Things I Wish I Knew

THINGS I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN EARLIER AS A PLAYER……

• WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE A SENIOR (THE SACRIFICE FOR THE TEAM
• HOW MUCH TIME THE COACHING STAFF PUTS IN TRYING TO PREPARE THE TEAM FOR LIFE, PRACTICES AND GAMES
• HOW MUCH TIME THE COACHING STAFF SPENDS THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS BEST FOR THE TEAM
• YOUR TEAM IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE LAST PLAYER TO BUY IN (WEAKEST LINK) – YOU HAVE A “TRUE” TEAM ONLY WHEN EVERY LAST PLAYER HAS BOUGHT IN
• WHEN YOU WIN WITH A “TEAM”, THE VICTORY TASTES MUCH SWEETER
• TEAM CHEMISTRY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE GAME OF BASKETBALL – WITHOUT IT CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE HARD TO COME BY
• THAT THE “TEAM” IS NOT THE COACHES’ TEAM, IT’S YOUR (PLAYERS) TEAM
• THAT IT CAN TAKE AN ENTIRE SEASON TO BUILD A “TEAM” AND ONE INCIDENT TO DESTROY THE CHEMISTRY THAT WAS BUILT
• HOW YOU PLAY IN PRACTICE ULTIMATELY AFFECTS YOUR PERFORMANCE IN THE GAME
• IF YOU WANT TO BE THE BEST PLAYER, YOU HAVE TO BE THE HARDEST WORKER
• IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW GOOD YOU ARE IF YOU ARE NOT MENTALLY TOUGH
• THAT YOU WIN GAMES BY PREPARING PROPERLY IN PRACTICE AND NOT JUST LACING UP THE SNEAKERS ON GAME NIGHT
• IT’S HARD AS A COACH TO SIT A PLAYER WHO MAKES HUSTLE PLAYS CONSISTENTLY AND WORKS HARD IN PRACTICE
• THE IMPORTANCE OF BALL PRESSURE AND JUMPING TO THE BALL AND HOW TO PLAY IT PROPERLY
• COMMUNICATION IS A MUST TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON AND OFF THE COURT
• I HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO PLAY IF I AM A GREAT DEFENDER VS. A GOOD SHOOTER
• THE SOONER I REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING STARTS WITH DEFENSE THE BETTER I WILL BE ABLE TO PREPARE MYSELF FOR THE PRACTICES AND GAMES
• THE KEY TO BECOMING A GREAT REBOUNDER IS PUTTING FORTH THE EFFORT TO GO TO THE GLASS AND ABILITY HAS LITTLE TO DO WITH IT (REBOUND SEQUENCE)
• A GOOD TEAM DEFENSE IS BUILT WITH THE FOUNDATION OF TRUST
• HOW MUCH YOU HAVE TO PREPARE MENTALLY FOR THE SECOND NIGHT OF PLAY IN CONFERENCE FRIDAY / SATURDAY GAMES – AFTER LOSES, MORE SO WINS
• IT’S NOT WHO STARTS THE GAME, IT’S WHO FINISHES THE GAME – BE A FINISHER
• YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GREAT SECOND HALF WARM-UP PHYSICALLY TO GET YOURSELF READY MENTALLY (PERCEIVED ABILITY THAT WE ARE READY TO GO)
• THAT YOU CAN CONTROL TWO THINGS IN LIFE: 1. ATTITUDE 2. EFFORT – AND MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, POSITIVE WORDS AND ACTIONS CREATE POSITIVE REACTIONS

--- Sundance Wicks