Hardwood Hustle

This week the discussion is all about playing time. It’s a topic that plagues most players and coaches all season long. How many players do we need or want in our rotation? How do we handle seniors who aren't going to play much? How do we communicate playing time decisions without closing the door to growth and adjustments down the road? How do we keep players who aren't in the rotation motivated through an entire season? - It's a lot to work through, but TJ and Sam share how we can navigate some of the toughest playing time decisions and reevaluate our approach every season to ensure we're maximizing our current team.Show Notes:• Thoughts after watching Team USA• Coaching philosophies• Managing egos• Honesty and empathy• The realist vs. optimist conversation• How many in a rotation?• Navigating challenges• Other factors• The Impact on player rhythm and chemistry• The importance of communication and leadership• The value of every player• Challenges in implementation• Adapting to the team&a

This week Sam and TJ share 3 Preseason Mistakes you’ll want to avoid in your planning for the upcoming season and how you can begin preparing to have your best season yet.Show Notes:• Lack of vision• Defining the win• Reverse engineering weekly and monthly plans• Role clarity for staff• Humility, empower, train & delegate• Building culture• TJ's experience at Emmanuel• Creating a culture plan• Sharpening the axeInterested PGC Coaching Tracks? - Click here: https://coach.pgcbasketball.com/tracks/Send us a Message.

This week Sam shares Coach Pat Summitt's Definite Dozen as the team discusses leadership principles that have withstood the test of time and how coaches can apply them to their teams.Show Notes:1. Respect Yourself and Others2. Take Full Responsibility3. Develop and Demonstrate Loyalty4. Learn to be a Great Communicator5. Discipline Yourself so No One Else Has To6. Make Hard Work Your Passion7. Don’t Just Work Hard, Work Smart8. Put the Team Before Yourself9. Make Winning an Attitude10. Be a Competitor11. Change is a Must12. Handle Success Like You Handle FailureSend us a Message.

This week we discuss our topic comes to us from a question posed by one of our listeners as we discuss what it takes to incorporate new players into your team. When players leave and new players come in, how do you ensure that your culture as well as your systems and strategies are going to be the right for your current group? In this episode TJ and Sam share things you need to be aware of as you avoid growing complacent and seek to bring the best out of the group in front of you.Show Notes:• Intro: The Impact of Player Addition or Subtraction• Acclimating New Players while Maintaining Confidence and Roles• Starting from Ground Zero Each Season• The Interplay Between Culture and X's and O's • Adapting to Changes in Personnel for Long-Term SuccessSend us a Message.

This week our topic questions the behavior of basketball coaches on the sideline, simply, are we yelling too much as coaches? In this episode, TJ and Sam discuss the factors that lead to coaches yelling and if and when it’s necessary.Show Notes:• Introduction• Expectations of a coach• The best coaching happens in practice• Difference between passion, anger, and putting people down• Leadership and communication• Demanding high standards• Coaching effort and attitude• Urgency and context of a game• Teaching mistake reactions• Getting more out of 'kids these days'• Why NBA coaches don't yell• Coaching insecurities• Reacting to players and their response• When players tune you out• Striking the balance• Reflecting on your experienceSend us a Message.

This week, TJ and Sam are joined by Pastor Tracy Reynolds. With a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership, Pastor Tracy shares about the importance of second chair leadership, how not to get caught up in comparison or your next career move, and how you can thrive in your leadership role regardless of position.Show Notes:• Introduction• Why this book• Advantages of second chair leadership• Navigating disagreements as an assistant coach• When the grass isn't greener• Embracing where you're at• Synergy and collaboration in well-run organizations and teams• Where first and second chairs get it wrong• Final thoughtsSend us a Message.

This week, Coach Zak Boisvert from Saint Louis University with over 13 years of college coaching experience joins TJ and Sam to discuss building your offense, key elements of player development, along with some quick tips for defense and rebounding.Show Notes:• Building out your offense• Motion v. set play offense• Getting players to play to their strengths• Creating a malleable offense• Teaching basketball literacy• Small-sided games & asking questions• The role of the 4s and 5s in your offense• Learning from the Celtics• Be an expert on your personnel• The key elements of player development• Putting shooting in your practice plan• Diagnosing your defense• 5 areas you have to be good at on defense• Prioritize drilling or emphasizing rebounding• Tips for your coaching journeySend us a Message.

This week, TJ and Lisa discuss how to attack zone defenses with great habits, spacing, and screening, along with the types of sets you should have in your playbook, and the reminders that you'll want to give your team next time you see a zone defense.Offensive identity v. zone3s, rim shots, and counter movesAttacking the paintScouting your opponent's zone defenseDisrupting rotations with screensPlayer roles & limiting optionsZone habits & remindersMaintaining flowRunning sets v. zoneTiming and paceQuick-fire zone tipsHunting layupsRole identificationSend us a Message.

Dick DeVenzio, founder of PGC Basketball, wrote a book titled Think Like a Champion. And in that book is chapter titled, "Teammates You Don't Like." This week TJ and Sam discuss that chapter and the insights DeVenzio shares that could be a game-changer for your players individually and as a group next season.Send us a Message.

This week we’re joined by Matt Phillips from Pro Athlete Advantage to talk about the secret to peak performance, mental toughness. In this episode Matt defines mental toughness and shares tried and true principles and practices we can put into action to help take our performance and leadership to the next level.> Sign up for the “Masters of the Game: Exclusive Interview Series with Athletic Titans” at www.proathleteadvantage.com/newsletter>> If you are a coach interested in teaching your athletes the mental side, join us by going to www.proathleteadvantage.com>>> Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive interviews and training at http://www.youtube.com/@ProAthleteAdvantageShow Notes:• Defining Mental Toughness - Confidence, Focus, Emotional Control, Energy, Consistent Intentional Action• Fake it 'til you make it?• Compete don't compare• Why and How of Confidence Building• Asking quality questions• Taking ownership and accelerating your growth• Developing emotional control• Pr

This week we’re discussing how intensity can be your team’s separator next season. In a sports culture where players are playing so many games and rewarded for individual performances over team wins, TJ and Sam discuss how you can bring intensity, energy, and effort to life in your programs.Show Notes:Intro TopicTimberwolves & Anthony EdwardsAchieving something specialCompeting on the defensive end"I don't coach effort & attitude"Gaining skill with intensity without overtrainingPractice goals and designMore games & social media influencesIntensity and toughness"Never stop playing hard - Never stop talking"Udonis Haslem storyGiving your team an edgeFun to coachWinning players make winning playsDon't cheat it and stay hungrySend us a Message.

This week TJ and Sam discuss how coaches strike a balance between creating an intense hard-working and competitive environment with ensuring your players are enjoying their experience invested in the team.Show Notes:• Creating the right environment for skill acquisition• Being aware of the player experience• Can it be competitive, hard-working, and fun?• Goal of a coach• Getting your team invested in the team• The importance of teaching• Role of running as conditioning• Coach personality• Fighting to strike a balance• Gamify• Identifying the skills you need• Creating opportunity for discovery• Appropriate amount of challenge• Intentional joy - creating a feeling of accomplishment• Building in celebrationSend us a Message.

This week on the Hardwood Hustle we’re joined by Coach Matthew Smith from Washington State to discuss analytics, propelling your coaching career and what we can learn from pickup basketball.Finding a mentorOpportunities to growLittle things that make you invaluableUtilizing analyticsDo what others won'tTeach betterPickup basketballSend us a Message.

It's easy to go through the off-season just checking boxes... Ball handling drills, check. Passing drills, check. Shooting drills, check. But to ensure your individual players are actually improving, take a more intentional approach and hone on theirs and your biggest return on investment.Show Notes:• Universal Fundamental skills approach v. Individual approach• SICC Approach|• Current v. Next Level & Developing a specialty• Factors: Time, System, & Long Term Development• Summer Practice Approach• Alignment in Developmental System• Game experience v. Reps in practice• Spend time on strengths v. weaknesses• The difference between players today• 2 ft. vs. 1 ft. Finishing & Passing• Valuing: Decision-Making, Shooting, Effort, Being a Good Teammate• Developing smarter more athletic players• 32-Minute Workout• Creating 7-Day Challenges• Avoiding checkbox workoutsSend us a Message.

This week TJ and Sam discuss what makes offensive actions work including how to utilize different types of screens, combining actions together, personnel implications and how you might steal actions from other teams based on what’s hard to guard.Show Notes:• Flare Screens• Back Screens• Ball Screens• Combo & Iso Actions• 2-Man Actions• What's Hard to Guard & Small-Sided GamesSend us a Message.

This week we’re joined by NBA Shooting Coach, Dave Love to discuss the most important aspects and essential  teaching points of developing better shooters and even fixing broken shots.Show Notes:Positive & Negative EnergyBuilding a BaseFoundational FootworkThe 'One Thing' to CoachArch & Set PointImproving Youth DevelopmentHow the Greats Got ThereFixing Broken ShotsKnowledge of Process v. ResultsCoaching the Mental GameAbout Coach Dave Love:For the past 18 years, Dave has coached players of all levels to improve their shooting, through a series of systematic drills & skill progressions. His skills in developing shooters has brought him to the NBA where he continues to work with some of the greatest players in the league. Dave has been featured in: NBA.com, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher Report, ESPN, SBNATION, and The Guardian for his unique and noteworthy ability to improve a player’s shooting ability.Follow on twitter: @CoachDaveLoveWebsite: https://www.coachdavelove.com/Send us a Message

Iowa women’s basketball just made another run to the National Championship Game, and did you know they run the Read & React offense? This week, Rick Torbett from Better Basketball joins TJ and Sam to discuss what makes for good offense and how Iowa’s system has set Caitlin Clark and her teammates up for success.Free Read & React Master Class: https://betterbasketball.com/read-and-react-on-demand/Website: https://betterbasketball.com/Show Notes:• What is the Read & React allowing Iowa Women's Basketball to do?• Favorite Action in the Read & React• Observations from Iowa WBB practices• Player Development with Read & React• Signs of Good Offense• What if you don't have a Caitlin Clark?• Finding extra opportunities for your best players and your offense• Running sets within the Read & React• Simple actions, principles, and Circle Movement• Feeding the post• FAFSA Offense• Coaches wanting either freedom or controlSend us a Message.

On the other side of a breakdown is a breakthrough and this week, PGC President, Mano Watsa joins the show to share how having courageous conversations can transform your program by building more trust and ensuring more growth.Send us a Message.

There can be a lot of mixed emotions when the basketball season finally comes to an end. In this week’s episode, TJ shares personal reflections on his season at Emmanuel as he discusses with Sam how coaches can properly reflect and evaluate where they’re at and where they need to be.  Show Notes:Emotions After the SeasonDifferent Perspectives & Reflections on the SeasonRealizations and RegretsThe Unique Nature of CoachingThe Importance of Grounding and PerspectivePlayer Reflections and GratitudeReflecting with Staff and PlayersWhen to do Player Exit InterviewsChanges in Perspective Over TimePreparing for the End of the SeasonResetting and Closing the Book on the SeasonWhere Coaches Put Their WorthThe Importance of ResettingFinal Thoughts Send us a Message.

This week, TJ and Sam discuss how coaches show up as leaders. Consistency matters, but so does the ability to see a need and fill a need for your team. Whether it’s knowing when to be demanding, supportive, empathetic, or inspirational, in this episode we discuss the importance of understanding and growing in your role as a coach.Send us a Message.