Work Ethic, all the time

One thing we instill in our kids is that when we are there, we are there for a purpose. To improve individually and/or as a team. We have a limited amount of time that we will be able to practice per week and the gym space isn’t free, so we listen and try our best. The players know that when we step on that court as coaches I will do the very best I can, in return I expect them to play the very best they can. If they should play harder or faster or more aggressive, I tell them once, if I tell them twice, odds are its on the sideline with me and a player has already replaced them on the court.

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, if there are five players on the court, odds are there are five players sitting next to us on the sidelines. If you are on the court, you’d better be playing hard – all the time. Hustle back on defense, help stop the ball, run the offense or plays we’ve called out.

Hard work gets our players more playing time than anything else. Hard work can best be described as hustling after loose balls, blocking out and rebounding on defense, making plays to improve our team. Anything that you can do to stand out on our team in a positive way, we encourage our players to do. They know that’s what we are looking for…diving on the floor after a loose ball or deflecting a pass. They don’t’ have to make a steal everytime or make the hard, gamewinning shot. Instead, it can be the “little things” that win each possession, each quarter, each game, each championship. Little things add up.

When you are on the court, play like it is the last time you will ever play. If you are able to participate, you have an opportunity many others would love. There are many other athletes that aren’t able to participate due to health, mental or physical handicaps. Be thankful for what you have, make the most of it, and leave it all on the court. You don’t always have to win on the scoreboard to be a winner.