PART XX - The Secret of Longevity - The Mirror.
"The Mirror", to me in basketball terms, is the goal of having each of my teams take on certain parts of my personality as well the hope that at the end of each day I can look at myself in the mirror and know that I gave my best to everyone that I crossed paths with.
I have said it before that teams do take on certain parts of a coach's personality as the season progresses. The hope is, as a coach, that:
I also am very conscious of trying to make each interaction during the day a positive one for the person or people I meet; during basketball season it's my players almost everyday.
Your Personality:
It's said that in those tough moments, your true colors and your habits are revealed. Every practice I try to make our practices as challenging as possible, especially early on in the season, because I know (most of) my teams want to win. By putting them through the challenges and then walking them through their mistakes, they'll feel as prepared as possible for those tough moments that are sure to come when we get into the playoffs. When they are prepared they are calm; the moment then doesn't get too big for them.
This is a daily chore, but one that works. I can tell early on if we have a group that has that reflecting characteristic or not.
Hopefully the example I am trying to be conscious of setting each day is working not just for the season at hand, but something they can take with them the rest of their lives. Getting to places not just on time, but early. Giving my best on days that I am not at my best. Learning from my mistakes. Challenging myself to be a little better today than I was yesterday. These things aren't hard to do, but it does take a little bit of self-awareness to remember that this is not all about me. There are eyes and ears watching and listening to everything I do all the time.
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With the roller coaster of a season and life, we all know, or at least the hope is that not everything is going to go the way we planned. Things happen. I can't lose my mind when things don't go our way or when something that is 100% out of my control throws off what is scheduled. Things happen.
That's life. I have, as stated before, one shot at helping young folks out. In some cases that opportunity to help is for one year, maybe two. Sometimes, if I am lucky, it is for more than that. I have to remember and teach to my players that the things that happen in basketball, and sports for that manner, is simply life reflecting.
At The End Of The Day:
Can I look myself in the mirror and know that I honestly gave my best and tried to make someone better? You can't save them all. You can try and trying is great and honorable, but you just aren't going to win every battle. If you try to correct a behavior going wrong, you can rest easy. If you take the time to listen to an issue and then, if asked, offer some advice, then you can rest easy. If you take your time and help someone just be better or, heck, just smile and say hello or life a hand to acknowledge someone that's a good thing.
There's a lot that goes into trying to be the best you can be each day. Some days you honestly feel like just walking away. Some days you feel no one really cares. Some days you feel like you aren't really making a difference at all and you're just wasting time.
Remember, someone is paying attention and also remember, the only person you need approval from at the end of the day is the person staring back at you in the mirror.
Yours For Better Basketball Always,
Brian / Coach Robinsonthe