Coaching Management 17.6

Coaching Management VOL. XVII NO. 6

BASKETBALL

PRESEASON

EDITION ■ ■

Game Changer Utilizing the three-point shot

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$7.00

2009

Improving Vertical Leap New Ideas In Recruiting

Circle No. 100

CONTENTS

Coaching Management Basketball Edition Preseason 2009 Vol. XVII, No. 6

LOCKER ROOM

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Twitter takes the game by storm …

Player gives coaching a try … Shattered backboard impacts season …

Florida Gulf Coast University on the rise.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Bob Burchard, Head Men’s Coach at Columbia College, discusses his coaching philosophy and the dynamics of competing at the NAIA level.

COVER PHOTO: UM Athletic MEDIA RELATIONs

On the cover: University of Michigan guard Stu Douglass fires from deep against the University of Iowa last season. At Michigan, the three-point shot is a big part of Head Men’s Coach John Beilein’s offensive strategy. Story begins on page 14.

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COVER STORY

Game Changer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Nothing swings momentum like a timely three-pointer. Teaching players when and how to take advantage of their long-range abilities can give your team a decisive advantage.

reCRUIting

In Their Dreams

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How do you make high school prospects picture you in their future plans?

By being a great salesperson.

Strength & Conditioning

Reaching New Heights

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Building the strength needed to improve vertical leap will do more than help your players jump higher. It will also make them better overall athletes.

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Basketball Court Equipment . . . . . . . . . 34 Coaching Aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 New Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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team Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Strength & Fitness equipment . . . . . . . 41 Overtime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Publisher Mark Goldberg Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editors Dennis Read, Greg Scholand Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson, Kenny Berkowitz, Abigail Funk, Kyle Garratt, Mike Phelps

Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano Business Manager Pennie Small Art Director Pamela Crawford Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

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The Coaching Management Basketball edition is pub­ lished in August and March by MAG, Inc. and is distributed free to college and high school coaches in the United States and Canada. Copyright © 2009

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Coaches Are All A-Twitter

tweets and are in a lighthearted battle to see who can get the most followers.

Perry Hunter, Head Boys’ Coach at Henryville (Ind.) High School, likes to keep up with technology. He often communicates with his players via text message, regularly sends out an e-mail newsletter to alumni and fans, and maintains a Web page for his team.

When he first heard about Twitter, though, he was not overly impressed.

Why would coaches be interested in the latest Internet sensation? Some see Twitter as a valuable recruiting tool. Others think it’s a great way to maintain contact with players during the off-season or to stay in touch with alumni and fans.

“Then I found out (Indiana University Head Men’s Coach) Tom Crean was on Twitter, so I started following him,” Hunter says. “I like the things he posts. There’s a lot of motivational information and not too many of the ‘I’m going out to lunch now,’ statements like you see from some users. So I decided to see how I could get more out of it.”

Twitter calls for users to post short messages (140 characters or less) answering the question, “What are you doing?” The messages, called tweets, are posted on the sender’s Twitter page and sent to other users who have signed up to “follow” them.

Tweets, which often contain links to Web pages or pictures, can be posted and read from either mobile devices like cell phones or on the Web at: Twitter.com. Users can also send direct messages to specific followers or allow only approved followers to view their posts.

Although sometimes derided as a place where people post minutiae of their everyday lives, the service, which was created in 2006, has spread like wildfire among coaches as people in athletics have found ways to make it useful.

Among those joining the Twitter frenzy are Crean and John Calipari, Head Men’s Coach at the University of Kentucky.

Both have received a lot of media attention for their

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“I occasionally want to remind our players during the off-season that I am still their basketball coach,” Hunter says. “And I can use Twitter to do that with one message instead of sending out separate messages to everyone.”

Matt Bowen, Head Men’s Coach at Bemidji State University, plans to use Twitter as a way to keep fans up to date. “We’re in a small town in northern Minnesota and we get some decent media coverage, but I see Twitter as way we can create more of a basketball atmosphere here,” he says. “When we travel, I’ll be able to post links to pictures of us on the road, relay how the pregame shootaround went, or even how the bus trip is going. It can give our fans and alumni a little better insight into what we’re doing throughout the season.”

Beyond generating attention for his team, Bowen also sees great potential in Twitter as a professional development and networking tool. He’s following several people who regularly post coaching-related information, including Calipari, NBA coach Eric Musselman, and USC Head Football Coach Pete Carroll.

University of Kentucky Head Men’s Coach John Calipari and Indiana University Head Men’s Coach Tom Crean are engaged in a friendly contest to see who can get more followers on Twitter, the newest social networking sensation.

Here are the Twitter user names for coaches mentioned in this story. To view their posts, go to: twitter.com/ followed by the user name.

Matt Bowen, Bemidji State University: CoachMattBowen John Calipari, University of Kentucky: UKCoachCalipari Pete Carroll, USC Head Football Coach: PeteCarroll Tom Crean, Indiana University: TomCrean Hoops Help (Australian basketball site): HoopsHelp Perry Hunter, Henryville (Ind.) High School: CoachHunterHHS

Bowen initially found people to follow through the site’s search feature. Now he looks at fellow followers of those he follows assuming there will be some shared interests there.

when I wake up to find about seven new posts from him.

Often, it’s a quick little quote or coaching tip from guys like Bill Self or Bob Knight. But back in April he had a link to notes from a clinic Al McGuire did back in the mid 70s.”

“That’s how I found this guy in Australia who I follow,” Bowen says. “I can always expect

Bowen doesn’t plan on making Twitter a focal point in

recruiting, in part because he’s not sure how long it will be allowed. So far, the NCAA has said that using Twitter is permitted as long as coaches do not violate general rules prohibiting comments about specific recruits. But the NCAA also allowed text messaging to recruits before ultimately banning it.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD “Twitter does have the potential to send direct messages to student-athletes and to sell yourself and your program,” Bowen says. “I know the NCAA is always looking into ways coaches can contact kids and how they’re going to benefit or hurt the student-athletes.”

For all its possibilities, Twitter is still in its infancy, and no one knows for sure where it will end up. In Hunter’s view, the true test of its usefulness is a matter of time. “A lot of coaches, especially high school coaches, are wary of something that will be too time consuming,” he says. “If this takes up too much of my time, then I won’t deal with it. But if it ends up helping me be more efficient, then I will continue to use it, and I will tell everyone I know about it.” n

To sign up for a Twitter account, go to: Twitter.com.

n

To search for postings, or “tweets,” on specific subjects, go to: search.twitter.com.

was one of the more frustrating things I’ve experienced because I saw it, but couldn’t get the players on the floor to react in time,” says Wallis, who was the team’s starting point guard prior to his injury.

“But that’s what coaches go through every game. That’s when I realized what it was like to be in their shoes.”

Having traded his high tops in for dress shoes, Wallis watched as Washington blew

out Amherst and captured the program’s first national title.

In scouting Amherst, Wallis attended its semifinal game and broke down film from six regular season games.

He also diagrammed plays and made personnel suggestions. Wallis admits being nervous about the assignment, but Head Coach Mark Edwards never had any doubts Wallis would handle his new responsibilities like a seasoned vet.

“Once we knew he wasn’t going to be able to play, there was a mutual understanding that we would try to keep him involved,” Edwards says. “I said, ‘Why don’t you help us out as a student assistant?’

He jumped at the opportunity and was an excellent resource.”

Wallis spent much of his time grooming the players who replaced him at the point.

“As a point guard, Sean was

Walking In a Coach’s Shoes During the 2008 NCAA Division III national championship game against Amherst University, Washington University junior Sean Wallis recognized the opposition’s play call and alerted his teammates to an upcoming backdoor cut.

Despite his foresight, Amherst beat the Bears on the play for a layup and Wallis felt an emotion completely new to him—frustration only a coach can know.

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Last season, Sean Wallis ran the point for the Washington University men’s team during its second consecutive NCAA Division III national championship run. Two years ago, Wallis injured his knee and helped lead the team as an assistant coach. He says his stint as a coach has made him a better player.

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MICHAEL HUDSON PHOTOGRAPHY

Wallis read the play because he scouted Amherst as an assistant coach, a position he assumed after suffering a season-ending broken leg and torn knee ligament three games into the 2007-08 campaign. “That backdoor play

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD a coach on the floor so it was logical he could give us input and help improve the execution of our system,” says Edwards. “He was sensitive

great rapport with the players,” Edwards continues. “As a team captain, they already had a great amount of respect for him. The big thing was

he was running an offense to involve his teammates,” says Edwards. “I think a lot of that came from the fact that he was able to observe how offenses are constructed.”

cial for me,” he says. “There’s a different elation when you know it’s your gameplan as opposed to your play that really contributed to the team’s success. The two titles felt different, but both were great.”

Wallis says his time as a coach helped him appreciate the value of each possession.

Last season, Wallis’s assist to turnover ratio improved to 3.0 from 1.9 in 2006-07. But more impressive than his stats was his leadership in helping the Bears successfully defend their national championship.

Wallis received a medical redshirt after missing most of 2007-08 and will return to the hardwood next season as a fifth-year senior. Edwards recognizes that Wallis was particularly well-suited to coach, but notes that any player in a similar situation can be given the tools to contribute.

“The key to making that transition work is being sensitive to the kid’s attributes. Whether they are a good teacher, a good motivator, or an astute observer, you pick out their strong attributes and figure out how to integrate them into your program.” to the challenges the players face on the floor, not just what should work or looks good on paper. Sean knows what makes plays successful, and I thought that was very important in designing our system.

“And of course, he had a

teaching Sean to look at the game as a puzzle and see all the pieces.”

When Wallis returned to the court for the 2008-09 season, Edwards noticed a change in his play. “Instead of just running an offense to get a shot,

While Wallis says each title season had its own flavor, winning the first as a coach was not bittersweet. “Obviously I would have loved to be on the court, but that moment was still spe-

“The key to making that transition work is being sensitive to the kid’s attributes,” says Edwards. “Whether they are a good teacher, a good motivator, or an astute observer, you pick out their strong attributes and figure out how to integrate them into your program.”

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Florida Gulf Coast Rising Fast Seven years ago, the Florida Gulf Coast University women’s basketball team practiced outside on unlined courts and chain-link net hoops. Two years ago, FGCU became the first team to claim a Women’s National Invitational Tournament bid in its first year of NCAA Division I competition. Last season, the team earned its first vote for the Associated Press Division I Top 25 Poll and made a second consecutive trip to the WNIT. It has been a fast, successful, and unexpected transition that has seen the Eagles go from the NAIA to NCAA Division II, and now Division I. How did Head Coach Karl Smesko do it?

Florida Gulf Coast University Head Women’s Coach Karl Smesko led his team on a successful journey that has seen the Eagles transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, then to Division I. Last season, just FGCU’s second in Division I, they made a second consecutive Women’s National Invitational Tournament appearance.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD “When I first got here, I would never have dreamed that we could go from practicing on blacktop to beating the University of Florida and getting into the WNIT a second consecutive time,” says Smesko.

“Back then, I was consumed with figuring out where we were going to practice and who we could play. There was too much work to have time to dream about some of the things we have accomplished.”

FGCU captured the Atlantic Sun Conference regular season title last year with a team that returned only one starter.

Under Smesko, the Eagles have compiled a 180-34 record and in 2007, they played in the Division II national championship game—the only contest FGCU lost that season. The team will not be eligible for Division I tournament play for two more years.

A big reason for the team’s success is Smesko’s ability to incorporate players other teams overlook. With few athletes taller than six feet, FGCU runs a motion offense light on set plays, and heavy on screens and three-point shots, and Smesko’s teams typically feature players who can all dribble, shoot, and pass.

“We try to play to the strengths of the talent we have,” says Smesko. “It’s not easy for us to get 6-foot-4 players, so we do a lot with the players who are overlooked or would be classified as tweeners—maybe too slow for one position or not big enough for another. We play an up-tempo style where a variety of players can succeed.”

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Coaching Management

Last year’s early-season win over Florida, which finished the season ranked 23rd in the final AP poll, helped build credibility and a fan base—two important tools for recruiting, the task Smesko says has been the most challenging since joining Division I. “At the Division II level we would only sign one or two players early and feel okay knowing we could still get quality players late in the school year,” he says. “At this level, there are not as many opportunities to get really good players late in the process. Division I teams force kids to make decisions earlier than our coaching staff was used to.

On the Fort Belknap Reservation, where the players live, basketball is a very big deal.

The 2008-09 season was supposed to be a rebuilding year, so it came as a surprise when the Wildcats finished second in their district while handing the champs their only district loss of the season.

After taking second place at their district tournament, the Wildcats arrived in Cut Bank, Mont., on March 5, ready to

play Shelby High School in the first round of the Class B Northern Division playoffs.

That’s when Martin’s ill-timed slam dunk, minutes before the opening tipoff, upended Harlem’s season.

The Montana High School Association forbids dunking during warmups, and if a backboard is broken by a pregame dunk at a postseason tournament, the offending school automatically forfeits and

“The transition is definitely challenging,” he continues.

“But I’ve found that if you have been successful at a previous stop, it translates to the level you’re moving up to.

Just believe in your system, find the right players to fit it, and stick with it.”

Broken Backboard Shatters Dreams Last season, a pregame dunk

by Harlem (Mont.) High School star guard Isaiah Martin didn’t just shatter the backboard, it crippled his team’s chances of qualifying for the state championships and left Head Coach Harlan Mount to explain to his players why they had to forfeit the game. But instead of lamenting lost opportunity, Mount turned the bad news into a teachable moment.

“In my years of working with youths, I’ve always told them life can throw some wicked curves,” says Mount. “All you can do is pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward.”

A pregame dunk by a Harlem (Mont.) High School player shattered a backboard before the team’s first round Class B Northern Division playoff game. Having violated a Montana High School Association rule that forbids dunking during warmups, Harlem was forced to forfeit the game.

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RANDY PEREZ/great falls tribune

Smesko’s offense focuses on spreading the floor with athletic players who use their speed and shooting skills to overwhelm bigger, slower teams.

Last year, the Eagles led the Atlantic Sun in scoring, assists, scoring margin, and field-goal and three-point percentages.

“Another thing that’s helped is we’ve had really good chemistry and players who work hard and play well together,” says Smesko. “That’s helped us beat teams that may have more individual talent.”

is financially responsible for replacing the glass. In the 10 years since entering the rulebook, the penalty had never been applied, and Mount says it was not uncommon for players to dunk before games, even with officials present.

In fact, prior to earlier tournament games, players from other teams dunked in warmups, so when Wildcat players asked Mount for permission to do so, he granted it. But when Martin, a 5-foot-11-inch guard, thundered home a stuff that shattered the glass, there had to be consequences. Mount expected a technical foul—the penalty that would have been incurred during the regular season. Instead, tournament officials showed him the rulebook, explained their call, and awarded Shelby, the eventual state runner-up, a 2-0 win.

Returning to the locker room, Mount sat his players down for some straight talk. “I told them we forfeited the game, and no matter how harsh they thought the penalty was, the rule was written in black and white, and we needed to accept it,” says Mount, who directs the Native American Career and Technical Education Program at nearby Fort Belknap Community College.

“Isaiah felt really bad, and you could see the spirit drain out of our players. They were pretty disappointed, but growing up on the reservation, they’ve gotten used to handling adversity, and they were able to put it behind them.”

The forfeit sent Harlem into the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament, where it came back to defeat Poplar High School, 68-54.

The following day, the Wild-

cats lost to Cut Bank High School in overtime, ending their title hopes, 76-73.

wrote an $859 check to pay for a new backboard.

It was a hard lesson for the team—and for Mount, whose contract wasn’t renewed for the 2009-10 season—but

“The lesson I drew for my kids is to do the best they can, no matter what happens,” says Mount. “These kids don’t have much to look forward

“No matter how harsh they thought the penalty was, the rule was written in black and white, and we needed to accept it ... They’ve gotten used to handling adversity, and they were able to put it behind them.” that wasn’t the end of the story. After reading about the incident on the Internet, the president of Pizza Hut sent chocolate dunkers for the whole school, and a sympathetic Texas businessman

to—the poverty here is outlandish, and there’s about 60 percent unemployment. So we use basketball to teach them about life, and if I’ve helped them believe in themselves, then I’ve done my job.”

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Circle No. 107

Q&A

Bob Burchard

Columbia College

The Columbia College men’s team opened the 2008-09 season with five straight wins, beating opponents by a total of 125 points. But by midseason, its record dipped to 13-6 and Head Coach and Athletic Director Bob Burchard decided the team needed a change. He divided his squad into two separate units, which platooned in and out of games every five minutes.

It was a huge gamble with a sizable payoff. The Cougars won 10 of their next 11 regular season games and captured the American Midwest Conference Tournament title. Columbia, which entered the NAIA Division I Tournament ranked 19th, then toppled four

CM: Describe your re-tooled lineup.

Burchard: We had a five-man blue team, a five-man white team, and one player who took the court whenever someone got into foul trouble. We subbed five for five, rotating every five minutes.

The blue team was more athletic and would attack the basket quickly on every

For Burchard, who has posted a 531193 record in 21 seasons as Head Coach at Columbia, this year demonstrated the importance of involving every member of his team. In this interview, he talks about preparing for the national tournament, serving as NAIA representative for USA Men’s Basketball’s Collegiate Committee, and teaching student-athletes to “ride the wave.”

possession. That lineup featured an AllAmerican post player and a polished point guard who really controlled the game. The white team was more physical and more patient, typically passing the ball eight or nine times during a possession. One team applied pressure by attacking the basket and the other wore opponents down by making them guard us for long periods of time. The cumulative effect was very fatiguing for our opponents, who basically had to play against two different teams in the same game.

What does it take to make a system like this work?

You need mature, unselfish players because you’re asking your best athletes to give up playing time. We had an All-American, Christian Lewis, and early in the season, I wanted to give him as much playing time as I could, but it was wearing on him. Once we reduced his on-court time, he began playing at a higher level, and his stats suddenly improved. Instead of playing 30 minutes, he logged 23 or 24, but he was playing more efficiently. That became true for everybody.

Why did you shake up your rotation?

Early in the season, when we used a more traditional rotation, we were asking a few players to carry too much weight. To get to the tournament, we needed to rely on our entire team, and this platoon system forced us to do that.

Did this strategy improve team morale?

Basketball is 100-percent a team sport.

Whether you’re using this substitution pattern or another one, if you can find a way to give everyone on your team a job, they’re going to play at a higher level.

It’s human nature—people want to feel valued.

Columbia College’s Christian Lewis boxes out during the 2009 NAIA Men’s Division I National Championship game. Head Coach Bob Burchard and the Cougars had a dramatic midseason turnaround last year.

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opponents in five days before losing to Rocky Mountain College in the national championship game.

The guys on the floor knew they were coming out after five minutes, which really upped their play because they didn’t have to conserve energy. Meanwhile, the five players waiting on the bench knew they were about to rotate back in, which kept them engaged in the action.

There were no substitutions for errors—we were committed to the plan, which helped players fight through the tough parts of games.

It reminds me of my first job coaching junior high school girls’ basketball. Before the season, we had a huge discussion about what color sneakers we were going to buy. We chose $20 purple Chuck Taylors, and after our first game, a parent came up to talk to me. I thought she was going to congratulate me on the win, but the first words out of her mouth were, “Coach, I paid good money for my daughter’s shoes and I expect her to get on the court and use them.”

That’s when I realized I needed to find her daughter a job and convince her she was the best person for that job. So I turned her into a defensive stopper, and she became the best defender we had. She had an identity, and she loved it. Every-

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one says they want to win, but more than that, everyone wants to know they’re bringing something to the team.

How did you come up with the slogan “Ride the wave?”

When we got to our conference tournament, we were a bubble team on the verge of being eliminated from national

on CBS College Sports, and it was the first time we had to deal with television timeouts, which really threw our platoon system out of whack. Before, we subbed every five or five-and-a-half minutes, not four, which is when the TV timeouts occurred. A lot of our strength was due to the momentum generated by our rotation and the fatigue it caused our

“I told them to ride the wave as long as we could. That became our rally cry for the rest of the year, and the guys became more relaxed as the postseason progressed ...

We got on top of that wave and rode it to the national championship game.” tournament consideration. In our firstround matchup, Williams Baptist College had the last shot of the game, and the ball went as far down as possible before spinning out of the hoop. If that shot had gone in, it would have ended our season.

Instead, we won by one point, and sitting in the locker room after the game, our guys were shell-shocked by their good fortune.

I was amazed to see the effect on the team. So I told them about surfing. I said, “If you ever watch surfers, you’ll see them sitting on their boards for a long time, watching the waves come and go. When the surfers finally see a wave they like, they paddle like crazy to catch it. They may disappear under the curl, but if they don’t fall, they’ll pop out the other side, riding the wave of their life.” And that’s what happened to us.

We’d been paddling like crazy to catch that wave, and in the game against Williams Baptist, we disappeared for a bit.

But we popped up again, and I told them to ride the wave as long as we could.

That was our rally cry for the rest of the year, and the guys became more relaxed as the postseason progressed.

In the conference semifinals, we played an amazing game against the thirdseeded team. Then in the final, we had a great performance against McKendree University, who had beaten us seven straight times. We got on top of that wave and rode it to the national championship game.

What happened in the national title game?

Going into the final, I was interested to see how television coverage was going to affect us. The game was broadcast

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opponents. The extra timeouts eliminated the fatigue factor.

Also, Rocky Mountain was really good.

They’re a big, physical team with a very quick point guard, an NCAA Division I transfer on the wing who shot the ball well, and a strong center who had 24 points and 20 rebounds against us. We never found an answer for him, and he got our best defender in early foul trouble.

The NAIA bills its championship as “college basketball’s toughest tournament.” Is that accurate?

No question about it. The games go very quickly, and if your top guys are out of sync, you can be out of the tournament before you even know it. Plus, the NAIA plays eight games on one floor, so they shorten the downtime during the games leading up to the championship contest.

They only give teams eight minutes of warmup on the floor before the game starts, and they cut halftime from 15 to 10 minutes.

In the NAIA, we don’t have the ability to scout teams on television like coaches do in NCAA Division I, so preparation time is compressed. It’s a grueling, exhausting affair—we played five games in six days.

Are there misconceptions people have about coaching in the NAIA? A lot of people only identify with the NCAA, but the level of competition in the NAIA is amazing. The question we get most often from recruits is, “Who do you compare to?” I tell them NAIA Division I is very similar to NCAA Division II, and they’re usually surprised to hear that NAIA Division I basketball schools are allowed to hand out more athletic scholarships than NCAA Division II. If you get

to the national tournament, you’re going to see a level of play that is very high and very similar to the best NCAA Division II teams.

You’ve reached the national tournament 13 times in the last 15 years. What does that say about your program?

We’re so proud of that consistency. It revolves around two things: who we recruit and how we approach the game.

Wins and losses are just single events.

What’s really going to determine success is who we are, how we treat one another, and how we work together. That’s what the coaching staff tells our players, and we recruit student-athletes who take that philosophy to heart.

What is your relationship with USA Basketball?

In my first opportunity to serve with USA Basketball, I was a court coach, which means I went to the collegiate level trials and helped with player selection. In my second, which I just completed, I was on the Men’s Collegiate Committee, and we were responsible for selecting coaches for the collegiate events and choosing players for each team.

For me, every one of these events was like a coaching clinic with the best coaches in college basketball. I took a ton of notes. The greatest challenge was having to select teams at the highest level. We brought in 30 players to try out for each, and it’s a safe bet that none of them had ever been cut from a team before, so the selection process was very complex.

What’s the most important lesson you learned this season?

It takes a lot of hands to lift a heavy load.

For the rest of my career, I’ll be committed to fully utilizing everyone on the team.

We had an amazing ride, and we’ll remember it for the rest of our lives. We rode the wave, and now we’re picking up our board. But there’s going to be another wave, and we’ll just sit back until we’re ready to catch it and ride it for all it’s worth.

Free E-mail Newsletter To sign up for Tools of the Trade, our weekly e-newsletter offering news items relevant to coaches and athletic administrators nationwide, go to: lists.MomentumMedia.com.

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BY MIKE PHELPS

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Coaching Management

At Iowa State University, the weapon of choice for the women’s team is long range shooting. Last season, the Cyclones rode a wave of hot three-point shooting deep into the NCAA Division I Women’s Tournament, setting a singleseason school wins record along the way.

The team’s reliance on the three was never more evident than in its dramatic 69-68 win over Michigan State University in the Sweet 16, when the Cyclones buried two threes in the closing minute, capping an 8-0 run to finish the game. The victory cemented the team’s second-ever berth in the Tournament’s Elite Eight round.

Throughout the Tournament, Iowa State consistently scorched the nets from deep, knocking down at least 10 threepointers in each of its three victories, including 16 in a first-round win over East Tennessee State University, and 43 total, finishing just one shy of the NCAA Tournament record. For the season, the Cyclones finished sixth in the

nation in three-pointers made per game (8.1), draining a season-high 18 in a mid-December win over the University of Detroit Mercy.

“If the three-point shot is part of your repertoire, you’ll almost never feel like your team is out of a game,” says Bill Fennelly, Head Women’s Coach at Iowa State. “If your team is overmatched talent-wise or you have to find creative ways to stay in a game, and you can knock down 10 three-point shots and hold the other team to two, you’re up 24 points.

We use the three-pointer from a tactical standpoint to give us an advantage against teams that are more athletically talented.”

Since the NCAA officially adopted the three-point shot in 1986 and it was introduced at the high school level in 1987, it has become basketball’s great equalizer Mike Phelps is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: mp@MomentumMedia.com.

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COVER STORY

University of Michigan guard Stu Douglass fires from deep against the University of Iowa last season. At Michigan, the three-point shot is a big part of Head Men’s Coach John Beilein’s offensive strategy.

COVER STORY

by de-emphasizing the importance of size and athletic ability and opening up the game for players and teams whose strengths lie more in the technical skills associated with perimeter shooting. It has impacted how the game is played, causing the coaching community to reevaluate its approach to teaching both offense and defense and the match-up problems a team stacked with efficient three-point shooters can present.

As any coach who has had success from beyond the arc will attest, how you practice three-point shooting directly affects in-game results. Whether its during the flow of your offense, in an unsettled situation after an offensive rebound, as part of a break, or on a set play after a dead ball, there are handfuls of ways to find open looks for your players. The keys are creating offensive opportunities that free up three-point shooters, identifying highpercentage situations, and training your players to execute in optimal three-point shooting situations.

It Adds Up So what is the allure of the three-point shot? For some coaches, it comes down to simple mathematics. “Statistically speaking, it’s a pretty efficient way of scoring,” says Jim Mullins, Head Men’s Coach at Ithaca College, where the Bombers finished the season ranked 17th in the final 2008-09 D3hoops.com poll. “Shooting 33 percent from behind the arc is the equivalent of shooting 50 percent inside.

Obviously your goal is to shoot higher than that, but you really only need 33 percent to even things out.”

At Ithaca, adhering to that formula translated to on-court success this past season, as the team shot nearly twice as many threes as its opponents and collected 40 percent of its total points from behind the arc, while setting school records for victories (24) and points per game (88.4). And with nearly 10 made threes per game, the aptly named Bombers finished fifth in NCAA Division III in that category.

Bill Fennelly, Head Women’s Coach at Iowa State University, is, admittedly, a big numbers guy. So when he game plans to stop opposing three-point threats, he lives and dies with game film, scouting reports, and percentages.

“I tell my players that we’re going with the numbers and if they make it, they make it,” he says. “If the best threepoint shooter on the opposing team makes a shot, that’s my players’ fault. But if the worst three-point shooter makes one, it’s my fault. We’re going to let them shoot and defend that way.”

Duggar Baucom, Head Men’s Coach at the Virginia Military Institute, labels opposing shooters as either run-out players or walk-out players.

Run-out players are those he wants his team to closely contest on every shot, while walk-out players are the athletes who would rather put the ball on the floor and drive to the hoop, so Baucom wants to invite those players to shoot from deep.

“There are usually only a couple of run-out players on a team,” Baucom says. “We know who those guys are, based on their percentages, and we’ll close out on them very quickly and leave our feet to fly out and really con-

Mullins hasn’t always placed such an emphasis on the three, but felt the approach suited the smaller lineup Ithaca used this past season. The Bombers turned the perceived weakness into a strength, creating match up problems for bigger teams. “Early on, there may have been a perception that we wouldn’t be able to match up against bigger teams, but our philosophy was how are they going to match up against us?” Mullins says. “They might have to send a bigger, less mobile player out to cover one of our guards.”

As a result, Ithaca found most of its openings through the general flow of its high-tempo offense. “We emphasize one style of play at all times,” Mullins says.

“Push it up the floor, possibly penetrate and kick out or execute a dribble handoff. We try to spread the floor and open driving lanes, which allow our shooters open looks.”

At the University of Michigan, Head Men’s Coach John Beilein fills his lineup

test their shots. We’ll give a walk-out player a little more space and dare him to shoot a three-pointer, because we know he’s not comfortable from that range.”

At Ithaca College, Head Men’s Coach Jim Mullins takes that theory a step further, and when necessary, designates one defender on his team to shadow an opposing shooter who is extraordinarily dangerous from beyond the arc. “We tell our player not to leave that shooter under any circumstances,” Mullins says. “That defender has no help-side responsibilities. The basketball purists might say Ithaca’s help-side defense is in the toilet, but we’re doing it for a reason. We’re recognizing how that individual can hurt us and we don’t want him getting touches.”

At the high school level, Don Showalter, Head Boys’ Coach at Mid-Prairie High School in Wellman, Iowa, tries to make opposing shooters put the ball on the floor. “At our level, the three-point shot is more of a stand-and-shoot shot,” he says. “We close out and try to make them put it on the floor and move left or right. If our players have to come from a distance, we tell them to just run at the shooter with both hands up.

Anything you can do to disrupt the shooter, even a little bit, will help.”

LONG RANGE DEFENSE 16

Coaching Management

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with quality three-point shooters to create matchup nightmares for his opponents. For example, Beilein will identify one or two defenders on the opposing team who have problems covering the entire court. He then adjusts his lineup to create mismatches and take advantage of those players’ perimeter deficiencies to free his shooters for open three-point looks.

“They might be good post players, but they might not be adept at stepping outside and chasing a player around a couple of screens,” he says. “One of the biggest things we look for is who we can get open, and finding our best option.”

For Beilein, that doesn’t always mean playing a lineup of five guards. After all, his West Virginia University teams from 2003 to 2006 featured the longrange heroics of 6-foot-11-inch Kevin Pittsnogle. Despite a limited low-post repertoire, Pittsnogle found repeated success dragging opposing centers to the three-point line, and making them pay for their unfamiliarity and discomfort away from the basket.

“We recruit from a standpoint where ideally we’d like to have everybody able to make three-point shots and have to be guarded, because it takes away from a lot of help-side defense,” Beilein says.

“When I had Kevin Pittsnogle, that’s when I began to appreciate what having five shooters on the court can mean— especially if your big man is your best shooter.”

The Virginia Military Institute’s men’s team was the highest scoring squad in Division I this past season, with 44 percent of its points coming from three-pointers. Long range freedom is part of Head Coach Duggar Baucom’s philosophy of allowing his athletes to play freely. In developing his schemes, Baucom talks to his players about shooting in rhythm and within their range.

Because he wants his players comfortable on the court, Baucom knows he has to loosen the reins at times.

“I think a lot of coaches are very controlling,” he says. “I call them joy stick coaches because they like to control every movement. I’m the very opposite of that. We talk about it in detail during our drills, but when they’re out there playing, we want them relaxed and ready to pull the trigger from beyond the arc.

If the shots are going in, it’s a thing of beauty.”

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COVER STORY

When To Shoot Iowa State’s game winner against Michigan State, which came with fewer than 30 seconds to play, didn’t come off a set play, a screen, or even a driveand-kick situation—it was the result of an offensive rebound, one of Fennelly’s favorite times to shoot an open three.

“During a shot, the defense’s number one goal is to box out and get the rebound,” he says. “But if they don’t get the ball, often times they’re nowhere near the player they’re supposed to be guarding. When we collect an offensive rebound, we sprint to our transition spots outside the arc and get ready to shoot.

“When the defense is disorganized, you’re going to get some open looks,”

choose who’s making the pass, who’s setting the screen, and where we’re taking the shot from. The person in-bounding the ball has a clearer look at the floor than they would bringing the ball up in a half-court set.”

Fennelly also emphasizes taking the first available good shot, which is often a three-pointer early in the shot clock before the defense is set. “The key is to teach your post players to run the floor hard, go to the rim, and force the guards to follow them into the lane,” he says. “This will open up the skip pass or a screening situation for your outside shooters.”

Shooting three-pointers in transition can also open up additional offensive rebounding opportunities. “One of our

But even the scenarios that seem most ideal for shooting three-pointers should be tempered by specific time and score situations. For some teams, this change creates a significant twist on its philosophy, and coaches have to guard against taking their team out of its offensive rhythm.

West Liberty University led NCAA Division II in three-pointers per game last season, and has led the division in scoring in each of the last four years. So when Head Men’s Coach Jim Crutchfield decides to take the air out of the ball, he does it with caution.

“We’re a team that scores 100 points a game, so it’s tough to put the brakes on,” Crutchfield says. “We wait until it’s late in the game when we know we’re

“For some of our players, we have the second touch rule. If they receive the first pass and there are 25 seconds or more on the shot clock, they don’t get to shoot it. The second time they touch it, they can shoot it. For our better shooters, it’s any time, any place—if you’re open, shoot it. Offense is not equal opportunity for every player.”

Fennelly continues. “I don’t know if there’s a bigger play in the women’s game than a three-pointer off a rebound.”

If a defender is able to collapse on the shooter quickly, Fennelly tells his players to look for one more pass. “I instruct my team to be ready to shoot off of that first pass, but if someone is rushing out to guard you, look to pass around the perimeter, because there’s no way the defense can recover and guard two open players,” he says. “Your team might collect 10 to 15 offensive rebounds per game, and if you can get three to six points knocking home threepointers in those situations, it’s huge.”

Iowa State also likes to shoot threepointers on inbounds plays, as well as on the break. Fennelly equates dead ball situations to special teams plays in football. “I think teams often don’t defend inbounds plays with the same zeal or attention to detail they do on a normal half-court play,” he says. “So we spend an amazing amount of time working on them.

“We can put each player exactly where we want,” Fennelly continues. “We 18

Coaching Management

philosophies is to not only look for the long range shot off the break because you’re more likely to be open, but also because it provides better offensive rebounding position for our other players,” says Don Showalter, Head Boys’ Coach at Mid-Prairie High School in Wellman, Iowa, and Head Coach for the 2009-10 USA Basketball Men’s Developmental National Team. “Our bigs are moving full speed towards the basket, which makes them harder to box out.”

Like Fennelly, Showalter likes to use ball reversals and skip passes, especially in transition. His teams also utilize an inside-outside game to find looks within the bounds of their regular offense. “On a break, if we feel the defense is coming back into the lane, we’ll skip from one wing to the other wing, or to the baseline, and get open looks that way,” Showalter says. “And within the offense, if you have a decent post player, he’s going to draw attention. From the post, he can kick it out to the opposite wing or opposite baseline for a good threepoint look.”

only looking at four or five possessions.”

Even when West Liberty does slow down, that doesn’t mean it abandons the three-pointer. The Hilltoppers just wait a little longer before firing away. “I tell my team that we can usually get that same open three-point look later in the shot clock,” Crutchfield says. “We’re too good to not be able to get that shot with 10 seconds to go, rather than 30. I don’t think there’s anything more devastating to a team that’s behind than playing defense for 31 seconds and then having someone drain a three-pointer with no time on the shot clock. It’s the ultimate dagger.”

It’s also important to develop a pecking order of shooting options within your team. In many cases, this will work itself out over time as players learn who the most consistent three-point options are. But other times, a coach must step in and lay some ground rules.

“For some of our players, we have the second touch rule,” Fennelly says.

“If they receive the first pass and there are 25 seconds or more on the shot clock, they don’t get to shoot it. The CoachesNetwork.com

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Coaching Management

COVER STORY

second time they touch it, they can shoot it. For our better shooters, it’s any time, any place—if you’re open, shoot it. Offense is not equal opportunity for every player.�

Drilling Deep Successfully implementing the threepoint shot into your practice routine requires more than simply setting up a rack of balls beyond the three-point line and telling your players to fire away.

Instead, top coaches like Beilein believe it’s important to design drills that closely mimic game situations. “A lot of coaches tell their kids to go out and just shoot until they make 100

them to get comfortable with where they’re supposed to be during games and how they should be spaced out relative to their teammates. Baucom also likes to create intense competition in his three-point shooting drills and put his players under the type of pressure they may feel in a game. “We’ll split up into two teams and the first team to hit seven three-pointers wins,� Baucom says. “Then the losing team has to do extra running. The players can come down to the gym on their own time if they want to shoot relaxed, but everything we do in practice is competitive. Players build bad habits by just going out there and shooting relaxed all

“I’d rather have an open three-pointer from NBA range than a tightly guarded three from the college line. It’s important that when you shoot in practice, you shoot as much from deep as you do from directly behind the line.� three-pointers,� he says. “But did they take those shots at game speed? Did the pass come from a gun or rebounder standing underneath the basket? I like to think very few passes come from underneath the basket when you’re already squared and looking right at the ball. That’s an easy shot and you don’t get many of those in a game. “Most shots occur when you’re running away from the basket, with the pass coming from the top of the key or the wing,� Beilein continues. “You have to catch the ball, turn your hips, and get into your shot. We do more drills like that, always working at top speed.�

Beilein also has his shooters practice three-pointers from NBA range, because that’s where many of the available looks will be come game time. “I’d rather have an open three-pointer from NBA range than a tightly guarded three from the college line,� he says. “It’s important that when you shoot in practice, you shoot as much from deep as you do from directly behind the line.�

At VMI, Baucom also tries to make his shooting drills mirror game situations. Whenever the Keydets practice, they do it at full speed, which allows

the time. When we’re playing Kentucky and those 6-foot-9 guys are closing out on you, it’s anything but relaxing.�

At Iowa State, Fennelly also likes to turn his three-point shooting drills into incentive-laden challenges. His players shoot from various spots on the court, having to make a certain number at each before they move on, or see how many three-pointers they can make from one spot in 30 seconds. The Cyclones also use a lot of breakdown drills where, for example, they run just the back end of a certain play to simulate the shots that will be available during game situations. “Every three-point shot we take in practice is a shot our players will get in our offense,� Fennelly says. “All of our breakdown drills are reflective of our offense, which helps the players be more comfortable once they’re in a game.�

He also works with some of his more advanced players on developing simple one-on-one moves that can help the players free themselves for a good three-point look. “In the women’s game, there are not a lot of athletes who can catch, jump, and shoot it over top of defenders from beyond the three-point line,� Fennelly says. “So they’ll probably have to be wide CoachesNetwork.com

COVER STORY

open to get off a shot. We teach players to ball fake and take a slide dribble to the left or right to create space. We’ve worked hard on doing one penetrating dribble between the legs, stepping back, and shooting a three-pointer.”

Mullins and Showalter both use variations of an effective drill at Ithaca and Mid-Prairie, respectively. The Bombers employ a 55-second shooting drill, which utilizes three players—a rebounder, passer, and shooter—and two basketballs. Each player does one job at a time and they rotate every 55 seconds. “They should be able to get off a significant number of shots,” Mullins says. “We’ll do that drill from the right wing, to the top, then to the left wing, and if each guy takes 55 seconds, the entire drill only lasts nine minutes and they should be able to get off 60 to 75 shots each.”

Showalter also uses three players and two basketballs, but with an added twist.

In his drill, each player is in near-constant motion. After one player takes a shot, he gets his own rebound and passes the ball to a teammate stationed behind the three-point line. After making the pass, the player relocates to a different spot along the perimeter and awaits a pass from the third player, who just rebounded his own shot. “It’s a continuous, high-intensity shooting drill,” Showalter says. “The players learn to follow up after their own missed shots.”

Drills during practice should also help your shooters build confidence.

Sometimes that means slowing down the pace and getting back to basics. While Crutchfield agrees with his peers that the majority of shots in practice should be taken under game-like circumstances, he also sees the value in simply letting a player shoot stationary from the threepoint line.

“If a guy is struggling a little bit, we’ll put him behind the line and start feeding him,” he says. “If he makes six of 10 shots, it brings his confidence back up.

If you’re shooting stationary and you’re comfortable, all of our guys are going to be able to shoot 60 percent. I think it’s important to shoot confidently. If a player has a question mark in his head when he’s shooting the ball, he won’t shoot as well—or at all, and then he’s taken himself out of the offense.”

Line Of The Times Whenever Fennelly teaches shooting CoachesNetwork.com

at camps, he tells a joke about the three.

“That’s the shot that everybody wants to make,” he tells the crowd. “The shot is so exciting, even the officials throw their hands up in the air when one swishes through the net.”

Since its inception, the three-pointer has added a new element of excitement to the game for fans, players, and coaches alike. The long-range shot has become an integral part of the game at all levels, with many teams basing their

entire offenses around it, and defenses around stopping it.

VMI made nearly 14 three-pointers per contest last season, more than many teams attempted in a game when the line was first introduced. “That’s just mind boggling to me,” Baucom says.

“I’ve always been kind of enamored with the three-point shot, and now that we’ve transitioned to playing this way, it’s become our niche. I can’t imagine coaching without the three.” n

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Circle No. 113

RECRUITING

IN THEIR DREAMS

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CHRIS GASH

ne of the most challenging aspects of being a coach today is that you have to be good at so many different things. You need to be up to date on the latest training techniques, able to communicate well, organized, in tune with kids, and full of new ideas. If you’re a college

How do you make high school prospects picture you in their future plans? By being a great salesman.

BY Dan Tudor coach, you also need to be a first-rate salesperson.

A salesperson? Yes. To effectively recruit the student-athletes you want in your program, you must learn the art of selling.

Your first thought is probably, “No way! Sales is the last profession I’d enter.”

But I’m not talking about becoming the

pushy car salesman who sold you your Ford Focus. I’m talking about understanding how to sell a Cadillac to even a reluctant buyer.

You may not like to think of recruiting as selling, but it is. You are trying to convince a young person to choose your school over others. You are promoting yourself as a great coach and parent fig-

Dan Tudor is the founder of Selling for Coaches, a program designed to help coaches improve their recruiting, marketing, and communication skills.

He conducts personalized on-campus workshops for colleges across the country and can be reached at: www.SellingForCoaches.com.

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Coaching Management

23

RECRUITING

ure. If you don’t use effective sales techniques, you are entering the recruiting game without a game plan.

Buyer’s Market Business author and sales guru Jeffrey Gitomer has a saying: “People hate to be sold, but they love to buy.” That’s a great thing to remember when you’re recruiting student-athletes. Ask yourself this question: What is it you’re selling, and is that what they really want to “buy” from you?

A common answer to the first question is “a scholarship” or “my college” or “our program’s successful history.”

While those are all adequate answers (and answers most of your competition would give), they aren’t the best answers.

It’s a little like asking a car salesperson what they’re selling. If I heard them answer, “I’m selling a car” or “I sell Fords” I would guess that they’re a mediocre salesperson. On the other hand, professional, successful salespeople will answer the same question by saying, “I’m selling the dream of owning a new Ford

Mustang convertible” or “With gas prices going through the roof, I’m selling my customers on great-looking cars that get fantastic gas mileage, which saves them lots of money.”

As a college coach, you’re selling a lot more than a scholarship or a college.

You’re selling the dream of competing at the college level. Or the dream of having college paid for and getting a great start to a successful life. Or the dream of being wanted and appreciated for all of their hard work and sacrifices.

A key to signing recruits is finding out what your prospect’s dream is. If you can discover what they want to buy, you can offer it for sale.

When it comes to approaching individual prospects, I find that today’s college coaches tend to have one standard approach, which doesn’t vary much from athlete to athlete. But every recruit— just like every customer in the business world—is different. They have different needs and motivations. In sales, these are called “hot buttons”—the things that get a customer’s attention and cause them to

buy. Coaches who don’t take personalized approaches with athletes, and don’t take the time to understand why an athlete would choose their school, are probably going to be unsuccessful when it comes to consistent recruiting success.

Don’t get me wrong—you’ll still sign recruits. Probably even enough to fill your roster and be competitive year in and year out. However, you will never really understand why one athlete responds to your message and another doesn’t. And odds are, the one who doesn’t respond will be the one you really, really want.

Getting To Know Them For coaches to make the most of their time with a prospect (whether it’s an hour with an entire family or 10 minutes over the phone), they usually talk. A lot.

They talk about their college. Their team.

Themselves. They spew facts, figures, statistics, winning percentages, and more.

Going back to the car example, an average car salesperson would make the most of their time by quoting engine size, horsepower, stereo features, and on

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RECRUITING

and on and on. If I’ve jogged a memory or two of a past agonizing car buying experience, good. Remember how you felt? If you’re like me, you probably just wished the guy would stop talking long enough for you to look at the car.

Compare that to professional, successful car salespeople. They ask questions right off the bat. They spend time getting to know their customers—their needs, wants, and how the car is going to be used day to day. They then mold their sales approach to the customer.

Coaches who struggle at recruiting are often too busy rattling off facts and figures.

Instead, they should be doing more listening than talking. When I work one-on-one with coaches to help them develop winning recruiting strategies, I recommend they try to talk only 20 percent of the time when they are engaging a prospect over the phone or during a visit. (See “Best Questions” on page 26 for examples of how to get prospects talking.)

Of course, the questions shouldn’t only be for the prospect. Coaches actually need to make multiple sales pitches

when recruiting a player. Not only do you have to connect with the athlete, you have to connect with the athlete’s parents. Furthermore, you’re probably going to need to sell to the athlete’s high school coach, too.

Along with asking questions, you can get to know your prospect by looking for clues around them. The first thing good salespeople do when they walk into a new client’s office is take a mental inventory of the surroundings. They notice any pictures on the wall, whether the desk is messy or organized, and if a hobby is evident.

Connecting with a prospect may be as simple as noticing a picture and asking them about it. Or taking note of the trophy that sits prominently in the living room. But don’t just say, “Beautiful trophy.” Ask them about where and why they won it. What was the game like and how did their team perform?

Observing how the student-athlete

interacts with his family can also provide clues to help you tailor your approach, as can their economic situation. For example, a prospect with a single mom living in a two-room apartment will probably have a different motivation for deciding which

Connecting with a prospect may be as simple as taking note of the trophy in the living room. But don’t just say, “Beautiful trophy.” Ask them about where and why they won it. school to attend—and why—than a prospect living in a six-bedroom house.

Along with asking questions and noticing clues, you have to find out what the prospect’s hesitations might be. Every athlete has some objection to what you’re offering, from “I don’t think

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RECRUITING

you fast break enough,” to “Your school is too far away.”

If you don’t ask recruits what their reservations are, you’ll be clueless about why they don’t sign with you. If you do ask, you can address their concerns. Even if you can’t change the fact that your school is far away from their hometown, you can talk about how your team is a family itself and how your current athletes stay in touch with their families.

Think back to a prospect you lost to a competitor last year. Do you know why they didn’t sign with you? I do. You left an objection unanswered. Addressing nine out of 10 concerns isn’t good enough.

Every objection has to be answered, and you need your prospect’s assurance that

it has been answered well.

Asking questions and noticing their surroundings not only helps you build a personal sales approach, it tells the prospect you care about them. And the two need to constantly be intertwined.

In Your Court Even though you want to tailor your approach to each individual prospect and let them do most of the talking, that doesn’t mean you give up control of the recruiting/selling process. In fact, the opposite is true.

It’s important that as the coach, you guide the prospect through an orderly, planned, systematic process. That begins with getting to know each other, then

talking about why your program is best suited to their needs and goals.

You can also use what are called “trial close” techniques throughout the sales process. That means asking questions like, “When you sign with us, do you have any requests for a specific dorm or roommate?” Controlling the process means gently directing the conversation toward the outcome you desire.

A key to the whole formula, of course, is then “asking for the sale.” However, many coaches neglect to do this very simple thing. In my opinion, once you find an athlete who you know you want for your team, it’s never too early to ask if they are ready to commit to your program. If you’ve built trust, gained an

BE S T QU E S TIONS When trying to connect with a prospect, the more they tell you about themselves, the closer you get to really knowing how to recruit them. How do you get them talking? The key is asking open-ended questions that will provide more than a yes or no response. Here are some suggestions: What prompted you to consider our program?

How they answer allows you to find out what they’re thinking and why they’re thinking it. You can then use that information to further the recruiting process. It’s a great question to begin to understand their dreams, and can easily lead to lots of good follow-up questions. Listen to their answers carefully, and find ways to point out why their interest is justified.

What are your expectations of our program?

You’re looking for a “to-do” list here. From this question, prospects may tell you exactly how to recruit them, and exactly what would cause them to choose you as their college coach.

What thought process will you go through to determine how you’re going to choose a college?

What challenges does the recruiting process create for you and your family?

This is what I call a wildcard question. It might yield very little information, or you might get a wealth of insight into the family dynamics associated with the stressful recruiting process. It’s also a question that will frame you, the questioner, as someone who is concerned about the entire family.

What are the best parts of the recruiting process?

Their answer to this might be an important key in uncovering your prospect’s “hot buttons.” Once they tell you the best things about the process, make sure your recruiting efforts touch on those positive aspects.

What other items should we discuss?

You may have to press your prospect on this one, since they probably haven’t verbalized it to anyone before.

You’re trying to see who else is involved in the decision, how serious they are about assessing different options, and specific things they will be looking for in a program.

Let your prospects bring up anything that is on their mind. This is a great question to prompt them to talk about any concerns so that you can address them as soon as possible.

What are your thoughts right now in terms of where you want to continue your athletic career?

Make sure they give you specifics. Ask follow-up questions to their first answer. You can simply say, “And then what?” over and over again until you get to the real source of their decision—a school’s major, the coach, their parents’ input, their coach’s input, or even what kind of uniforms you have. The bottom line is that you’ll know what their decision rests on.

Okay, this one takes a little guts, but can yield a gold mine of information. It’s important to note that you aren’t asking them for a commitment. You’re just asking for their “thoughts” at that moment. That’s a big dif-

26

ference, and should give your prospect enough wiggle room to feel comfortable answering honestly.

Coaching Management

How will you make your final decision?

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RECRUITING

understanding of the athlete’s needs, and successfully addressed any objections, the next logical step is to ask for the sale.

You’ll be surprised how often and how early you get a positive response from your recruits.

One tactic that usually backfires, however, is using threats to get their commitment. When you say, “We’ll need you to give us a yes or no by Wednesday or the scholarship is off the table,” you’ve come on too strong for today’s athlete.

It’s also poor form to use further threats—or any negative response—if the prospect’s answer is, “No thanks.” I recently read an article that detailed the story of a very well-known sports program that black-balled a local high school coach when a prized recruit chose an outof-state school instead of the local university. All this did was build a bad name with people the college coach should be counting on for “sales leads.”

Instead, what if the coach sent a letter of congratulations to that athlete and their family (and high school coach), wishing them best of luck in the future

and thanking them for the chance to speak with them? That leaves the kind of impression that will help a coach have future sales success. Plus, if the athlete ever thinks of transferring to a different school down the road, the coach who congratulated them will be the one they remember.

Act like the professional you are, and lose with grace.

Good salespeople do it all the time. It will pay off for you later, and more than that, it’s the right thing to do.

genuine. Being “real” with a prospect is the key to connecting, and the best way to do that is to be aware of your own unique sales personality and how it is viewed by prospects.

Being “real” with a prospect is the key to connecting, and the best way to do that is to be aware of your own unique sales personality and how it is viewed by prospects.

Be Natural By now, I hope I’ve convinced you to embrace the strategies of the best salespeople in your recruiting game plan. But you may wonder: Can these ideas mesh with who I am? Definitely.

Coaches need a firm understanding of their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to recruiting, and must approach their prospects in a manner that seems

This approach is not about changing your style or your personality. It’s about recruiting that leads to the best results.

It’s about finding your own natural sales approach and letting it flourish. n A version of this article is appearing in other sport-specific editions of Coaching Management.

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Reaching new Heights Building the strength needed to improve vertical leap will do more than help your players jump higher. It will also make them better overall athletes.

W AP WIDE WORLD PHOTOS/SARA D. DAVIS

By Jeff Connors

hether it’s to soar above the rim to grab rebounds and dunk, elevate higher on jump shots, or to rise up and block an opponent’s shot, every player wants to increase his or her vertical jump. But athletes who have developed vertical power can actually do much more.

The rafter-scraping leaps that wow fans and make the covers of magazines are impressive, but they are just the icing on the cake. Developing vertical jump means an athlete has a powerful singleand double-leg triple extension, which is a vital component of many high-level athletic activities.

Effectively training this area will result in increased force application into the ground. As a result, the athlete also

University of North Carolina guard Rashanda McCants rises for a layup last season. A vertical jump training program has the Tar Heel women flying high.

CoachesNetwork.com

Jeff Connors is Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning at the University of North Carolina. He oversees the department’s entire strength and conditioning program and also works specifically with the women’s basketball and football teams. He can be reached at: jconnors@uncaa.unc.edu.

Coaching Management

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STRENGTH TRAINING

develops the ability to overcome inertia out of a static position, improve the acceleration and maximum velocity phases of a sprint, and increase leg driving power against resistance. Improvement in tests such as the broad jump, vertical jump, and linear acceleration will occur, but they are just the by-product of a comprehensive explosive strength-training program.

Foundational Strength The starting point for developing all these attributes is foundational strength.

Most programs employ traditional slow velocity multi-joint exercises to meet this objective. They might include the back squat, single-leg squat, step up, lunge, front squat, split squat, Romanian dead lift, and overhead squat.

In our program, we emphasize the back squat and back squat variations, barbell step ups, tri-planar lunges, and a number of exercises that target the hamstrings and glutes.

We also focus on strengthening the hip flexors and the remaining areas of the core.

Why is foundational strength so important? A reasonable number of studies have concluded that this particular type of strength development improves hip rotary power, as measured by vertical jump. Through years of experience, we have found that the back squat and back squat variations are key to foundational strength.

Even though most of our athletes were heavily recruited high school stars, it will take them at least a couple years to develop the foundational strength needed to affect vertical jump. Many college athletes played multiple sports in high school and were not involved in a consistent strength program that was intense or frequent enough.

Our goal is for each athlete to develop foundational strength to the point where we can work on more specific, intense plyometrics. But we never progress until the athlete is ready. For example, we had a football player who could not significantly improve his lower-body strength due to a number of injuries. But when he was able to complete a full year of training, he improved his back squat weight by 100 pounds. He also established a new

team record for linebackers with a vertical jump of 40 inches. The measurable improvement he demonstrated was due in part to being able to finally establish a foundation of strength.

Our Recipe The ingredients for building foundational strength in our program include the back squat as the primary movement.

The back squat has obvious specificity to rotary hip movement, and it works the major muscle groups that originate athletic movement. In addition, subtle changes in stance can conveniently target

Athletes with a few training years under their belts might spend the first year alternating their workouts on the second day between high velocity and hypertrophy.

Virtually all professional teams use the VERTEC to improve lower body power and jump reach.

different muscle groups—for example, the high bar squat is specifically executed out of a vertical jump stance. Finally, the squat is a great exercise for hypertrophy.

We use six-week training cycles in the off-season and three-week mini cycles in-season. Athletes perform five reps or fewer to target fast-twitch muscle recruitment, straining through heavy weight and striving toward a new max-effort triple once a week. Our second day is a maximum velocity training day using 55 to 76 percent of single-rep max with no more than three reps and short rest intervals. We also use band tension with accommodating resistance off a box, with the speed of the bar ranging from .7 to .8 on a tendo unit. Monitoring foundational strength by straining through heavy weight and then moving to lighter weight for maximum bar speed with accommodating resistance has been another key to our program.

Athletes with a few training years under their belts might spend the first year alternating their workouts on the second day between high velocity and hypertrophy.

Many young athletes will need to continue training in a developmental fashion aimed at basic strength before shifting to more high velocity training.

In addition, the importance of train-

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ing the posterior leg cannot be overemphasized. Our favorite exercises for the hamstrings and glutes include Romanian dead lifts, glute-ham raises, reverse hyperextensions, negative accentuated leg curls, and resisted movement drills such as a low pedal in a sand pit or straight-leg bounds with a sled.

Monday n

n

n

n

n

Submaximal tempo runs Lower-body foundational strength training (maximum effort) Foundational upper-body training Olympic lift teaching day with medium resistance Bench press and block clean

One of our favorite choices for developing the total leg is the plate-loaded Power Runner. Our athletes perform anywhere from 20 to 40 reps in a set with heavy weight. This exercise is also used explosively to reiterate force application during the acceleration phase of sprinting. We also use this exercise, together

Tuesday

Wednesday

(Absolute Speed) n

Dynamic warmup

n

Neural drills

n

n

n

Resistance modalities

n

Full-speed maximal effort sprints or drills

n

n

n

Submaximal tempo runs Component upper-body lifts High velocity lower-body lifts Component Olympic movements Box squat

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

with barbell step ups, to train each leg independently. And we’ll combine it with a back squat in a superset when working on hypertrophy.

This combination of exercises and schedule has given us the best results.

Several all-time vertical jump and broad jump records were set this past year, and

Thursday

(Absolute Speed)

Friday

(No run day)

n

Dynamic warmup

n

n

Neural drills

n

n

Bounding

n

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Resistance or assistance modalities Sand pit strength training

n

n

n

Heavy Olympic lifts High-velocity upper-body lifts Component lower-body lifts High -volume plyometrics Bench press

North Carolina uses the above schedule to facilitate power development during the off-season.

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STRENGTH TRAINING

sprint times were also favorable under this routine.

Lots To Consider When moving our athletes to more high-velocity training, there are some additional issues to consider. A major one is how to counteract inhibitory

inhibitory factor. Using the Vertimax power training system, a weighted vest, or medicine ball routines also work well, as they require acceleration and facilitate maximal effort hip extension. The Smith Machine, with a braking device to enable safe return to the starting position, is most productive when used with 30 percent of single-rep max.

This is notable because it would be quite difficult to wear a 150- to 200pound weighted vest or perform jumps with a 150- to 200-pound medicine ball.

Olympic lifts are also key to enabling athletes to accelerate the bar to its highest point with maximum force and full extension at the ankle, knee, and hip joints. We have experimented with every primary and component Olympic lift over a 25-year period and have found that the block clean with the use of a tendo unit to measure velocity is most effective. It

When our athletes squat off a box, they relax very briefly and then accelerate with maximum speed, intending to “rattle the plates” at the top. deceleration—that is, how to limit or the slowdown at the peak of the lift. The use of accommodating resistance in our program has been a trial-and-error process.

We have found that exercises such as the resisted squat jump have value because full extension is expressed without the

especially helps develop the second pull and eventually an improved single-rep max power clean.

We have also established a specific speed-to-intensity ratio for this lift so that our athletes get the most out of it. We block clean with 70 percent of singlerep max at 2.0 meters per second, and decrease the velocity by .2 meters per second for every three-percent increase in training weight. For example, if we are using 82 percent of single-rep max, our speed expectation would be 1.2 meters per second. Obviously, to develop a higher level of power output, we want to increase the speed of the bar with the same weight, increase the weight with the same speed, or do a combination of both.

It is important to note that these exercises require coaching every single repetition to facilitate maximal vertical force production. When it comes to training with the intent to be as fast as possible, specific feedback is critical.

Since one of our goals with this exercise is for the athlete to increase acceleration of the lift, we also need

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STRENGTH PAgE Top TRAINING Head

to consider how to limit the eccentric stretch. We want to force the athlete to work harder to initiate acceleration of the bar. That’s why we prefer moving weight from a static position in some of our component exercises both in the rack and on the platform. When our athletes squat off a box, they relax very briefly and then accelerate with maximum speed, intending to “rattle the plates” at the top.

I prefer the block clean to the hang clean for the same reasons. It challenges the stretch reflex of the athletes by forcing them to move from a paused position. This also helps the athlete to become more explosive out of a normal stretch reflex.

The final part of our program includes some speed and plyometric work. We emphasize single-leg bounding, power bounding, and speed bounding. We perform these exercises with mini-hurdles to increase stride length, and we also use a weighted vest to enhance the stimulus.

In addition, we blend the speed bounds into turnover drills to increase stride frequency.

In the weightroom, we use vertical/ lateral plyometric drills. Our favorite drills include a single-leg thrust off of a box, box jumps, side lateral jumps, skis with a medicine ball twist, continuous Bear machine jumps, and various combinations on the Vertimax.

Into A Schedule Another important consideration is the volume and scheduling of training.

The choice and frequency of exercises is very important to avoiding overtraining and ensuring proper recovery. Neural fatigue is a primary reason that athletes stop making gains.

One training program that facilitates recovery but allows for an adequate level of training is a three-day lift and four-day run schedule. (See “Weekly Schedule” on page 31.) With this schedule, Tuesday and Thursday are absolute speed training days and include an extensive dynamic warmup, neural drills, bounding, full-speed resistance running, and sand training. Athletes also run on Monday and Wednesday before lifting, but they are tempo runs (75 to 90 percent of max effort). Friday is a lift day with high-volume plyometrics and no running.

We measure our total volume of bounding and plyometric training to ensure we do not overtrain. Total volume includes the reps performed as part of the speed training on Tuesday and Thursday and the heavy plyometrics in the weightroom on Friday. These concepts are also adaptable to a four-day split routine.

Helping athletes reach new heights, both literally and figuratively, starts with an emphasis on the foundation. From

there, the considerations of inhibitory deceleration, eccentric strength, and recovery must all be balanced in order to develop an effective jump training program. n A version of this article has appeared in other sport-specific issues of Coaching Management and in our sister magazine, Training & Conditioning. To access more articles from T&C, please visit: www.Training-Conditioning.com.

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33 33

BASKETBALL COURT EQUIPMENT Hoop Where You Need It

Soften the Impact

Spalding basketball products are trusted at every level, from the NBA to backyard pick-up games. Spalding manufactures a complete line of portable basketball backstops. The Spalding G5 portable backstop is designed for collegiate or professional practices. With a boom length of five feet from the backboard to the front pad, this unit is height-adjustable from six to 10 feet and uses a spring-assisted lift mechanism for ease of operation.

Spalding Equipment • 800-435-3865 www.spaldingequipment.com Circle No. 500

Safe-Pro Bolt-On Edge Padding (MBBP-6) bolts easily to all 72-inch official glass backboards. It meets all NCAA, high school, and FIBA specifications. The padding is molded from tough urethane material that is rounded on the edge for safety and includes two steel connectors inside the pad for perfect alignment. This product is available in 12 vibrant colors and comes with an eight-year warranty. Jaypro Sports, LLC • 800-243-0533 • www.jaypro.com Circle No. 504

Eliminate Backboard Breakage Bison has both 42-inch Short and 48-inch Tall Unbreakable Glass Backboards.

These boards have a heavy-duty rear support system that absorbs more than 98 percent of stress from player contact with the goal. The goal is mounted to the rear steel frame without touching glass at any point, giving Bison the confidence to offer an unconditional lifetime warranty and a $250 installation reimbursement on any broken BA42XL or BA48XL backboard replaced under this warranty. Bison, Inc. 800-247-7668 • www.bisoninc.com Circle No. 501

Special Chair, Special Offer The 3400 Chair by Clarin Boxx Seats is the logo folding chair chosen by leading professional teams, universities, and high schools. With an all-steel frame, a 2 1/2-inch-thick seat cushion, and a 7/8-inch-thick back cushion, the 3400 sets the standard for durability, design, and comfort. For a limited time, get two free personalized chairs for every 24 purchased. Clarin 800-323-9062 • www.clarinseating.com Circle No. 502

Something to See Capture your audience with intense color, dramatic luminance, and engaging content with video displays from Fair-Play.

Displaying more than four trillion colors, full-color monitors burst with visual interest and recap all the live action and highlights from tonight’s game. Today’s media-savvy spectators thirst for more in a sports facility, and Fair-Play’s full line of video displays guarantees that your stadium or arena stands out in the crowd. Fair-Play Scoreboards 800-247-0265 • www.fair-play.com Circle No. 503

34

Order on the Court

Coaching Management

Courtside Quality JV Pro offers custom-made, freestanding, and convertible bleacher-mounted scorer’s tables. Standard options include an LED possession arrow with bonus indicators, illuminated shatterproof lexan panels, heavyduty soft rubber casters for easy movement, and collapsibility down to 16 inches for easy storage. JV Pro also offers heavy-duty courtside chairs in school colors featuring your logo or mascot to complement your scorer’s table. These products create the perfect image for your sports program. JV Pro, Inc. 800-962-2440 • www.jvpro.com Circle No. 505

Everything You Need M.A.S.A. offers a wide variety of topquality products for basketball facilities, including complete portable goal systems, backboards, adjustable systems, goal height adjusters, youth basketball goals, stationary and side-swing systems, wall-mount systems, padding, and much more. Go online or call today to learn more about these products, and to request your free copy of the M.A.S.A. catalog.

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Smarter Storage Spalding manufactures top-quality equipment for competitive, recreational, and physical education use, including goals, backboards, and accessories. The Replica Pro Ball Rack is constructed of durable chrome steel tubing with swivel casters and a non-topple base. This unit features angled rails for easy ball removal and a sturdy yet stylish design that is built to last.

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BASKETBALL COURT EQUIPMENT

Company news

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Portable Goals for Every Need There’s a Bison T-Rex™ portable for every game in the arena, side court, small gym, and rec center, each with competition styling, a glass backboard with a lifetime warranty, a breakaway goal, and DuraSkin backboard padding. T-Rex units feature low maintenance and extension spring technology for one-person setup and height adjustment. Front stabilizers lock in place for maximum stability. The Competition T-Rex 96 offers 96 inches of safe play area. The T-Rex 66 is for side courts, the T-Rex 54 SR is for competition where space is at a premium, and the T-Rex 54 JR is for recreation and physical education applications.

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The Total Package Combine Jaypro’s backboard, goal, and edge padding and save. The Basketball Replacement Package includes the high-strength 42” x 72” Non-Breakable Rectangular Glass Backboard (GBRUB-42), the extremely durable Competitor Scholastic Adjustable Breakaway Goal with net (GBA-342A), and your color choice of Bolt-On Edge Padding (MBBP-6).

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High School Sports Technology Alliance Formed

A new alliance of industry-leading companies has been formed to bring high school sports video to the next level. For the first time, the High School Sports Alliance will integrate game breakdown technology, video upload capability, and Internet distribution to local communities and the media, reaching millions of teens, parents, and fans.

The companies involved in the alliance are Schedule Star, CoachComm, Video For Athletes, and Game Plan. In total, the alliance members account for relationships with more than 16,000 high schools and nearly every football coach in the nation.

“What’s been missing has been a pushbutton simple way for coaches to package and send high school sports video where teens, parents, and fans can view it,” says David McPherson, who heads up HighSchoolSports.net, Schedule Star’s consumer Web site.

Initially, the collaboration will allow video to be repurposed for publicity and for use by the players themselves.

Game Plan developed the QuickEdit EZ software that Schedule Star and CoachComm will market, and Video For Athletes aggregates and licenses the video in its leading game-film exchange.

In total, more than two million still photographic images and nearly 100,000 video highlights are available, including full-game video for nearly 30,000 athletic contests.

The alliance looks forward to working with high school coaches and administrators across the country as the technology platform grows and expands.

Cleaner Is Better The only way to keep gym floors in top-notch condition is with daily maintenance. For more than 15 years, Courtclean has provided one of the easiest, most effective ways to pick up dirt, dust, sweat, and body oils. In just five minutes, you can clean an entire basketball court and start play immediately. With school budgets being slashed, Courtclean offers a way to reduce maintenance costs with a low-priced product that’s proven effective. TKH Design/Courtclean • 800-900-2481 • www.courtclean.com Circle No. 512 CoachesNetwork.com

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COACHING A IDS

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Improve Your Game

Play to Your Strengths

A Smarter Way to Learn

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Wiffletree World, based in Arlington, Texas, is a software solutions company focused on providing affordable, applicable, and usable software products that assist both coaches and players with the tools that will help them reach their full potential. Wiffletree has developed and sells a number of products for basketball: Video Hoops and Video Hoops Lt for video editing, LiftThis for strength training, and Combo for player performance reporting. Wiffletree World, LLC 817-460-3530 • www.wiffletree.com Circle No. 519

All Types of Training

All the Essentials

M.A.S.A. wants to help make your basketball practices more productive, so the company offers a variety of effective training aids.

Among them are rebounders designed to help athletes improve balance, timing, and coordination under the rim, and the Three Point Shooter Ring, which reduces the size of a standard rim to help players improve their shooting accuracy. Several models of tossbacks are also available, so your athletes can work on their ball handling, passing, and rebounding skills. M.A.S.A. 800-264-4519 • www.masa.com Circle No. 516

Better Basketball’s Seven Player Development Videos cover the seven primary skills: shooting, passing, post play, defense, ball handling, one-on-one offense, and scoring without the ball. There are bonus sections with NBA stars like Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, and Mike Bibby. These videos are packed with clearly explained fundamentals for young players, and advanced techniques for high-level players and coaches.

Each video not only explains the “how” behind a technique, but the “why” as well.

Better Basketball, Inc. • 800-BETTER-B www.betterbasketball.com

A Key Assist

You’re in Control

Schedule Star’s patented Game Wizard™ saves you time and sets defaults for the things athletic directors and coaches are always scheduling for games, such as facilities, transportation, and departure and return times. When you schedule your varsity team for any sport, Game Wizard automatically schedules the sub-levels of that sport. Schedule Star is all about keeping you ahead of the game. Go online to get started today. Schedule Star 800-258-8550 • www.schedulestar.com Circle No. 517

The Coaches Clipboard on HighSchoolSports.net has free tools for coaches to showcase their teams all in one location. Coaches can save time and get the tools they need to stay ahead of the game. Add, postpone, or cancel events and practices, enter scores and stats, access your roster, and get cumulative player and team stats, all on HighSchoolSports.net.

Go online and start saving time today.

HighSchoolSports.net • 800-258-8550 • www.highschoolsports.net Circle No. 520

Power and Control

Fast-Paced Workouts

The Dominator complete post station by Shoot-A-Way is a versatile rebounding/post footwork machine that focuses on teaching players to rebound with power and control and to use the correct footwork to finish with contact. It features optional block-out pads with adjustable arms that act as shot blockers. The Dominator has an optional standard backboard and rim that can be attached to turn it into a portable adjustable-height goal. Shoot-A-Way 800-294-4654 • www.shootaway.com Circle No. 518

Simplicity and dependability best describe the 6000 Series Gun. The Gun zips out passes from 15 to 35 feet and will throw to one spot or rotate to a series of spots around the perimeter. The optional computerized scoreboard displays “makes,” total shots, and shooting percentage. The fast-paced workout forces players to get game shots at game spots at game speed with the right amount of arc. This product is protected by a five-year warranty. Shoot-A-Way • 800-294-4654 www.shootaway.com Circle No. 521

Coaching Management

CoachesNetwork.com

New ProductS

Personalized Boxx Seats® Unique features: • Personalize each chair with a team name, player name, logo, and more • Give advertisers a novel way to add a slogan and logo to each chair

Keyclean

Benefits for the user: • A great fundraising option: purchase two to four additional chairs and auction them off during an event to help raise money for the school • A creative gift • Two free personalized chairs for every 24 purchased (offer ends Nov. 30) Clarin www.clarinseating.com 800-323-9062 Circle No. 525

N e w

Unique features: • Designed for quick pick-up of moisture and dirt • Lightweight microfiber mop with six-foot adjustable stainless steel handle • The perfect companion to the Courtclean Damp Mop System • Available in 24" and 36" versions Benefits for the user: • Eliminates germs, mites, fungus, mold, and bacteria • Super-absorbent and leaves a dry surface • Cleans, polishes, and buffs TKH Design/Courtclean www.courtclean.com 800-900-2481 Circle No. 526

P r o d u c t s

www.sportsinsurance-kk.com

MiScore Wireless Controls

Unique features: • Provides online insurance quoting and purchasing capabilities for amateur sports teams, leagues, tournaments, and events

Unique features: • Handheld sport-specific control for basketball, football, and baseball • Designed for facilities of all sizes, from small recreational venues to large complexes

Benefits for the user: • This new Web site is easy and convenient to use • Allows customers to purchase and receive proof of coverage immediately when using a credit card

Benefits for the user: • More control options in a smaller package • Equipped with Fair-Play’s revolutionary frequency-hopping technology that enhances immunity to radio interference

K&K Insurance Group www.sportsinsurance-kk.com 800-426-2889 Circle No. 527

Fair-Play Scoreboards www.fair-play.com 800-247-0265 Circle No. 528

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Coaching Management

37

Company news

Creative Fundraising Ideas that Bring In the Bucks Courtside logo chairs are a great way to show the competition that they’re in the house of a winner. Now you’ve got a new way to help pay for them. Clarin Fundraising Programs help school administrators, booster clubs, and student groups use Clarin Boxx Seats® logo chairs to develop new sources of fundraising for their school programs and other capital initiatives.

Auctions A logo chair is a great item to auction off at your next event. One school placed its order for 24 chairs and decided to purchase four extras to auction off. At the booster club’s next event, the chairs brought in $200 a piece. The community loved the unique chairs and the money generated from the auction paid for a significant portion of the school’s chair order.

Another unique idea is to auction off a small number of logo seats at the beginning of a sports season, but wait to give the chairs to their new owners until the season ends. You can then personalize each chair with a Power Band graphic placed in the chair frame, printed with the buyer’s name.

Throughout the season, players can add signatures, stickers, and other personal touches to each chair. At the end of the season, the person who bought the chair will have a one-of-a-kind logo seat from a memorable sports season.

Donations and Recognition Power Bands placed in the top channel of the logo seat allow a school to personalize 38

Coaching Management

each chair with a donor’s or player’s name.

The school can increase donor rates by giving individuals the option to take a chair home at some point. For major donors, you can designate a premium seating area with your logo chairs during events.

Corporate Sponsorship Local companies are always looking for new ways to get the word out about their business.

Contact your local businesses with sponsorship opportunities to include their corporate logo and message on the school’s logo chairs.

Multiple logo locations on each chair offer more discrete and highly visible branding options for advertisers to choose from. Plus, advertisements can be swapped out so the school can sell the space more than once.

For a limited time, Clarin will help you get your logo chair fundraiser underway with this special offer: Get two free personalized chairs with each purchase of 24. Use promo code HSCHAIR when placing your order.

This offer ends Nov. 30.

Clarin 927 North Shore Dr. Lake Bluff, IL 60044 800-323-9062 Fax: 847-234-9001 sales@clarinseating.com www.clarinseating.com

CoachesNetwork.com

Everything You Need Take a Load Off The 118 Stool by Clarin Boxx Seats is perfect for locker rooms, athletic training rooms, and more. Choose a frame and vinyl color to match your school colors, and add your logo to the seat. Clarin 800-323-9062 • www.clarinseating.com Circle No. 530

Feet First The Nfinity basketball shoe is specifically designed for female athletes. Nfinity’s BIONIQ outsole technology addresses pronounced Q Angle in female athletes to protect the knees during pivots and quick direction changes. This shoe also features QChannel technology to help center the foot and weight when playing. Ultra lightweight at 11.1 ounces, it has interchangeable color cards for customization and comes with a free shoe case. girls got game 800-554-2779 • www.girlsgotgame.com Circle No. 531

All-Around Support The Mueller MAX knee strap is a lightweight and comfortable support for relief of

Scoring Tables Seating Systems Wall Pads Podiums

TE AM EQUIPMENT

pain associated with soreness, stiffness, and arthritis. Compression tubes target above, below, and on both sides of the knee. This lightweight and comfortable support provides targeted compression without reducing mobility. Upper and side compression tubes target misalignment and help improve patellar tracking. Breathable mesh fabric allows for an all-day comfortable fit.

Mueller Sports Medicine • 608-643-8530 www.muellersportsmed.com Circle No. 532

Stretch It Right While aiding in physical mobility and flexibility, the Stretch EZ’s cradle design encompasses the foot to allow for a comfortable stretch to the foot, heel, Achilles tendon, hamstring, quadriceps, inner and outer thigh, and calf. This unique stretching aide assists in the treatment of plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and strains and injuries to the calf, thigh, hip, and low back.

Call OPTP or go online for more information or to request a free catalog. OPTP 800-367-7393 • www.optp.com Circle No. 533

The winning edge Driving hard to the basket, diving for loose balls, leaving it all on the court that’s what makes winners. Courtclean® helps you get the edge by providing a clean surface which allows for better traction and a truer response.

JV PRO, since 1996 has been the premier choice for arena and gymnasium courtside requirements.

For more information contact:

2600 Harrison Avenue Rockford, Illinois 61108 Phone: 815-229-1600 800-962-2440 Fax: 815-229-3308 Webpage: @http://www.jvpro.com E-mail: info@jvpro.com Circle No. 123 CoachesNetwork.com

800-900-2481

www.courtclean.com Circle No. 124 Coaching Management

39

TE AM EQUIPMENT

Everything You Need

Smooth Moves

Help from Downtown

The Volt ankle brace is engineered to include the latest carbon-fiber technology.

The polypropylene shell is reinforced with carbon fiber—the same high-performance material used in racing cars and bicycles. It also features a molded bearing-design performance hinge for smoother range of motion, strengthening ribs for a thinner profile, and fabric-backed EVA foam pads for durability and comfort. Active Ankle Systems, Inc. 800-800-2896 • www.activeankle.com Circle No. 534

The Mueller Shooter Sleeve helps players hit three-pointers with a unique compression fit that keeps muscles warm and less fatigued.

The Shooter Sleeve can also be used to cover cuts, scrapes, and other surface injuries and protect the arm from further harm. Made of smooth black Lycra fabric, the unique seamless design prevents skin irritation. Snug bands at the top and bottom keep the sleeve in place and prevent slipping or bunching.

Mueller Sports Medicine • 608-643-8530 www.muellersportsmed.com Circle No. 538

Crucial Protection The BodyGuard is a 100-percent custommade compression short that delivers compression, support, muscle heat circulation, strain distribution, and impact absorption.

It reduces the effects of injuries and trauma to the groin, hamstring, quadriceps, thigh, pelvis, hip pointer, hip flexor, and lower back. The Bodyguard has a 360-degree groin protector sewn into the crotch. It “floats” between the legs and conducts all explosive movements in the groin area out and back evenly. The BodyGuard is a “pelvic shock absorber,” protecting the groin and an exoskeleton of thin muscle enveloping the lower body from the waist to the knees. Antibody, Inc. • 877-546-2639 www.antibodywear.com Circle No. 535

Because Time Matters Without proper care, a knocked-out tooth begins to die in 15 minutes. The Save-ATooth® emergency tooth preserving system utilizes Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) to not only preserve, but also reconstitute many of the degenerated cells.

The patented basket and net container are designed to protect tooth root cells. This is the only system that keeps tooth cells alive for up to 24 hours. Save-A-Tooth® 888-788-6684 • www.save-a-tooth.com Circle No. 536

Play for a Cure You believe in women, and so does girls got game. Show your support for women by wearing pink items during your Play for a Cure games this season. girls got game offers an entire line of pink items to help athletes show their support and pride. With every item purchased, a donation will be made to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, Inc. girls got game 800-554-2779 • www.girlsgotgame.com Circle No. 537 40

Coaching Management

A Professional Look OakWood Sports is a premier custom wood locker builder, with experience in design, construction, delivery, and installation. For new builds or renovations, the company takes care of your locker needs from start to finish and beyond. With more than 200 locker rooms completed since 1998, OakWood’s experience and knowledge ensure that your locker system will be visually stunning and highly durable. OakWood prides itself on meeting the specific needs of each customer.

OakWood Sports, Inc. • 517-321-6852 www.oakwoodsports.com Circle No. 539

Simple Stability The Active Ankle Power Lacer is designed for the athlete who desires added support in a lace-up style ankle brace. It features distinctive Y-shaped vertical stabilization straps for control of the forefoot and heel, dual spring stays for ankle support, and a neoprene nylon shell for comfort. The unique “pull and play” design allows for easy use by athletes. Active Ankle Systems, Inc. 800-800-2896 • www.activeankle.com Circle No. 540

For Shoulders In Need The Angle Shoulder Brace is a 100-percent custom-made compression shoulder brace that delivers compression, structural support, muscle heat circulation, strain distribution, and impact absorption. It’s designed to reduce the effects of shoulder separations/ subluxations, dislocations, joint instability, impact trauma, and post-operative complications, while reducing genetic shoulder instability by compressing, compartmentalizing, and stabilizing the shoulder joint and the musculature of the entire shoulder region.

Antibody, Inc. • 877-546-2639 www.antibodywear.com Circle No. 541 CoachesNetwork.com

Building Better Athletes Weighing In

Leaping Higher

The Athlete’s Guide to Making Weight analyzes today’s top athletes, competitive trends, and positional demands across 21 sports to help determine—and achieve— optimal competitive weight. Competitors will be able to create meal plans tailored to individual needs and goals. Whether athletes need to gain muscle, lose fat, or control water weight, this book can help them reach their target weight without sacrificing safety or performance.

Human Kinetics • 800-747-4457 www.humankinetics.com Circle No. 542

The TurfCordz Jump Belt is increasingly gaining interest and acceptance by highlevel athletic trainers as a training tool for obtaining advanced levels of vertical leap and agility in athletes. The unique design of the Jump Belt provides anchoring straps to mount to a stationary object, or the product can be used with an athletic trainer’s assistance. With five resistance levels of tubing to choose from, even the most advanced athlete will see benefit from this training tool. The adjustable waist belt can accommodate up to a 38-inch waist. Order item S130 and specify resistance level silver, yellow, green, red, or blue. NZ Manufacturing, LLC 800-886-6621 • www.nzmfg.com Circle No. 546

Reduce Groin Injuries The High Stepper develops explosive power in the hip flexors and legs in a running motion, substantially increasing athletes’ speed, quickness, and durability. Coaches notice fewer groin injuries with their athletes after training on the High Stepper. It can improve 40-yard dash times, decrease groin injuries, and train the legs to explode higher and more powerfully. Powernetics • 800-829-2928 www.powernetics.com Circle No. 543

The Shoulder Rotator, available from Powernetics, develops powerful strength in the shoulders, arms, and forearms for throwing, shooting, spiking, and more.

The motion of the Shoulder Rotator is also great for rehabilitating shoulders to rebuild strength and flexibility. Powernetics 800-829-2928 • www.powernetics.com Circle No. 547

Wedge with an Edge

Reach New Heights

The versatile Pilates & Yoga Wedge can be used in a variety of ways for added comfort and to alleviate overstretching or pressure on the joints. Use the wedge under heels, knees, or sit bones in forward bending exercises to maintain alignment and achieve a deeper stretch. For tight or problem wrists, use the wedge for added comfort and support. For more information or to request a free catalog, call OPTP or go online.

OPTP • 800-367-7393 • www.optp.com Circle No. 544

Virtually all professional and college sports teams and the NFL Scouting Combine use the Vertec jump-training system, distributed

by Sports Imports. It is one of the best ways to evaluate and improve jump reach and lower-body explosive power. The Vertec jump-training system challenges athletes to improve their vertical leap through instantaneous feedback and recognition. The process is simple, offering a true vertical target, visual motivation, and an immediate, accurate measure of success and growth. A wall-mounted version is now available. Sports Imports 800-556-3198 • www.sportsimports.com Circle No. 548

The Name Says It All Bigger Faster Stronger, second edition, provides a complete conditioning system used by thousands of high school, college, and pro teams. Including the most current strength training techniques and exercise variations, program implementation guidelines, and a tracking system, this book will help establish the solid foundation needed to compete. Athletes and coaches will also find information on timely topics, such as safety in weight training, nutrition, and steroids.

Human Kinetics • 800-747-4457 www.humankinetics.com Circle No. 545

CoachesNetwork.com

STRENGTH & FITNESS EQUIPMENT

A Shoulder’s Best Friend

Jump Ahead Improve jump height and reaction time for better overall performance. The Pro Power Jumper from Power Systems lets athletes train with maximal jumps for power, repeated jumps for reaction and endurance, and lateral jumps for improved agility. In addition to a large 30” x 50” non-slip jumping platform, it includes a harness or waist belt (standard or extra large) and regular or long resistance tubing to fit athletes of different heights. Power Systems • 800-321-6975 www.power-systems.com Circle No. 549 Coaching Management

41

Company News Insurance Group Launches Online Quoting and Purchasing Tool K&K Insurance Group has announced the launch of a new Web site to provide online quoting and binding capabilities for sports teams, leagues, tournaments, and events. The new site is simple to use and provides an option to purchase coverage immediately using a credit card.

K&K, a leading provider of sports, leisure, and entertainment insurance programs, is a key supplier of coverage to the sports and recreation industry and is pleased to offer this innovative design for its clients’ convenience. The site can be found at www.sportsinsurance-kk.com.

The program has been specifically designed to meet the insurance needs of U.S.-based youth and adult amateur sports teams, leagues, tournaments, and events. Coverage provides important liability protection for the organization, including employees and volunteers.

Covered options consist of practices, tryouts, clinics, games, playoffs, and tournaments, as well as registrations, meetings, concession stand operations, parades, picnics, awards banquets, ceremonies, and incidental fundraising activities.

Directories Circle Company No.

Advertisers Directory Page No.

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Page No.

108. . . Active Ankle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

115. . . M.A.S.A.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

122. . . Antibody (The BodyGuard). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

102. . . MilkPEP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

109. . . Bison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

100. . . Mueller Sports Medicine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC

104. . . California University of Pennsylvania . . . . . . 6

112. . . OakWood Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

105. . . Clarin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

116. . . OPTP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

114. . . CoachesNetwork.com. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

125. . . Powernetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC

124. . . Courtclean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

121. . . Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

106. . . Fair-Play Scoreboards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

126. . . Shoot-A-Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC

110. . . girls got game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

107. . . Spalding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

113. . . HighSchoolSports.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

118. . . Sports Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

119. . . Human Kinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

117. . . Strength Systems, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

111. . . Institutional Basketball Systems. . . . . . . . . 20

120. . . TurfCordz/NZ Mfg.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

101. . . Jaypro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

103. . . Wiffletree World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

123. . . JV Pro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

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Products Directory Page No.

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540. . . Active Ankle (Power Lacer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

505. . . JV Pro, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

534. . . Active Ankle (Volt ankle brace). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

527. . . K&K Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

541. . . Antibody (Angle Shoulder Brace) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

506. . . M.A.S.A. (basketball facility products) . . . . . . . . . . 34

535. . . Antibody (The Bodyguard). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

516. . . M.A.S.A. (training aids) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

509. . . Bison (T-Rex). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

532. . . Mueller (MAX knee strap) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

The program offers commercial general liability; legal liability to participants; medical payments for participants; and for teams and leagues, hired auto and employers’ non-ownership liability.

501. . . Bison (Tall Unbreakable Backboards). . . . . . . . . . . . 34

538. . . Mueller (Shooter Sleeve). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

530. . . Clarin (118 Stool) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

539. . . OakWood Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

502. . . Clarin (3400 Chair) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

544. . . OPTP (Pilates/Yoga Wedge). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

525. . . Clarin (Personalized Boxx Seats). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

533. . . OPTP (Stretch EZ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Coverage for camps, clinics, sports and entertainment facilities, and professional sports teams and events is also available. K&K Insurance Group is a managing general underwriter offering more than 50 specialty insurance programs to the sports, leisure, and entertainment industries.

512. . . Courtclean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

543. . . Powernetics (High Stepper). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

526. . . Courtclean (Keyclean). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

547. . . Powernetics (Shoulder Rotator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

510. . . Fair-Play (MiScore) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

549. . . Power Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

528. . . Fair-Play (new product) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

536. . . Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

503. . . Fair-Play (video displays). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

517. . . Schedule Star. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

531. . . girls got game (Nfinity). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

521. . . Shoot-A-Way (6000 Series Gun). . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

537. . . girls got game (Play for a Cure). . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

518. . . Shoot-A-Way (The Dominator). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

520. . . HighSchoolSports.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

500. . . Spalding (portable backstops) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

545. . . Human Kinetics (Bigger Faster Stronger) . . . . . . . 41

507. . . Spalding (Replica Pro Ball Rack) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

542. . . Human Kinetics (Guide to Making Weight). . . . . . . 41

548. . . Sports Imports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

508. . . Institutional Basketball Systems. . . . . . . . . 35

546. . . TurfCordz/NZ Mfg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

511. . . Jaypro (Basketball Replacement Package). . . . . . . . . 35

519. . . Wiffletree World. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

K&K Insurance 1712 Magnavox Way Fort Wayne, IN 46804 800-426-2889 Fax: 260-459-5120 www.kandkinsurance.com www.sportsinsurance-kk.com

42

Coaching Management

504. . . Jaypro (Safe-Pro Bolt-On Edge Padding). . . . . . . . . . 34

CoachesNetwork.com

OVERTIME

Find more coaching resources at the new Coaches Network!

You can find more information related to coaching on CoachesNetwork.com, which has been completely revamped to better help coaches. We now offer expanded editorial resources, including articles addressing a wide variety of issues facing coaches today.

Articles on the site include: Strength & Conditioning

Gain Without Pain Why over-training can be as bad as under-training.

Coaching Life

Meet the Parents A coach explains how he establishes the roles parents play.

Nutrition

Food for Thought Make sure your players know what to eat—and when.

Leadership

Leader of the Pack Give your captains the tools they need to succeed.

Sports Medicine

Anyone Can Save a Life A first-person account of a life-saving response.

Plus archived articles from past editions of Coaching Management, including: The Dribble Drive Motion Offense Ethics in Coaching Taking a Foreign Trip In addition to educational resources, Coaches Network also features social networking tools that allow you to connect with other coaches across the country. Build your own network and share your thoughts on our message boards and blogs. Plus, Coaches Network provides you the opportunity to create private team pages where you can share information with the parents of your players.

X

X X

Sign up for your free account today at: Where coaches connect and parents engage.

THE ORIGINAL In existence since 1981

The SUPER CAT is in basketball and athletic programs all across America. The Super Cat has been proven to be the most effective machine in developing the “Power Potential” of athletes. Other machines don’t come close to the Super Cats durability and safe operation to outlast any strenuous workout regiment. We are recording the highest vertical jump on athletes in weight training history.

Explosive Exercises: • Quarter squat jumping • Angle squat jumping • Angle squats School colors available 7-year warranty

The SUPER CAT will give your program the edge in vertical jump and quickness to take you to the next level.

Develops the “POWER POTENTIAL” of every athlete.

The Super Cat will dramatically increase the speed, quickness and vertical jump of your athletes.

Coaches call TODAY for your FREE instructional video!

Box 329 Riverside, TX 77367 1 (800) 829-2928 www.powernetics.com Circle No. 125

Circle No. 126