Square Peg - Round Hole??? Coaching Thoughts...

After much thought and deliberation about what offense would best suit our team this coming season, I am at a stand still.  Do I try to fit a certain offensive system to my players, or fit my players to an offensive system...better yet, do I come up with my own system that incorporates the things we do the best???

Therein lies the question...

Notes, web sites, DVD's, clinics...All of these coaches and systems in place, but what is the best way to go about it?  Being a true MOTION style coach makes it real hard for me to commit to a structured offensive system, but at the same time are today's high school kids basketball smart enough to be taught (and comprehend) true motion offense?  What is the answer...I have not decided.

So the basketball lab work continues until I feel fully comfortable with my choice.  Maybe an epiphany will happen real soon!

Pride Point System Going Well

Since the creation of the "Pride Point System" (which adds point values to scheduled basketball workouts/events, other sport team contests, community service, and grades), we have had 16-20 basketball players working hard and competing in the classroom, in workouts, and in support of other teams in the school.  Its been a great tool and motivator for our program and I hope it continues to help us build championship people in our program!

--
"Strive for Perfection~Settle for Excellence"

Brian W. Rea
Computers / Accounting
Head Boys Basketball / Golf Coach
IBCA District 17 Board Member

Payson-Seymour High School
Home of the Indians!

Coaching Clinic Possibility!!!

After discussion with a current head girl's coach across the river in Missouri, I think I am going to try and put together a coaches roundtable clinic for the fall of 2011.  This clinic will be an opportunity to further the coaching fraternity and help build closer relationships among area coaches.  The premise is not to pay college coaches or other presenters to talk about the same things over and over...It's to use the expertise and knowledge of the coaches attending to create a "Topic List" to be discussed, dissected and conversed about during the event.  Coaches with knowledge of certain topics will be the presenters, and Q & A will be the format.

Nothing like going to a clinic and actually learning things you want to learn about!  Stay tuned for details about this clinic...Hope it catches on!

Coaching...Risk and Reward

This is currently my 10th year of coaching and my 7th as a head coach.  Having taken a "quick" road to head coaching as a 23 year old, I have seen the risks and rewards of this profession.  I can't say that the rewards have been substantial in gratitude, awards or great success record-wise, but I can say they have been great in terms of the things that really matter.  I am talking about relationships, teaching the game, building toughness, and being part of something special. 

In 2 of the 4 head coaching positions I have held, the risk far out-weighed the reward.  Being a young, inexperienced (in terms of PR) coach was difficult in the situations that I took over.  The two programs had very little recent and historical success, and I was naive enough to think that knowing the game of basketball was going to see me through.  Boy was I wrong.  Those were huge risks to my career and longevity because of my naivety and bravado for wanting to be the "head guy".  With those two stops, I have compiled a record that many casual observers would deem to be poor.  Fans or "experts" not looking at the state of the programs, the players talent and ability level, and the overall negativity and lack of overall support were all reasons that these jobs were not right for a fiery, young, passionate coach.  I thought my knowledge of the game could see me through...Risk taken, reward limited...on to the next opportunity.

Luckily for me, I have a wife and children now that need a stable place to live around family that cares about us.  My options 3 years ago were not much better than when I began, as well as being in many different corners of the State.  The best decision I ever made was not even mine to begin with.  It was the help of a wife and a couple veteran coaches that lead me to where I am now.  Thank God for all of them because, despite the inevitable criticisms and second-guessing that comes with coaching, without them I would not be where I am and enjoying building a successful program.  I was within a couple of weeks of changing my profession from teacher/coach to law enforcement officer...I can't see myself doing anything other than what I am doing now, but the toll of all the hatred, negativity, back-stabbing, lack of support, and criticism brought me to a crossroads.  If not for a few people that cared about me I would probably not be doing this right now.  I must thank them.  They came through for me at the right time and I am never looking back.

Coaching is still a fickle profession unless you win every single game.  You will never be liked, you will never be the most popular.  It is a relatively thankless job that only certain individuals can ever do with any success and longevity.  Through the help of a small support system, some mental toughness, and a love and respect for the positions that I hold I hope to be one of the few that get to do this until it is my time to decide to hang 'em up.  Winning isn't everything, but to many that is all that truly matters in the end.  My job and goal is to marry the winning with the building to make a long lasting tradition of excellence.  To represent the school and community that I serve, and to build the young student-athletes I lead into great citizens and winners in life.  I know that I always have things to work on, change and make better, but I never stop trying.  When you think you know everything you actually know nothing.  Hopefully I get the opportunity to be one of those veteran coaches that can help the younger ones out someday.  I have only ever wanted to be like my Dad...my coach and hero... , and I hope that I can continue in my climb to do what I enjoy for the rest of my life.

Thanks... To my father for being my role model and allowing me the opportunity to learn the game of basketball.  To my mother for loving me and believing I could do whatever I wanted to do...and trying to keep my ego in check!  To my wife for being so supportive and understanding...and for always being the devil's advocate and helping my see the error of my ways.  And finally to the coaches/mentors/friends that believed in me and helped pave an avenue for me to have a chance to be successful in this business.  I am forever grateful and can never repay you enough.

New Training Ideas...

This season I have gone away from traditional conditioning that many of us coaches have always used.  Not only have I gone away from the old school, but I have cut way down on the actual conditioning time.  Crazy?  Maybe.  I am hoping that this new style of conditioning better prepares us for the season ahead.

Components:

5 days per week @ 30 minutes per session
5 different styles of workout

• Track Day - Sprints of varying distances (400 or less) for time, very little rest
• Plyo/Explosion Day - Jumping and explosive movements in differing directions and planes
• CrossFit Day - Exercises of varying movements, levels, and difficulty based on game movements
• Agility Day - Various exercises working on footwork and agility
• Game Day - Play a modified game like Ultimate Football, or the Game Time workout simulating 4 quarters of movement in a game.

It is different from the norm, but I am willing to give new and exciting ideas a try.  We name our 5 workout days after our 5 toughest opponents (those who stand in the way of Championships).  Is it tough?  Heck yeah, but it is 30 minutes of non-stop hard work.  It is not spread out over an hour or hour and a half, nor is it meant to just build stamina.  It is created to condition basketball players and that is it.  It is all simulations of game movements.  I for one think it is going great and any student-athlete that has been involved in it has felt the same.  Short and sweet, but full of intensity and heat!

Long but Good Week

It has been a long week.  Having golf matches, going to the IBCA meeting in Toluca, and then school and family upon all that...Iam worn out.  The students have been good this week, and I am enjoying the classes that I have.  We have fun together.  It helps when they have a sense of humor.  It doesn't hurt either when they can both have fun and accomplish their work.  I look forward to many more weeks of teaching them and hoping to make education fun. 

--
"LUCK is when PREPARATION meets OPPORTUNITY"

Mr. Brian W. Rea
Computers / Accounting
Head Basketball Coach
FBLA Advisor
Payson-Seymour High School

It's Getting Close!

As the season draws ever closer, I am reminded about how much I love basketball season...the pre-season in particular.  The attitudes are great, the body is fresh, the minds are open to learning, and the adversity is yet to rear its head to try and bring us down.  We have been working very hard in the weightroom during the summer and now into the school year.  I am proud of those players that have chosen to wake up early 3-4 mornings a week to prepare their bodies for the rigors of a tough season.  I applaud you, and all others like you around our nation that are in the process of making themselves and their teams better daily. 

 

Time fades so quickly, and before you know it your time will be done.  Never miss an opportunity to get better.  If success were easy everyone would win.  The difference between winners and losers is that extra mile...are you willing to go the extra mile, above and beyond what is asked of you, to be great?  Hopefully that answer inside you is YES!

 

Go Indians!

--
"LUCK is when PREPARATION meets OPPORTUNITY"

Mr. Brian W. Rea
Computers / Accounting
Head Basketball Coach
FBLA Advisor
Payson-Seymour High School