grouped into two broad categories — intrinsic motivators and extrinsic rewards. Intrinsic motivators come from the job itself and include an individual’s internal motivations, such as interests, values, and drives. Extrinsic rewards, on the other hand, are tangible incentives that are not inherent in the nature of the job.
Research suggests that people who view themselves as working primarily for money tend to perceive their tasks as less pleasurable and, as a result, they do not perform them as well. In other words, depending upon the circumstances, money can actually be a demotivating factor to a degree.
“Unless the job means more than they pay, it will never pay more.”
-H. Bertram Lewis
...increasing role clarity on a job has been shown to have a positive effect on task performance.
“Find something you love to do and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
-Harvey MacKay
Another way that leaders can enhance motivational levels in the organization is to cultivate an environment of motivation within the workplace. In other words, the climate within the workplace should be such that it facilitates job performance.
Enhancing work environment:
-Have an open door policy.
-Never make promises that you know you can’t keep.
-Establish an atmosphere of mutual respect between you and your followers.
-Adopt a positive attitude toward the organization’s vision and goals and the ability of people to perform in a way that enables the vision and goals to be achieved.
-Lead by example.
-Give people the attention they require.
-Challenge people.
-Keep the channels of communication open at all times.
-Have an open mind.
“One of the illusions of life is that the present hour is not the critical, decisive hour. Write on your heart every day is the best day of the year."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
A common mistakes made by many leaders is to fail to follow up an organization directive with personal interaction with key members of the staff whose job it is to carry out those initiatives.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
-Henry Ford
Perhaps the single most important action a leader can take to motivate individuals in the organization is to involve them more fully in the steps that are undertaken to establish individual goals and responsibilities.
Friday, February 3, 2012
UNDERSTANDING HOW YOU GOT THERE AND HOW TO STAY
"There are so many guys out there and there are so many guys that you're essentially just taking a chance on,'' Cruz said of the scouting process and its high-profile misses. "Some guys just slip under the radar. Once those hidden gems kind of get figured out and somebody sees them, then it's a great opportunity. Then it's a great shot they took. If they don't [make it], then it's another one bites the dust.''
At least once a month, Cruz said he calls former UMass teammate Vladimir Ducasse to thank him for drawing the NFL scouts to the Minutemen pro day in the spring of 2010. Ducasse was a highly-touted offensive tackle/guard coming out of UMass that year, and wound up going in the second round to the Jets. But without the draw of Ducasse, Cruz wonders if he would even have generated free-agent interest?
"It's about having just incredible persistence, and not taking no for an answer,'' Cruz said. "[And having] a little bit of luck, and being at the right place at the right time, and understanding what type of player I am and using every tool in my possession, every resource I had. I used it all, and that's what brought me here.''
One of the ways Cruz increased his chances to make an impact this season was by showing up for the players-only offseason workouts in Hoboken, N.J., organized by Manning during the lockout. Manning called Cruz and urged him to be there, and the two worked on their timing and rapport during those long days of waiting out the league's labor strife.
"That was huge for me,'' said Cruz, who is half Puerto Rican, and has entertained the media this week by conducting many of his interviews in fluent Spanish. "It definitely gave me a lot of confidence going in, knowing that he wanted to come to me and get some timing down. It was just good for me to get that one on one time with Eli.''
Read the entire article: http://bit.ly/whzbod
POSITIVE SELF-TALK
Attitude: I choose and display the right attitudes daily.
Priorities: I will determine and act upon important priorities daily.
Health: I will know and follow healthy guidelines daily.
Family: I will communicate with and care for my family daily.
Thinking: I will practice and develop good thinking daily.
Commitment: I will make and keep proper commitments daily.
Finances: I will earn and properly manage finances daily.
Faith: I will deepen and live out my faith daily.
Relationships: I will initiate and invest in solid relationships daily.
Generosity: I will plan for and model generosity daily.
Values: I will embrace and practice good values daily.
Growth: I will desire and experience improvements daily.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
STEPHANIE ZONARS: 3 STEPS TO BETTER LISTENING
Lately I've been convicted of my lack of focus while listening—particularly when on the phone where eye contact and other body language is irrelevant and its easier to get away with not focusing.
In reality, I'm not "getting away with" anything. Last week, the tables turned and I realized again the impact my inattention can make. During a phone conversation, I heard the other person's fingers on her keyboard.
First, I thought, "how dare she multi-task during our conversation!" and then immediately, "how dare I cast the first stone?". That moment drove the point home: to communicate my value/respect for others, I must be fully present in my conversations.
Perhaps you've experienced this too? If so, these reminders may help you as they have me:
Technology:
For phone conversations, I put my computer to sleep or at the very least turn off email, Facebook and Twitter—especially any notifications that could pop up to distract me.
In person, I show courtesy by putting my phone away. Nothing screams "I'm not listening" more than continuing to check email or social media accounts during a conversation! Regardless what any Gen Y-er says, it's impossible to tune in to someone's words while scanning a news feed!
Eyes:
Sometimes even the books on my office shelves pull my attention away from listening while on the phone. By closing my eyes, I hear beyond the words someone speaks to the deeper emotions and tones. Nothing helps me stay fully present more than this.
In person, I obviously can't close my eyes, but I can maintain constant eye contact with the speaker. This is even more crucial in a busy venue (networking, conferences). Staying locked into their eyes communicates that they matter more than whatever activity surrounds us.
Margin:
Creating physical and mental space makes listening much easier. With phone appointments I try to stop other work early enough to give me time to collect my thoughts, review any notes, and sometimes close my eyes and pray in order to get focused.
If I get caught rushing to a phone appointment without this mental space, I'm not nearly as effective in listening or coaching. Margin slows me down and puts me in a better frame of mind to listen.
With face-to-face communication, when I cram my schedule with one appointment after the other, I'm in too much of a hurry to listen to anyone who comes across my path. But creating margin allows me more freedom to stop and listen to the checkout lady or the guy at the gym.
Check out Stephanies site: http://www.lifebeyondsport.com/
BILL WALSH: ON BEING A TEACHER
No aspect of coaching is more important than teaching.
Without properly executed fundamentals, the entire system can break down. Accordingly, you must ensure that every player gets the information and hands-on instruction that he needs to develop and refine those skills that are required for his position.
You should recognize that individuals often have distinctly different responses to the learning process. As such, you must adjust you r teaching approach and methods to account for individual differences.
Among the steps that you can take to ensure that the teaching process for the team is appropriate are the following:
1. Use a straight forward, broad-based vocabulary that allows you to communicate in very specific, descriptive terms.
2. Employ clear, concise language the ensures that your explanation to and exchanges with other individuals will be clearly understood.
3. One of your responsibilities is to generate interest in and excitement for a given matter among your players. The most effective way to accomplish such an objective is to utilize a high level of energy and show ardent enthusiasm for the subject when discussing it with your players.
4. Ensure your relation with the team has a light, relaxed side.
5. Emphasize to the group that note taking is strongly encouraged. This practice not only helps them to thoroughly recall the information that you presented, it enables them to be better prepared to connect the details of one point to another and one teaching session to another.
6. Ensure that the teaching process for a given subject accounts for those individuals who may struggle to fail to keep up with the material or the expected schedule of learning.
7. Make certain that any theory, concept or precept you initially offer to introduce a particular topic is thoroughly comprehended by your audience before you discuss more complex aspects of the subject matter.
8. Be aware of and sensitive to the limitations of a group of individuals to learn a give task or subject.
9. Employ a somewhat unpredictable presentation style.
10. Keep the length of your presentation an appropriate duration.
11. Organize and give your presentation in sequential “building blocks.”
12. Employ visual aids to illustrate a point, to add variety to your presentation, to enhance the attention span of the audience, and to place specific emphasis as intended.
13. Ensure that members of your audience have confidence in the material that you are presenting to a point where their desire to learn the material and to be better prepared to achieve their (individual or team) goals is enhanced.
14. Educate your athletes to the highest levels possible.
Keep in mind the thoughts of Sun Tzu, the renowned military strategist, in his classic work "The Art of War," who concluded that with more sophistication comes more control. Furthermore, with sophistication occurs a visualization beyond common concepts and progress toward the path of perfection.
HIGH, AVERAGE, LOW ACHIEVER -- HOW DO YOU OPERATE?
Jim Collins, author of "Good to Great," observes, “Those who build great companies understand that the ultimate throttle on growth for any great company is not markets, or technology, or competition, or products. It is the one thing above all others—the ability to get and keep enough of the right people.”
The ability to connect with others begins with understanding the value of people.
High Achievers:
• Care about people as well as profits.
• View subordinates optimistically.
• Seek advice from those under them.
• Listen well to everyone.
Average Achievers:
• Concentrate on production.
• Focus more on their own status.
• Are reluctant to seek advice from those under them.
• Listen only to superiors.
Low Achievers:
• Are preoccupied with their own security.
• Show a basic distrust of subordinates.
• Don’t seek advice.
• Avoid communication and rely on policy manuals.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
CHARLIE SPOONHOUR: SIX STEPS TO WINNING
This morning I came across some old clinic notes from Charlie Spoonhour. I enjoyed the fact that we was obviously looking back as well and recalling some lessons learned from Coach Hank Iba.
"I'm going to talk about Six Steps To Winning. This is a rehash of all of the things Mr. Iba used to talk about at Oklahoma State. He said that there are six things you must do to win. If you three of them, you will win about half your games. If you do four, you will have a good season, five a better one, etc. Most of them involve nothing more than hard work."
#1 Get Back On Defense
You have two different areas. Getting back after a turnover or miss, which is the most crucial, and getting back after a made shot.
#2 Half-Court Defense
The main thing that you must do is commit yourself to one defense, and then make them play it well.
#3 Defensive Rebounding
It is all about effort. Height is the most overrated thing in basketball. It has nothing to do with rebounding.
#4 Running the Break
I am more convinced than ever that you must have a good transition game to flow from defense to offense.
#5 Half-Court Offense
The main thing about half-court offense is that you must convince your players what their limitations area. You must tell them.
#6 Offensive Rebounding
Once again, it's effort.
Here are some links on stories regarding Coach Spoonhour:
Charlie Spoonhour dies; brought "Spoonball" to SLU
http://bit.ly/y2imHc
Charlie Spoonhour will be missed my many
http://es.pn/yY13Qs
Beloved Coach Charlie Spoonhour dies
http://bit.ly/xLLVVR
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