Change is inevitable, Change is desirable...Changes sweep through our lives like a wind to carry us through to where we are going. Sometimes, we like change, sometimes we do not... In part one of Basketball and Change I wrote about Larry Bird, a marvelous basketball player and great competitor, he was great for lots of reasons, but the one that sticks out to me was for his recognition of the ability to change.
However, when speaking about basketball players, as much as I like to watch the masters, the NBA and WBNA players as well as the great crop of international players throughout the world, my true passion has always been for the younger generation of young hoopsters the up and comers, the future of basketball. I love their approach, their faith in people and their desire to compete. One thing I have noticed in these younger folks(JUST LIKE US WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER) though is that they like comfort and security, they like are intrigued by different ideas and trends, but often do not follow them unless most everyone around them is involved. Kids are kids, we love that about them, we watch them and they learn and we learn watching them as they deal with change.
In transitioning back in specific to basketball though, it has always stuck out to me as a lover of the game and as a teacher of the game how they quickly can pick up bad habits, and not only how they pick them up but how ingrained they become. Of course as a coaches (Speaking specifically about bball, let alone parenting) it is our job and and our passion to help them through these changes. This is scary, scary sometimes for the kids and lots of times even for the parents. Change is often hard on the kids because old habits die hard, sometimes its not even a negative habit, it may just be a change in coaches or teammates, all the sudden change can be forced on us. I think that is why Bird realized that yesterday's victories were good enough for yesterday, but not always good enough for today.
As coaches we lose sleep and obsess these changes, we obsess these changes within individual framework as well as that of the team. Chemistry is reliant upon change because in basketball we have to make adjustments to change as well change to make adjustments. For instance, a coach can welcome a new crop of freshman or recruits, but also faces the daunting task of integrating them with his already existing players. The newer kids cannot always move at the same pace as the ones that were already incorporated into the system. The older ones are familiar with the coaches mantras, voice inflections, his offensive and defensive schemes, his pet peeves, what pleases him the most... The coach worries about keeping all the kids involved and keeping their confidence at optimum levels yet often has to work with what is going on right now, many kids are resistant to change and it takes them longer.
The coach has to balance between developing kids with potential and playing the ones that are producing right now. Often times, one player and their timeline and adjustment to change can have drastic effects on a team, their roles evolve and there are ego and emotions involved which presents a fresh set of problems each day. In basketball, the ball must be shared and teammates must be on the same page and work together. Basketball teaches us through our play to learn from our mistakes and make the appropriate adjustments. Seniors may adjust to things easier than freshman and make the changes. it seems to be apparent to me that with the younger ones that they learn just fine from their mistakes but often have a harder time incorporating the changes. Older players often understand what made them better and welcome change.
In saying all of this there is a fine line between tinkering and making necessary changes and the "confidence factor". My niece Jessica and i both love the game of basketball, we have won and lost together, laughed together and cried together, we have sweated together, bled together and butted heads as well. I have suggested that Jess make some changes to her game going forward, some changes she openly welcomes and realizes the need to get better, other changes she is more resistant on , such as minor adjustments to her shot. Why? because although she is only 15 years old she has a very complex understanding of the game, from her fourth grade year she has soaked up years of basketball knowledge, she understands that in order to be an effective shooter, she has to back up her skill with confidence, she has had some success with her shot and because I respect her game as a whole i have been "suggestive" as opposed to "aggressive" in dealing with her. Coaches often see the need for change in their players but often must vary their approach to be effective. Jessica realizes that once the changes are implemented, they must be practiced and re practiced because at first they are uncomfortable. That would be work and decisions must be made as to the amount of time and effort that must be dedicated to those changes. That's a whole different deal, when dealing with a female high school freshman...
As much as we love basketball, our lives are constantly changing, our priorities, especially as a young high schooler can change. As coaches and as parents we have a responsibility to help them through, sometimes the changes within our own lives affect us and if you're anything like me sometimes you dont always make the necessary changes, consequences can follow, just like bball, Larry Bird realized he could not rely on yesterday's skills, he had to change. I use to tell my players "Be a weapon", but weapons get outdated, IMPROVE your artillery, add and subtract, do what you need to do to get better...and whenyou step on the floor you can do it with joy and excitement and without fear.
