Coach's Clipboard Newsletter #58
March 15, 2015
Placeholder Image

View in browser
Go to Archive Index


Dear Coaches, Players, Friends,

Today's theme is "Struggling Through a Losing Season".

Today's Quotes:

"We can't win at home. We can't win on the road. As general manager, I just can't figure out where else to play." - Orlando Magic GM Pat Williams when struggling through a tough season.

"Nothing is as good as it seems and nothing is as bad, but somewhere between reality falls." - Lou Holtz


OK, maybe it really is as bad as it seems! But you're not alone... probably about 50% of teams are winning, while about 50% are losing. I've known a number of great coaches who had awful losing seasons, with only a win or two. My golfing buddy, a successful former NFL and college football coach once told me that he was a lot better coach when he had good players. It's hard to win without talent.

But parents and fans may be laying the blame on you. This only natural, but is also usually unfair. But this all adds to your own frustration and anxiety as a coach. It's hard to have a thick skin and let this roll off your back... but that's what you have to do. Before you make a rash decision to quit, or make some other drastic decision, sleep on it, take a couple days before deciding.

Take time to reflect on why you wanted to coach in the first place. Was it just to supplement your income? Was it because you were going to be the next Coach K? Or you were going to be the savior of this perennial cellar-dwelling team? Do you find yourself always screaming at the refs and your players, and losing your temper? Then maybe it's not for you.

Or was it because you love the game and like working with young people? And you want to help young people succeed? And you want to be a good example and role model? You want to help develop character, work ethic and good values in your players? OK then... let's hang in there!

Ask yourself again, "what's important?" Here are a few more relevant quotes from great leaders:
 - "What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player." - John Wooden
 - "Winning is overemphasized. The only time it is really important is in surgery and war." - Al McGuire
 - "It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded." - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

So how are you going to get through the rest of this ugly season? Don't forget those goals... teaching kids the value of teamwork, sportsmanship, hard work, etc. When kids are down in the dumps from losing, realize that this affords a great opportunity for teaching some life lessons. Usually I don't like to see coaches spending a lot of time talking during practices... just work, practice.

But if you really have no prayer of winning your next game against that really strong opponent, why not "step out of the box", and talk with your kids. Talk to them about how life at times can be a real struggle, but "you buck up and get through it". How life can be unfair... and how you can make the best of a bad situation... how you can make lemonade from lemons, etc.

Make it fun... find a way for your players to still have fun and enjoy themselves, and feel good about themselves. Get to know them, and show them that you are still interested in them and care about them as individuals, even if basketball is not their best attribute. Teach them that "you don't have to win a trophy to be a winner."

Focus on fundamentals, especially your younger players... ball-handling, dribbling, shooting drills, etc. Yes, with repetition, they can become better players. And they must become better players before you can consistently win. Razzle dazzle game-time coaching strategies may help a little, but you have to have good players.

Rebuilding. It's tempting in a losing season for a coach to decide to "rebuild" for next year. OK... but DON'T forget your seniors who have labored in the program for four years, and this was supposed to be their year. If you want to give your underclassmen more playing time... maybe let your seniors start the game, but then substitute liberally. Start the rebuilding with your youth program... be passionate with younger kids and get them interested early on.

Talk about your goals... be realistic. Maybe there's eight games left... let's look at the schedule. We have a good chance of winning 2 or 3... so let's win those games, and then see if we can win another game or two that nobody thinks we can win. The old upset! Nothing more fun than that. So hang in there, and someday when you are on the winning side, remember, "The two hardest things to handle in life are failure and success." - John Wooden


Placeholder Image

Coach's Clipboard Premium Membership - join today!  Really one of the best bargains available today for coaches and players. Immediate online access, comprehensive playbook with offenses, defenses, plays, drills, coaching and player tips, animated diagrams, video clips, mobile-ready, pdfs for print-outs, and more!

Coaches... act now and get a group membership (deeply discounted) for all your coaches!


Placeholder Image

Placeholder Image

Membership, special deals, basketball CDs, DVDs, downloads, coaching and training aids, and more!

Till next time...
Best wishes,
Dr. Jim Gels, aka "Coach Gels"
The Coach's Clipboard
https://www.coachesclipboard.net
Premium Members Login


All Coach's Clipboard materials are under US copyright, 2015, James A. Gels
Click here to unsubscribe (include your username in the email).
Email your comments or suggestions.