Today I felt I should, for some reason, rekindle the flame of writing I've been denying for years. This is the year 2010, and my 25th year that I have been involved in the sport of basketball. I've seen it from different angles, as a player for the first part of my life, a coach briefly, a public address announcer, a play-by-play radio announcer, a game-day operations manager, a media director and finally as a referee. My experience is unique, to say the least. I see things from a very different perspective than anyone I know involved in basketball. It makes me feel very alone sometimes.
The connection I have learned to have with players on a court is something I'm not sure can actually be taught. I think most people have a skill set that is unique to themselves and only them, they say you either have it or you do not. I watch plays develop, I watch match-ups between players, I talk people out of silly plays or I encourage players to take it to someone. I've always had success connecting with players and most coaches, the latter is the hardest to do.
Coaches are a strange phenomenon to me, an enigma of sorts. One observation I believe to be true I entitle "the calm coach phenomenon" which I believe is THE best way to conduct yourself as a coach. Simply stated, a coach who has practiced all week or whatever length of time before a game, must guide their players in a direction but with a kind hand. To yell at your players, to scream and carry on like a child towards players does not convey to anyone in a gym that you TRUST your players to carry out your plans or orders. It has been my view through my experience that players respond much more positively to positive reinforcement. This is nothing new to anyone, or at least it should not be, just look at the foremost example of a calm coach....Phil Jackson. I am not a Lakers fan, but I am a fan of the philosophy of Mr. Jackson. I've never read his books or ever met the gentleman, but from the demeanor he exhibits on a sideline, as an official I can understand why his teams over the years have performed to such great heights.
The "CALM COACH" does not get upset over a "bad call" by an official or a "broken play" by his players, they are simply focused on the end goal. The "CALM COACH" is a quiet influence within every aspect of the game and gains the respect and confidence of his players and even the referees assigned to the game. Bobby Knight is a great example of how NOT to be, he is the antithesis to the "CALM COACH," Mr. Knight is what I call the "ANGRY COACH." He tries to CONTROL every aspect of a game with his rage, the simple fact that he has never ascended to a professional level in basketball speaks volumes to this fact. To quote Buddha, "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."
A calm coach sends their troops into battle, confident in their abilities to carry out orders and reach the end goal. The angry coach sends their troops into battle unprepared, constantly seeking their coach's approval and never learning or growing as a player because of this fact. Isiah Thomas was a GREAT player, but he never reached his full potential under Knight at Indiana, not until he was coached by the late Chuck Daly in Detroit. Daly was a calm coach who helped his players learn faith in their abilities, the same thing Jackson does. Knight seems to have never learned this, and from my observations it is due to his lack of faith in himself. I believe all coaches can learn from these extreme examples between Phil Jackson and Bobby Knight, when it comes to dealing with referees or even your players, I know which way will win. Let me leave it with another quote from Buddha, "In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves."
Something to think about, I hope.
~David
