Every week, everything I share will be pointed back to this.

There are no secrets here - everything you need know you will eventually figure out on your own.

My goal is to help you see some it before is cost you something valuable. A job, a relationship or a game.

It’s never been more important than now for kids to have quality coaches.

Your program might be one of the few remaining places where kids are told the truth and held accountable.

This newsletter isn’t for bad coaches. It is for good coaches who want to be even better.

To be an elite program you must excel in four areas: Mindset, Culture, Leadership and Systems.

Number 2

No one expects a palm tree to grow in the snow.

No expects to see a polar bear at the beach.

Plants and animals thrive in the right environment.

Your players are no different.

If the players in your program are consistently lacking in some area, you need to examine your environment to see if you are creating the conditions to grow the kind of players you want in your program.

You want your players to be tough?

You want your players to pay attention to detail?

You want your players to work hard and be unselfish?

Create an environment where those attributes are defined, taught, modeled, demanded and rewarded.

It is important even for veteran coaches to monitor the environment in your program. It can change over time even if you haven’t changed jobs.

Younger players show up in a program that they didn’t invest in building. They receive the immediate benefits of what your veteran players created. If you aren’t constantly monitoring your environment entitlement can creep in one class of players at a time.

What changes can you make to cultivate and environment that produces what your program needs right now?

Not on the court - keep in memorable and snappy there, but in all your other communication with players, parents and other stake holders make it your goal to leave no excuses for people to not know what you need them to know.

I saw a great example of this last week from Dreher athletic director Darryl Jarvis’s letter to players and parents prior to school starting.

In this communication he laid out the his expectations for players, parents and coaches along with the vision of what could happen if they all work together. There will still be issues and bumps in the road, but he communicated a compelling vision for everyone and a clear outline for what it will take to achieve it.

I would encourage all of you to create a similar document and get it in the hands of your players and parents as soon as possible.

A thoughtful and thorough player contract and program handbook can reduce the amount of peripheral issues you have to deal with during the season.

Make sure everyone associated with your programs knows the vision and what it will take from them to accomplish it.

Is there an area where your communication can improve?

e better.

None of these ideas will transform your program overnight, but one small change applied consistently over time can change what your players experience.

Pick one. Put it to work. Make your program a little better this week.

If you found something useful, forward this email to another coach who is constantly striving to get better.

Look for more details and speaker announcements coming soon. Our clinic will be at new location this fall and will feature on the court demonstrations in addition to classroom sessions.

Next Play Basketball works with players, teams and coaches throughout the season.

We offer multiple packages that can be customized to meet the needs of your program and your coaching staff.

We still have room for a couple more programs this season.

We would love to work with you.

If you would like to know what we offer or how we can help you, just reply to this message or reach out directly at 803-983-2076