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A LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM MANUAL FOR THE ELITE ATHLETE

ABOUT THE TRENCHES PREP MANUAL The Scotland Performance Institute is one of the unique basketball programs on the market today. While most programs only deal with the game of basketball, SPI Prep is committed to developing the ‘whole’ elite, student-athlete. This is accomplished through extensive life skills training coupled with challenging basketball experiences.

The Trenches Prep Program is the life skills portion of SPI Prep. Its purpose is to build character, expand upon prior internal values, and provide life skills training. The goal is to offer the necessary tools for the student-athlete to develop into a high quality person, an athlete that is valued on the court, in the locker room and classroom, and throughout life.

Five units comprise this life skill manual: Daily Disciplines; Changing From the Inside Out; Developing You, the Product; Student of the Game; and It’s All About Team. Each unit contains several life sessions; examples include lessons on Decision Making, Mental Toughness, Manners, Being a Teammate, and Academics. All lessons were developed to encourage lively group discussions, creating a sense of comradery and chemistry that will carry over to the court.

The Participant Workbook correlates with the life sessions in each unit and provides for an enhanced learning experience. It is also a tool that participants can refer to as they journey through their basketball careers.

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Trenches Presenter notes are provided in blue throughout the Manual. These will assist the Presenter as he or she prepares for each session. Each unit begins with a Life Point, a quote created by Isiah Anderson that reflects that material to be presented. The Life Point should be referred to throughout the each unit’s discussion to ensure optimum comprehension. It is strongly suggested that the Presenter utilize the Participant Workbook in conjunction with the material presented during each session. There is also a page at the end of each unit for the Presenter to record any notes, points to emphasize, or thoughts for future sessions.

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Table of Contents TRENCHES INTRODUCTION................................................................03 DAILY DISCIPLINES..........................................................................04 Introduction....................................................................................05 What Are Daily Disciplines?..............................................................09 What is a System of Good Habits?....................................................14 Example of a Daily Discipline..........................................................15 Your Workout...................................................................................16 Practice...........................................................................................19 Practicing on Your Own...................................................................23 Game Day!.......................................................................................25 Nutrition..........................................................................................26 CHANGING FROM THE INSIDE OUT....................................................29 Introduction....................................................................................29 Inside Out........................................................................................32 Tapes...............................................................................................40 Character.........................................................................................44 Decision-making..............................................................................47 Your Spiritual Center........................................................................53 Leadership.......................................................................................55 DEVELOPING YOU, THE PRODUCT.....................................................63 Introduction....................................................................................63 Applying ‘Product’ to Basketball......................................................64 Academics.......................................................................................66 Activities..........................................................................................70 Appearance.....................................................................................71 Manners..........................................................................................73 Interviewing....................................................................................75

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STUDENT OF THE GAME.....................................................................80 Introduction....................................................................................80 History of Basketball........................................................................82 Get Your Head in the Game.............................................................94

Mental Toughness......................................................................94

You Studying You.......................................................................99 IT’S ALL ABOUT TEAM......................................................................102 Introduction..................................................................................102 What Is a Team?.............................................................................104 Being a Teammate.........................................................................108 Role Player.................................................................................... 114

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Introduction College coaches want to award a scholarship to the studentathlete who consistently exhibits an excellent character, maintains a respectable grade point average, and possesses a high level of athleticism and skill. Their goal is to bring a student-athlete onto their campus who is low maintenance, who has a superior work ethic in both the lecture hall and on the court, and who represents the college with class. The Trenches Prep Program was developed to assist the post high school student in becoming that ‘gem of a kid’ that college coaches clamor to add to their teams.

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The following five units comprise the Trenches Prep Program: 1. Daily Discipline The goal of Daily Discipline is for the student-athlete to learn about, create, and then practice a system of good habits. From starting the day on a positive note to eating nutritiously, utilizing time management skills, working out, practicing, and getting the proper amount of sleep, student-athletes will discover how to live their lives within limits, especially when no one is watching. They will study the habits of the great ones to understand the sacrifices they made to reach the pinnacle of their careers.

2. Changing From the Inside Out One only has to turn on ESPN or check the newspaper to find examples of student-athletes who have made poor decisions –being busted for underage drinking, testing positive for drugs, involving themselves in physical altercations, stealing, or breaking team and college rules. Circumstances such as these not only jeopardize the student-athlete’s college scholarship but can be ‘red flag’ for all future endeavors. This segment supports the student-athlete as s/he learns to change from the inside out and goes through the process of discovering who ‘you, the person’ really is. Small group discussions and activities focus on letting go of negative influences; making positive decisions; developing into a leader; and finding that strong spiritual center.

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3. Developing You, the Product This segment builds upon ‘Changing from the Inside Out” and leads the student-athlete beyond the stages of a person and process to that of becoming a ‘product.’ When that college coach comes to recruit you, are you selling him the entire product or just selected components of the product? What are your strengths? Your weaknesses? Areas that need improvement? Trenches participants will guided through a “whole-student-athlete’ self-discovery and ascertain what areas they need to improve upon to become that ‘product’ the college coach wants in his program. They will develop an individualized goal plan in conjunction with the staff to increase his or her “sell-ability.”

4. Student of the Game Young, elite athletes tend to rely on their superb physical abilities to drive their game performance. As a result, they haven’t internalized the knowledge or intricacies of the game of basketball, or have they developed the mental toughness needed to push themselves through to next level. In this segment, student-athletes will increase their knowledge of the game; for example, making the right reads on offense and defense, taking balanced, high-quality shots, running the pick and roll, setting screens, and effective communication on both ends of the court. They will watch film of their practices and games, will learn how to effectively critique themselves, and will be involved in exercises and situations to increase mental toughness skills.

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5. It’s All About Team The elite high school athlete is most often the best or the ‘go to’ player on the team. S/He is depended upon to make the spectacular plays or to score the most points. When s/he enters college, the team consists of players who were all the top athletes in their high schools’ programs. The student-athlete must learn to accept what she may consider a diminished role; be prepared not to start, or to spend more time on the bench than on the court. Trenches participants will understand the meaning of ‘role player’ and how to apply it; i.e., coming into a game to provide that ‘spark’ or to shoot the 3. Through directed activities, they will come to understand the meaning of ‘team’ and discover the nuances of being a great team player, whether on the court or in the locker room.

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DAILY DISCIPLINE

Duration: September through March LIFE POINT: “EVERYTHING IS ABOUT PREPARATION!” The goal of Daily Discipline is for the student-athlete to learn about, create, and then practice a system of good habits. From starting the day on a positive note to eating nutritiously, utilizing time management skills, working out, practicing, and getting the proper amount of sleep, student-athletes will discover how to live their lives within limits, especially when no one is watching. They will study the habits of the great ones to understand the sacrifices they made to reach the pinnacle of their careers.

Introduction So, you think you got what it takes to be a student-athlete? Maybe you’re even dreaming of a life in the pros. Really? What are you doing when the lights aren’t shining on you? You grinding when everyone else is sleeping?

Before you can begin with developing a daily discipline, you have to take a long, serious look at two words: commitment and selfmotivation. You’ve heard all of your life how great of an athlete you are, but do you have what it takes to make it big in college?

Are you motivated to do what an elite player must do - physically, mentally, and spiritually - every day when your homies are running the streets, doing the very thing you’d love to be doing?

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Let’s take a look at a female basketball player – Elena Delle Donne of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. And, as an aside, yes, girls play ball, and their experiences can provide some valuable information that you can learn from.

Elena began getting recruiting letters when she was in the 6th grade.

By senior year, the pressure was getting to her; she had to decide on a college. She chose to go to the premier women’s college basketball program – UConn. Two days into summer school, Elena packed her bags and, in the middle of the night, drove home to Delaware, basically throwing her scholarship and basketball away.

Elena enrolled in the University of Delaware, a mid-level D1 school, and, after much soul-searching, joined the Blue Hens basketball team her sophomore year. Yes, she obviously was the star, but that wasn’t important to her. She was having fun, and she was geographically close to her tight-knit family. Elena went on to have a stellar career at the University of Delaware – two Players of the Year and All-American honors.

The WNBA’s Chicago Sky drafted the 6’5” Elena at #2. Once again, she became a sensation, had a superior season, and won Rookie of the Year. After losing in the eastern conference finals, she turned to her coach and said, “I have to get stronger!”

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And, for Elena, this is where she separated herself as an elite athlete.

She chose to forgo a lucrative oversea contract and remained stateside to do body work. She trained four and a half hours every morning from September through March, doing strength work, conditioning, and on the court drills. As the new WNBA season approached, Elena had gained 12 pounds of muscle and didn’t have to depend on her fade away jumper to avoid contact. She worked on her jab-step, learned to create contact, and now drives to the basket without fear.

Elena understood her weakness, took responsibility for it, and, through self-motivation and commitment, diligently trained daily.

She was the Rookie of the Year which, in and of itself, is quite an accomplishment, considering she beat out Brittany Griner and Skylar Diggins, both athletes from big-time college programs. Yet, it wasn’t enough; she wanted more; she needed more. So, she worked her butt off to increase her skill level – her marketability. The lights weren’t shining; no one was telling her how great she was. It was just Elena, her trainer, and an empty gym.

And, this is what life as an elite athlete is all about; being driven to put the sweat time in daily. Look at Derrick Rose or Kobe, fighting alone every day to come back from injury. Is this what you want for yourself? Do you have the guts that, when someone knocks you down, you’re more than determined to come back even stronger than before? Are you willing to make the sacrifices it takes to compete on the elite level?

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Muhammad Ali once said, “Champions aren’t made in the gyms.

Champions are made from something deep inside of them – a desire, a dream, a vision.” Is this you?

If you’re sure you are committed and self-motivated, then let’s get started with the importance of Daily Discipline.

WHAT IS DAILY DISCIPLINE? A daily discipline means forming habits; ones that you do every day, not once in a while or a few days a week, but every single day. It’s what you do, no matter what else is going on in your life. It’s about not allowing others to influence or distract you. It’s about your commitment to ‘you’ reaching your goal of creating a marketable product that college coaches can’t wait to get in their programs.

The alarm clock goes off. You seriously want to hit the snooze button, but you can’t. You’re committed and self- motivated; doesn’t matter that the pillow is calling your name. You get up at the time you said you would. Why? Because you know in your heart that you have to follow your daily discipline; you want that college scholarship!

Chris Charles was a gangly 7 footer, a good basketball player with high IQ. Unfortunately, his intelligence never translated into passing grades. High school graduation came, and he didn’t have the credits to walk across the stage to get that diploma. An AAU coach took Chris under his wing, and enrolled him in a small prep school, hundreds of TRENCHES | 12

miles from his Milwaukee home.

Chris wanted both a college degree and a career in basketball. But, at 18, he didn’t have that piece of paper or the elite skills to achieve either.

In that small prep school, Chris found his niche; his coaches taught him the importance of forming good habits. He gained basketball knowledge and helped his team win a National Prep Championship.

That high school diploma took him 2 years to obtain because his transcript was so pitiful, but he was committed to getting it.

And, when Chris had both, college coaches came knocking at his door.

Who wouldn’t want a hardworking, bright, talented 7 footer, a guy who had reinvented and redeemed himself, for their program? At 20 years old, when most of his homies were finishing their sophomore year of college, Chris finally received a basketball scholarship and chose to attend a top D1 university. Since his college graduation, he has satisfied his wanderlust and increased his wallet by playing overseas in several countries.

In high school, Chris didn’t have the commitment or self-motivation to reach his goals. Through training in prep school and his own desire to reach his goals, he transformed himself into a marketable young man. He had what it took because he worked at it. Are you willing to work at it?

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WHAT IS A SYSTEM OF GOOD HABITS? We all have habits, some good; others, bad. The thing about habits is that consciously or not, we made them, and we have the power to break them.

But, what is a habit? According to Dictionary.com, a habit is “an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary.”

And, that is what creating a daily discipline is about: developing a system of daily behaviors that, if you stick with the plan, they will become second nature to you.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is an undefeated world class professional boxer. Life was rough for him: mom, a heroin addict, and dad, a drug dealer who did time. From early childhood, he knew that he wanted to follow in his family’s footsteps and become a boxer. He quit school because he knew the boxing ring held his future. As he continued to win fights, his bank account grew to the point where his nickname became “Money.” And, no matter how many millions he had, Mayweather continued to follow his daily discipline – he still runs 4 miles every morning before he starts his day.

In the eyes of the world, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has made it. Why would anyone with his acclaim and financial security need to or even want to run 4 miles every day? Why? Because, when he was TRENCHES | 14

younger, he made a daily discipline decision – to run 4 miles every day. That habit is ingrained in him to this day, and he earned his fortune by adhering to it!

EXAMPLE OF A DAILY DISCIPLINE So, now you’re asking yourself, “OK, what is a daily discipline? I understand the concept, but how do I apply it to my situation?”

Let’s go back to the first decision of the day that you made. The pillow called, but you ignored it and pulled yourself out of the bed.

You took care of your hygiene and then asked yourself, “What do I do now?” And, this is where each individual differs. Some people read scripture or a daily devotional and pray; others meditate.

Many begin with light stretching, kinesthetic energizers, or a run while others do a combination of these. What early morning Daily Discipline are you going to do? Write it down and make it your own!

Do it every day, no matter what!

Trenches Presenter: Have the participants go to the Daily Discipline Chart in their Workbooks. As a group, have them begin to figure out what their individual chart must include.

You might want to make copies of the chart for the participants to use as their rough drafts.

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YOUR WORKOUT Kara Lawson, a graduate of Pat Summit’s esteemed University of Tennessee basketball program, is a 12 year WNBA pro and has been a basketball analyst for ESPN since 2004. Recently, she was asked how she was able to stay in shape during the winter. “Staying in shape at any level requires great discipline and commitment. I have to prioritize my day accordingly, and I try to start my day off with training. On days when I have early travel – 6am flights are a part of the deal – my rule of thumb is to get off the plane and head to training right away.”

Re-read Kara’s quote and study the underlined sections. Obviously, Kara has internalized the daily discipline of training and, no matter her schedule, makes sure that it is always her priority. Results? A long pro career with stops along the way for two Olympic “golds”!

Is this your dream? Then, as a Trenches participant, you need to commit to your training right now. It’s the time spent in your younger years that will reap your rewards as you grow your craft.

You may be wondering first off what is a workout or training.

Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary states that a workout is “a structured regime of physical exercise.”

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Huh? What exactly does that mean? Well, there are various types of activities that allow you to exert and build your muscles. For example: 1. Cardiopulmonary exercise: strengthens the circulatory system 2. Gymnastic exercise: develops strength, agility and balance 3. Anaerobic exercise: builds muscles through tension 4. Calisthenics: light exercises that promotes general fitness

5. Isometric exercise: uses muscular contractions against

resistance without movement 6. Isotonic exercise: opposing muscles contract and there is controlled movement (free weights) 7. Stretching: extends the limbs and muscles to their full extent 8. Yoga: a system of exercises practiced as part of the Hindu discipline to promote control of the body and the mind You’re probably scratching your head and saying to yourself, “Thanks! I just learned some new vocabulary words. But, how do I do this stuff? How do I know what my body needs?”

Stop right there! The purpose of this section is not to design a training program for you; that’s the responsibility of an expert – someone who is certificated in strength and conditioning. The goal here is to help you face and accept the reality of what the life an elite athlete is all about. You want that college scholarship, and you know that you must have physical training in order to get it. So, the question is: are you willing to commit to daily training, no matter how painful or time-consuming it is?

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It always comes back to that ugly work ‘commitment,’ doesn’t it? Yep! It means you have the guts, the fortitude, the desire, or whatever you want to call it; it means you’re willing to bite that proverbial bullet; and it means that you’re going for it hard, with all that you got, every day.

Michael Jordan once said, “If you’re trying to achieve, there will be road blocks. I’ve had them; everyone has had them. But, obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

NOTE TO TRENCHES PRESENTER: This would be a good place for the trainer of the school to discuss his or her program.

After the school trainer completes his or her explanation of the training regimen, place a large piece of poster board on the wall. Write: “I am committed and motivated to work my training program every day.” Give the participants a break. Ask them to decide whether they have the guts to work their training program to the best of their ability. If they are, have them sign and date the poster board when they come back from break. Their signature will continually serve as a visual reminder throughout the entire Trenches program that they are committed to the training regimen. In other words, the participant has now made a promise to himself, the trainer, the coach, and his teammates that he will work his butt off during ALL trainings.

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PRACTICE According to Google, practice is a period of time to “perform an activity or exercise a skill repeatedly so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it.” And, in order to practice effectively, you must begin with what is referred to as a “practice mentality.”

What does the phrase, practice mentality, mean? The word that leads the definition is ‘attitude.’ Granted, a positive attitude is a requirement throughout the entire Trenches program. However, in regards to how you approach practice, you have to come in every day, ready to work hard, take constructive criticism, and make whatever changes in your game that the coach asks of you without complaining or making excuses.

Michigan State’s Nick Hill is a senior football player, competing for the #2 linebacker position. After completing spring practice, he stated, “I just make sure that I bring 100 percent to each and every practice. I can never take a practice off, that’s my mentality going into every practice.” In other words, Nick has the attitude that he will work every minute of every practice. Great example! And, if you want to be that elite athlete, you must follow his advice: give 100 percent every day.

The second word that describes practice mentality is being prepared.

Nothing like walking into practice and discovering that your kicks are at home. As one of your Daily Disciplines, before you go to sleep, pack your gym bag. Think about what you’ll need for the next TRENCHES | 19

day, and put it in. That way, when you’re ready to leave for practice, all you have to do is pick up the bag and go.

Continuing with being prepared, how about coming to practice late because you were texting your girl? Major no no!!! An old friend, Warren Moody, once said, “To be on time is to be late, and to be early is to be on time.” Huh? First time hearing it, you might not think that little phrase makes sense. But, listen to it again, and break it down. If you get to practice on time, you really are late.

Why? Because you’re not dressed; you’re not warmed up; and your mind is on where you just came from. If you get to practice early, you can change into your practice gear; get taped up if you need to; and maybe do a few laps or stretches. Coach blows the whistle, and you’re physically and mentally ready to have a great practice.

The third word that describes a practice mentality is ‘work ethic.’

Google states that work ethic is “the principle that hard work is intrinsically virtuous or worthy of reward.” Ok, so how do you apply this somewhat wordy definition to basketball practice? Let’s pull the words ‘hard work’ and ‘worthy of reward’ out of the definition.

Basically what it is saying is that, if you work hard, then you are worthy of reward.

How do you work hard? You listen to the coach instead of clowning around with your teammates or dreaming about what you’re going to do when practice is over. You run as fast as you can during a TRENCHES | 20

‘suicide’ instead of giving it a half effort. When you are put in a game situation, you play to win.

And, what is your reward? Your coach sees you as someone who gives it all he has. In the next game, you may start or be the first one coming off of the bench. And, you never know when that college coach or representative may be watching your practice from the wings somewhere. But, the most important reward is that you know in your heart, for yourself, that you did the very best that you could. Doing your best builds character, something that all coaches want in their players.

The fourth word that describes practice mentality is ‘focus.’ Focus is direction or, as Merriam-Webster Online states, “A point of concentration.”

In other words, you must give practice 100% of your mind. It’s normal; often when coaches are talking on and on and on, our minds wander to something that may interest us more or to a test we need to pass.

You may think you know what the coach is talking about, but if you’re thinking about something else, you might miss a detail that will make the difference between you starting or you sitting on the pine.

The last word that describes a practice mentality is fun. What? Now you’re probably thinking that this whole Trenches thing is really out there. We just told you that you must be committed and self-motivated; you have to do your Daily Disciplines, workout – the list goes on and on. And now we’re telling you to have fun. Yes, you heard it right; have fun!! When you are enjoying yourself, your whole body relaxes. The tension in your TRENCHES | 21

muscles or your brain disappears. You’re smiling and doing your thing.

And, when you have fun, you play your best basketball! Remember, basketball is a game.

Let’s sum up this whole practice mentality thing.

WORK ETHIC

ATTITUDE BEING PREPARED

PRACTICE MENTALITY

FOCUS

FUN

Trenches Presenter reviews all points; gets participant involved in roles plays or scenarios.

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PRACTICING ON YOUR OWN What we just talked about is practicing with your team. What about practicing on your own when no one is around, when it’s just you, the ball, the basket, and the empty gym or playground?

Tamika Catchings, daughter of NBA great Harvey Catchings, is a 13 year WNBA pro and 3 time gold medal Olympian. Throughout her long and storied career at the University of Tennessee and presently playing with the Indiana Fever, Tamika has gained the reputation of being one of the hardest workers ever to bounce a ball. She’s in the gym before and after practice, working on her shooting or the specific skills she wants to improve on.

Enter Maggie Lucas, a 2014 graduate of Penn State, drafted by the WNBA’s Phoenix Sun, and traded to the Indiana Fever. Every off season, Maggie shoots 1000 – yes, 1000 - shots every day. Her reward: Player of the Year and one of the most prolific 3-point shooters the Big Ten has ever seen.

With the trade, Tamika – on the downside of her career – and Maggie – a rookie – are teammates. Twitter went wild: these ultra-competitive, workaholic players are now on the same team! The tweets: Which one will beat the other to the gym before practice and which one will stay the longest after practice? The answer: they teamed up and are pushing each other to get better every day before and after practice.

Before the ‘aw, they’re girls’ comments start, first and foremost, TRENCHES | 23

remember, basketball players are basketball players, no matter the gender. Ladies and gentlemen both sweat, both need to put the ball in the basket to win, both use offensive sets, even if one is more above the rim than the other, and both defend using zone or one on one. Do we need to go on and on? Enough said, right? Just be supportive and respective of each other’s talents and dreams!

Back to Tamika and Maggie - Not only are they basketball players, but combined, they have won at every level possible and, along their journey, picked up a cabinet full of individual awards. Is this what you want? Do you want to be known for your work ethic and reap the awards? Then, put your individual practice time in your Daily Discipline chart!

You may ask: why do I have to do more than I’m already doing?

Very simple explanation! In your team practice, you work on skills and sets with the whole group. Your layups might be off the charts, but some of your teammates may have missed a few on fast breaks.

Or, your teammates can work the box and 1, but you’re not always in the right position. So, your coach has the team practice that defense over and over until you’re in sync with your teammates.

When you practice on your own, you have the opportunity to get those muscle reps in that you can’t get in practice. Think about it; Maggie put up 1000 shots a day so that she could become a great shooter.

And, remember what Magic Johnson said, “Talent is never enough.

With few exceptions, the best players are the hardest workers.”

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GAME DAY! Jitters. Upset stomachs. Sweaty hands. You’ve gone through shootaround, and you feel like everything Coach said about the other team flew right out of your mind.

Sure, game day brings on some anxiety. But, think about it. You have been working towards this day, and you are prepared! All the blood, sweat and tears you’ve put in up this point is about to pay off. And, once the ref throws the ball up, you’re ready to hoop, hoop like you’ve never hooped in your life. Your focus turns from you as an individual to the five of you who are wearing the same colors – your team. You’re ready to play for that guy standing next to you; for your teammates cheering from the bench; for your coach who is walking the sidelines; for your family and friends yelling in the stands.

And, this is what the game of basketball is all about. Sure, everyone wants to win, but not everyone will win. Basketball is really about the life lessons that you learn along the way, the things that will guide you as you become a husband, a father, a friend, an employee.

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Think back. Through this Trenches training, what have you learned that you can apply to real life, life that is not about basketball?

1. You have to be committed to whatever job is yours to do.

2. You have to be self-motivated because someone won’t always be around to lead you in the right direction.

3. You have to maintain your Daily Disciplines because you know how important a system of healthy habits is to your success.

4. You have to train (study, read, write) to stay on top of your game, whether it’s on the court or in the boardroom.

5. You have to continually practice to become proficient in your craft or job so you can be a winner on ‘game days.’

NUTRITION You’re probably wondering why nutrition was left to the last topic in this section. Rationale: You just committed to becoming the best athlete you can be. Remember that poster you signed? Well, without proper nutrition, you will not be able to compete at that high level, no matter how hard you try. It’s just that simple; eating right is the most important thing you can do, if you want to become an elite athlete! You could have had McDonald’s for breakfast; Burger King for lunch; and Wendy’s for dinner. Yes, you’ve eaten three meals and maybe you even stopped at Dairy Queen for a snack. Might sound good, but this type of food will not give your body the vitamins and proteins it needs to perform at a high level.

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Once again, we need to turn to another one of our experts, our ‘food guru,’ the person who is going to steer you on the right path to eating healthy. Some of the information will be generalized; however, each of you will meet with the nutritionist, discuss your current eating habits, and develop a plan that will improve your performance.

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NOTES

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CHANGING FROM THE INSIDE OUT Duration: September through December

LIFE POINT: “KEEP YOU HEART CLEAN SO THAT YOU CAN SEE YOUR PROMISE.” One only has to turn on ESPN or check the newspaper to find examples of student-athletes who have made poor decisions –being busted for underage drinking, testing positive for drugs, involving themselves in physical altercations, stealing, or breaking team and college rules.

Circumstances such as these not only jeopardize the student-athlete’s college scholarship but can be ‘red flag’ for all future endeavors. This segment supports the student-athlete as s/he learns to change from the inside out and goes through the process of discovering who ‘you, the person’ really is. Small group discussions and activities focus on letting go of negative influences; making positive decisions; developing into a leader; and finding that strong spiritual center.

Introduction It’s time to get real – real with yourself. You’ve already made the commitment to your Daily Disciplines. You’ve made a head decision: I want to be the best basketball player that I can be. But, what about your heart?

Heart, the Trenches way, isn’t about having enough heart to gut it out. It’s about who you are inside that is reflected on your outside.

It’s about looking at what your spiritual base is; what your values are; how you handle peer pressure; what your character is; what makes you do and say the things that you do.

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You might be thinking, “What does this have to do with basketball?”

Quite honestly, it has everything to do with basketball; more importantly, it has everything to do with life. You may be able to put the ball in the basket, but so can a thousand other kids. What is in your heart will separate you from those other thousand, the stuff that will cause coaches to want to give you that scholarship.

Let’s start this discussion out with role models. We hear that term all of the time, but who does it really refer to? According to Techup. org, “true role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have and those that have affected us in a way that makes us want to be better people.”

Who is your role model? And, before you answer, think about this?

You may say, “Michael Jordan is my role model.” OK, what is it about Jordan that makes you say he’s your role model? Is it the way he hooped? Is it because he’s a millionaire?

Let’s take another look at the definition. The first part says, ‘true role models are those who possess the qualities that we would like to have.’ What qualities does Jordan have that you want? He hoops, and you want to hoop like him. He’s made money, and you want to make money. But, what else? What do you know about Michael, the person? Is he a good dad? Does he help other people when the lights aren’t shining on him? When you come right down to it, all you know about Jordan is his public persona, not the everyday person who shaves and puts gas in the car.

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Let’s ask the question again: who is your role model, someone you want to emulate? Someone you are around a lot; maybe someone who has spent time with you; someone who has shown you the best way to live your life; someone who has held you to high standards.

TRENCHES PRESENTER: 1. You can use, as an example, someone who has been a role model to you.

2. Then, ask the participants to tell you who their role models are.

3. Next, ask them to describe why this person is a role model to them.

4. As each speaks, write the qualities they list on the white board; i.e., kind, talks to me, takes me places, comes to my game, tells me when I’m wrong about something, etc.

5. When you have your list, then begin to discuss the different qualities of a role model Using qualities that may have been mentioned in #5, possibly the thread that ran through each participant’s description of his role model is someone who is there for him, a person who is supportive, caring, and or loves him whether he hoops or not. The question becomes, ‘how come that person is supportive, or caring, or loves you whether you hoop or not; how did he or she get to be that way? The answer is that the role model learned to operate from the inside out. And, to be truly successful in basketball, school, or life, it’s the way you need to learn to live.

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Inside Out When we talk about the ‘inside,’ we are referring to the true person who resides within ourselves. It includes our feelings – our hurts, angers, fears, anxieties, loves, contentments. Our ‘inside’ contains our emotions, many of which we keep hidden from the world. In other words, we often have a whole different life going on in our hearts that we choose not to ever show the world.

As teenagers, you’ve learned what you have to do to be accepted by your peers. You’ve learned how to act in school so that you stay out of trouble. You’ve learned what is and is not accepted in your family.

The operative word here is ‘learned;’ you’ve learned behaviors that will get you what you want or what you think you want. How you’ve learned to act is the ‘out’ or the person you show to the world.

Let’s use this as an ‘inside out’ example. We’ll say that your mom and dad don’t get along; in fact, they stay as far away from each other as they can. You live with your mom, and all you hear is the bad stuff about your dad. He doesn’t bring any money into the house; he runs around with other women; he can’t keep a job; the list goes on and on. The problem is that you love both your mom and your dad. If you tell your mom that you love your dad, she gets all kinds of mad at you. And, you don’t want your mom mad at you because you love her. So, on the outside, you act like you agree with your mom when she trashes your dad; after all, you know what she is saying is somewhat true. But, on the inside, you love your dad and wish he would be there for you.

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In this example, your ‘inside’ wants to spend time with your dad.

But, to survive, your ‘out’ disses your dad. As a result, there is confusion or a disconnect between your ‘inside’ and ‘out’ worlds; what you say or do is very different from what you feel.

Let’s look at another scenario. Your mom and dad are always yelling at you to do your homework, or to study for your SATs, or to stop hanging on the street with the losers that have no future. Your younger brothers and sisters are constantly up in your business, messing with your stuff. Being in your house drives you so crazy that you don’t think; you just have to get out of there. So, you sneak off to the playground. Your intent is to hoop, but more often than not, you just hang out. Before you know it, someone comes along with weed; another with booze; the party starts; and you join in.

Hey, wait a second! Aren’t you the athlete that wants a college scholarship? Your homies on the street don’t know that, do they?

They just think you’re one of them, always out looking for a good time. Your ‘out’ screams of the party guy, but your ‘inside’ wants nothing more than to hoop a little and then go home to study. You want that scholarship badly!

There’s a war going with you, and you have no idea what to do about it. You’re caught between your ‘inside’ and your ‘out.’ You know you should be doing your homework, studying for your SATS, but you don’t want to lose face with your homies. Again, there is the confusion, the disconnect, and you’re acting differently than the way you feel inside.

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Ever hear the Shakespearean quote, “to thine own self be true?”

That means that you have to be led by your heart, not by your homies. Yea, ok! It sounds good, but you can’t see it working, can you? That’s why you’re dissing your dad or hanging on the street; other people’s opinion means more to you than what you know is best for you. Wanna know a secret? The majority of the adults aren’t true to themselves. They’re caught up in the world, trying to get ahead by pleasing other people. And, guess what? They’re not happy or successful; they are just surviving.

Trenches Presenters: Depending on your audience, this would be a good place to discuss God’s will for our lives.

If you listened to these examples, you may have noticed that the word, ‘survive’ has come up a few times. Survive means “to continue to exist.” (Merriam-Webster Online) WOW! How exciting! Imagine living your life just to exist. But, isn’t that what your homies on the street are doing? Day after day after day, they’re at the playground, getting high and drunk. And you, with your school smarts and basketball skills, are following along, doing the same thing. Sure, your inside wants to go to college on a scholarship, but you’re not doing what you need to so that you can reach the goal that’s on your ‘inside.’

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Let’s look at another word – thrive. To thrive means “to grow vigorously.” (Merriam-Webster Online) Whether you realize it or not, your ‘inside’ wants to thrive; it wants to go to college, play ball, and get a degree. Yet, your ‘out’ is forcing you to survive.

A meaningful quote by Maya Angelou: “The question is not how to survive but to thrive with passion, compassion, humor, and style.”

So, when Trenches says to live from the ‘Inside Out,’ are you beginning to get the picture? Your ‘out’ is controlling your ‘inside.’

What needs to happen is just the opposite – your ‘inside’ needs to control your ‘out.’ To do that, it takes three steps: to know who you are; to embrace who you are; and to be who you are.

1. To KNOW Who You Are You think you know yourself but do

you really? Let’s take a look at these steps to help you get to know yourself. a. Create your own life timeline.

1. Write down all of the goals you feel you have

achieved.

2. Write down all of the events in your life that you feel

have positively or negatively affected you.

3.

Write down how #1 and #2 have shaped you or made you think differently. These things are you and may be keeping you from listening to your ‘inside.’

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b. Distinguish your thoughts from the thoughts of others.

Write down some beliefs of yours that aren’t based on

logic but on what you’ve been told. c. Start relying on yourself.

1. Where is your confidence level? Explain.

2. Do you consider yourself a worthy person? Explain.

3. Do you believe in yourself? Explain.

4. Do you trust your own judgment? Explain. d. Organize your world

Follow your Daily Disciplines and revise if you find

something is not working. These are your disciplines,

and you must make them work for yourself. Don’t

follow your buddy’s!

Trenches Presenter: The above exercise must be handled with extreme care. Participants may delve into areas that are painful or disturbing.

You need to be sensitive. If situations appear deep-seeded, you may want to refer him to the counselor rather than handling it yourself.

Know your strengths and your limitations!

2. To EMBRACE Who You Are a. Write down all of your assets (not financial, but

what you, as a person, bring to the table) and your strengths b. Write down what you want in life.

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1. What kind of people do you want in your life?

2. How do you want to dress?

3. How do you want to talk?

4. Where do you want to live?

5. What kind of a job do you want?

6. Describe what you think you family will be like. c. Write down the ways in which you are proud of yourself.

3. To BE Who You Are a. Make a list of your priorities. b. Write down what you can do to control your own destiny. c. Write down the ways that you can take care of yourself. d. Write down how you can challenge yourself.

Trenches Presenter: What makes this exercise work is the discussion you have with the participants. Keep it meaningful and moving. If you notice someone is not participating, take him aside to see what issues he may or may not be having.

Let’s take a look at a young man who was forced to develop himself from the inside out.

Andre Dawkins is a 3 point specialist. He recently graduated from Duke University as one of the best shooters in school history.

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Andre was an excellent student in high school. The summer before his senior year, he realized that, if he took one summer school course, he could enter Duke a year early. Barely 17, he started college and became a dependable, coachable player.

Throughout his life, Andre had lived with his dad but had constant contact with his mother and her daughter. He had developed a very close relationship with his step- sister; she was his world. His mother decided to travel to one of his games and brought his sister, as he referred to her, along. A tragic accident happened en route; Andre’s mother was seriously injured and his sister, his heart, was killed. Andre learned of her death immediately after the game he was expecting her to attend.

After his sister’s funeral, Coach K asked Andre how he and the team could help him deal with his grief. Andre responded with his ‘out,’ said he was fine, and immediately rejoined his team. He continued to play through his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Andre changed his junior year. No longer was he the happy, competitive player he had once been. In fact, although he never verbalized it, he had no desire to practice or to play in games. He was erratic and couldn’t be depended upon to hit the 3. When on the bench, he just sat, head in hands, not cheering for his teammates or appearing the least bit interested in the game.

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Coach K tried to talk with him; if he answered, he only said one word, often in a monotone.

At the conclusion of the season, Coach K called Andre into his office for his end of the year meeting and dropped a bombshell. Andre was no longer a member of Duke’s basketball team. He could continue in school or he could transfer. If he decided to remain at Duke and wanted the opportunity to possibly play basketball again in the future, he had to go into counseling.

Coach K realized that Andre could no longer control his ‘out;’ his ‘inside’ was in too much pain. As a result, Andre was incapable of doing what he loved – playing basketball at a very high level. He needed to deal with his inside, develop from the inside out, if he ever wanted to use his basketball talents again at Duke.

Andre chose to remain at Duke and red shirt. No longer permitted to live with his teammates, he moved into an apartment with his mother. He embraced his counseling sessions and, for a time, the doctor even put him on medication. For several months, he didn’t pick up a basketball. As his ‘inside’ began to heal, Andre started going into the gym, alone or with a friend, but only when his teammates weren’t there. He slowly came out of his depression and found his joy again. He discussed with the counselor his desire to play for Duke again and thought he wanted to talk with one of his coaches. Just as he got up his nerve to text the associate head coach, his phone rang. Yes, it was the associate head coach, calling to see TRENCHES | 39

how he was doing. They met for lunch and really talked, heart to heart. By the end of their conversation, Andre was welcomed back on the basketball team.

Andre had a great senior season at Duke. He had a smile on his face; he supported his teammates; he was a leader; and he continued to hit those 3s.

Andre had to learn to live from the inside out and, and he slowly he discovered how to do that. But, he had to lose what mattered the most to him – playing basketball- to gain a new sense of self.

In your quiet time over the next several days, think about Andre and imagine yourself in his shoes. Or, think about what it felt like dissing your dad; or hanging on the street instead of preparing yourself for college; or an example that you wrote in one of the exercises above.

Have a conversation with yourself; imagine yourself living from the inside out. Begin the process!

TAPES But, hold on; there is one more internal step you need to take before you have all the tools you need to live true to yourself. We need to take a look at all of the tapes that are sitting dormant in your heart, just waiting to rear their ugly heads when something triggers them.

Huh? Tapes? What kind of tapes are you talking about? Ok, let’s use an example from way, way back in the day. You all know what it’s like when you sprain an ankle; you’ll do whatever you TRENCHES | 40

can to get back on the court. Before the boot, the sprays and the stuff used today, kids had their ankles wrapped as tightly as possible, layers upon layers of white tape stuck directly on the skin. Once done, kids just jumped up and ran back on the court. The real “ouchies” began when the game was over, and the tape had to come off. Some could be peeled off, layer by layer.

But, there was always those stubborn layers that required shoving scissors between the tape and the skin, and cutting it away. Oh, the pain; scissor jabs, sores from where the tape just cut through the skin! The cut off tape resembled a discarded cast; the foot, unfortunately, was a painful mess!

Now, let’s imagine that someone says something unkind to you like ‘you’re a loser.’ It feels like you sprained your ankle only, instead of your ankle, it’s your heart that’s hurt. Your mind rips off a piece of tape, writes ‘loser’ on it, and wraps it around your heart. The next person comes along and tells you that you’re too short to play college ball. Again, your mind rips off a piece of tape, writes ‘too short’ on it, and wraps it around your heart. These pieces of tape join one another and become a tangled, painful mess; cutting you, jabbing you. Remember cassette tapes? Well, what we’re talking about is sort of like the tape that’s inside of them, only instead of music, there are painful memories.

These tapes from years of hurts connect and continue to grow, surrounding your heart layer by layer. Some of you have ‘tapes’ that you have collected since you were born. You hear them in your TRENCHES | 41

head every time someone says something that reminds you of one of them. And, you get down on yourself; or get mad; or act out in some inappropriate way.

Example. Let’s go back to the scenario where your parents are telling you to stop hanging on the street with the losers that have no future. Ut-oh; there’s the word ‘loser.’ Your mind immediately goes back to when that person called you a loser. You feel that pain all over again plus more hurt is heaped on because of what your parents just said.

But, wait a second; your parents didn’t call you a loser. They were talking about the people you are hanging with, not you. But, you couldn’t comprehend what they said; you just heard the word loser, and you felt like they meant you. Why? Because back in the day, when someone called you a loser; you took that hurt into your heart and let it live there. You believe you are a loser because of what someone else said.

And, this is what we mean by tapes. We all have tapes in our hearts: some good; others, ugly. We need to get rid of the ugly ones so that we can truly know who we are, embrace who we are, and be who we are.

Remember the info from those exercises we just did?

Turn to the page in your workbook that has “MY TAPES” at the top of it. On one side, it says ‘Tapes That Hurt Me,’ and, on the other, it says, ‘Bye, Bye, Ugly Tape.’

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You might write ‘loser’ under the ‘Tapes That Hurt Me.’ Under ‘Bye, Bye Ugly Tape, you might write, “I am not a loser; I am a winner.

I have great grades, good friends, and I can ball with the best of them.”

Trenches Presenter: Have the participants complete the written exercise on their own. When they complete it, have each one choose a word they wrote under ‘Tapes That Hurt Me.’ Give them 2 slips of paper, one being a sticky. Ask them to write the ugly word on the plain paper (i.e., loser), and the positive word (i.e., winner) on the sticky. Then, have them rip the ugly word into tiny pieces and throw it in the trash can. You can say or have them say something like ‘that ugly word is not who I am.’ Have them place the sticky on their heart. Again, you can say or have them say, ‘I am a winner,’ or whatever positive word they have chosen.

You can repeat this as many times as you want, if the participants have more ugly words. When you are done, have the participants place the sticky papers in their workbooks.

Each one of you is special in God’s sight, in your parents’ and loved ones sight. Throughout these exercises, Trenches hopes that you have embraced yourself more than you ever have before. As you go through life, people are going to say and do things that will hurt you.

And, now you have a choice. You can ask yourself, “Is what she said about me really who I am?” If you know in your heart that what was said was a lie, then you know you can’t let it penetrate your heart.

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Mentally, go back to this exercise; think about the words that were said; throw them in the trash can; and say something positive about yourself. The sting of the hurt will only last a hot minute, and you will be free from the tapes that can potentially hold you captive.

Character You often hear someone say, “That coach is looking for a character guy to give a scholarship to.” You smile, nod your head, and wonder what in the world that means.

According to Dictionary.com, character is the “moral or ethical qualities” of a person. It is his reputation; the type of a person he is; the qualities he has that distinguish him from another person.

The word that is used over and over again is “quality.” Dictionary. com writes that ‘quality’ is a grade of excellence or fineness. Another word in the definition is ‘moral.’ Google states that a ‘moral’ person is “concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character.”

Ok, if you learned the definitions of these words, you could probably pass a vocabulary test. But, what do they mean in regards to you, the basketball player; the person a coach wants to give a scholarship to? Most importantly: are you a person of good character right now or is this something you need to work on? It seems, from these definitions, that a moral person who has character, behaves in TRENCHES | 44

a certain way. Let’s take a look at the following scenarios. We’ll decide together whether the person described has good character or character that needs some work.

1. NCAA regulations say that a Division I player cannot play in

any tournaments over the summer unless they are sanctioned by the NCAA. You’re home for the summer, and you need money. A buddy is putting together a local basketball tournament, and asks you if you want to play – winning team gets $500 a person. You know the rules, but, what the heck. No one from college would ever know if you played or not; after all, you’re hundreds of miles from school in a small town no one has ever heard of.

Besides, you’ll use your brother’s name; for sure, definitely no one then would know you played. Bring on the tourney!

2. Your buddy invites you to go to a frat party on a Saturday

night. You know there will be all kinds of partying going on. Your coach doesn’t know it; your teammates don’t even know if; but you love to get high. In fact, you are always sneaking out past team curfew, hoping to find a joint to at least get a hit off of. You know how to get over on a drug test so getting caught doesn’t concern you. Off to the frat party you go.

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3. You had a long, hard practice, and you are totally exhausted. All you want to do is hit the bed; the last thing you want to think about is school work. But, you have an English quiz the next day that you haven’t studied for. You mention it to your roommate. He tells you he’s knows the quiz information, and suggests that you sit directly behind him. He’ll move his paper so that you can copy off of it.

You grab your books and head down to the lounge to study.

4. Everyone knows college kids are short on money. A friend of a friend visits, and you hang around with them. The friend mentions he needs some quick cash, and the other guy describes how easy it is to steal computers from the dorms. The three of you put your heads together, and come up with a plan. The next day, you’re off to get those computers.

5. An older guy is always hanging around the basketball

players. And, does he ever have the gear. You would just love to have a pair of his hot kicks, but there’s no way you can afford them. The guy sees you eyeing them. When no one is looking, he slips some cash into your hand and whispers where you can get the sneakers. You know that players can’t accept gifts; you hand the money back to him and walk away.

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The scenarios we just discussed are real! Yep, these are the things that college kids are exposed to all of the time. Some showed good character was present; others did not. The questions for you to ask yourself are: What would I have done in each of these scenarios? Do I have good character?

Decision-Making If you think about the scenarios we just discussed, you may have realized that character plays a big part in how you handle a situation, and making good decisions goes right along with it. A huge chunk of making decisions is to not react on impulse.

Let’s go back to the scenario where you are so sick of your parents harping on you and your siblings getting into your stuff that you just sneak out of the house, all ready to hang with your homies on the playground. Think about it. If you had to sneak, then you made an impulsive decision.

What does an ‘impulsive decision’ mean? Yahoo Answers say that an impulsive decision is one “where he went with how he felt without thinking of the consequences.” You didn’t think about the homework you had to do or the SAT that you needed to be studying for; you just acted on what you were feeling at the moment. Your parents and your siblings were driving you crazy, and you wanted to escape. Which you did!

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And, the consequences of your impulsive escape decision: you got high and drank some booze, both of which stink for an athlete in training; your homework didn’t get done; and you made no progress on getting the SAT score you need to get into college. All of this because you didn’t think about making a good decision; you just rushed into what you wanted to do at the moment.

Ok, so you now know that, when you make an impulsive decision, you react. But, there is also another part to it, and that includes getting your mouth involved. How many times have you said something and wish you could grab those words out of the air and shove them right back in your mouth? Yep, you’ve made an impulsive decision to say something that is unkind, not true, or hurtful. The consequences – you’ve hurt someone you care about; you’ve created another ‘tape’ that the person has to deal with; you may have messed up a relationship; and you feel pretty ucky for not thinking before you spoke.

Decision making is involved in almost every aspect of your lives.

You have to decide what you are going to wear, eat, who to text, whether to ignore that phone call from your ex ….the list goes on and on. And, you have to be secure in making decisions. The best way to become secure is to keep making decisions. If you’re not sure what decision to make, remember that role model you mentioned a little while ago? That person will help you!

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Ever been around someone who refuses to make a decision, even if it’s just about going to McDonald’s or Burger King? Drives you crazy, huh? Think about how that feels the next time you don’t make a decision. Even if you make a wrong decision that you’re stuck with, at least you made a decision. And, if you made a wrong one, take it as a lesson learned, and make the right one the next time.

You might want to think about the late, great poet, Maya Angelou and her philosophy on making decisions. “I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.” But, there are some decisions, though, that have very serious consequences, if you make the wrong one. Let’s take a look at some ‘no-brainers’: 1. ‘No Means No’ You may have thought that, in Trenches, we won’t deal with sex. Wrong! Just look at the number of colleges being investigated for the sexual assaults on their campuses.

Unfortunately, it has become almost an epidemic.

You’re with a girl, and things are really moving along.

Suddenly, she says no. You have a decision to make. Do you listen to her words or continue because you figure she’s just leading you on? This is a no-brainer decision. You stop; no questions asked. If you continue, you could get charged with rape. Bye-bye to your college scholarship and most likely your freedom! It isn’t worth your TRENCHES | 49

future trying to figure out if a ‘no’ really means ‘yes.’

2. Babies and Diseases You’ve all been through health class, and heard these lectures. But, you need to be reminded again. The only word for both ‘babies’ and ‘diseases’ is PROTECTION! It doesn’t matter what she says; you can’t allow yourself to be swayed or caught up in the moment. If you can’t protect yourself, then it’s time to leave the scene immediately.

Again, another no-brainer decision!

3. Drugs and Alcohol Again, you’ve heard all about drugs and alcohol in health classes and from your coaches. Bottom line, there are more college athletes testing positive for drugs today than ever before. Do you want to be known as a user or as someone whose character is above getting involved in this scene? Is your future worth a party?

4. Negative Influences Negative influences are people or things that bring you down, who don’t support you, or encourage you to do things that are not in your best interest. They may be jealous of your success, may have no dreams of their own, or lack motivation.

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a. Toxic Friends Toxic friends are those people who are only around you

when you are useful, who put you down, who flirt with

your girlfriend, or who ignore you when you really need

them. These people need to go; don’t waste your time or

energy on them. A real friend is someone who makes you

feel good when you’re around them, who supports you,

and who is there for you.

Often, you are not even aware of the negative influences that otherpeoplecreate in your life. Sometimes, you may know what’s up with that person, but you feel that there’s nothing you can do about it.That’s not always the case. You have a choice as to who is invited into your life, and who is not.

Let’s take a look at some areas in your life where you may be holding on to people that have a negative influence on you: b. Exes

If a relationship ended simply because it wasn’t working,

then there’s nothing wrong with maintaining a civilized

friendship. However, if your ex won’t accept the split, or

doesn’t like you dating another girl, then it’s time to say

‘bye-bye,’ and mean it!

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c. Outside Expectations The expectations of other people, especially for an athlete,

can be an extremely negative influence. We can only

allow the opinion of those we respect to affect us. If

someone is disappointed that you didn’t score 30 points in

the last game, again it’s time to say bye-bye. These people

do not walk in your shoes, and have no idea what your

‘real’ life is about.

d. Social Media

Be prepared! Many coaches require their players to turn

off their Facebook and Twitter accounts for the entire

season. Some even collect phones the day of a game.

Why? Because of the negative influence that social media,

texts, and calls can create. In other words, paying more

attention to others’ junk can cause you to take your focus

off of your play or your game. Your coach wants 100% of you!

5. NCAA Regulations Like it or not, the NCAA rules college sports. You’ve already

been through getting the grades, the GPA, and maybe even

the SAT/ACT score that you need to satisfy the NCAA. But,

when you get on campus, the NCAA has rules there, too.

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Trenches Presenter: Go over the NCAA rules that the participants will need to adhere to in college. These change so make sure you have the most current ones.

Your Spiritual Center Trenches believes that each person needs a spiritual center to guide them in life. There are many religions in the world today, some of which help people to become the very best ‘person’ they can.

However, Trenches is committed to Christianity because of the relationship each person can have with Jesus Christ.

One of the great truths about the Bible is that Jesus died for our sins, not for His own. Jesus was totally sinless. This is one of the major differences between Christianity and the religions of the world. No other religious leader has ever claimed to be sinless; therefore, no other religious leader is in the same class with Jesus.

Also, no other religious leader has ever given his life in sacrifice to atone for the sins of others. It wouldn’t have done any good, if one had. Since the religious leaders were sinners themselves, their lives weren’t worth any more than all of humanity through the ages.

(Andrew Wommack) Every detail of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection was already prophesied in scripture before it happened and was fulfilled in scripture. God’s Word, the Bible, is the ultimate authority and only through His Word can we receive faith to be born again.

Trenches believes that Jesus died, arose from the dead, is alive in TRENCHES | 53

believers today, and welcomes each of us who choose to believe in Him. (Andrew Wommack) By believing in Jesus, we have the opportunity to have a close relationship with God through prayer and studying His Word.

Prayer is a time to be separate from the world in order to be with God. It occurs when we surrender our schedules, our priorities, and ourselves to the joy of drawing near to God. It is a time to experience His love and express ours to Him; to remember that life is centered on Jesus and that our priority is to obey Him. It is where our souls are nourished, and we gain strength to continue.

(Dr. Charles Stanley) Accompanying the Trenches Prep Program is the Daily Discipline for Life Devotional. This day by day guide will assist those who wish to study the Bible on a more personal level.

Trenches Presenter: At this juncture, you can ask the participants what their spiritual center is. Remember: although you may have Christian beliefs, others may not. The bottom line here is to see if the participants have a spiritual center and how they activate it in their daily lives, not to proselyte. You need to be sensitive to any participants who are struggling with spirituality. Take the person aside and gently ask if he would like to speak to the Youth Pastor.

You might also ask the Youth Pastor to join you for this segment.

There is a section in the Workbook that you might want to review.

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Leadership Under the topic of ‘Changing from the Inside Out, you have discovered many things about yourself. For some, it may have been an exciting journey; for others, a painful one. But, as you continue to think about what we’ve discussed and you grow as a person, the next logical step is for you to develop into a leader.

A leader is “a person who guides or directs a group.” Maya Angelou once said that “a leader sees greatness in other people. He nor she can’t be much of a leader if all she sees is herself.”

A player leader in basketball is a very important cog for the team.

Basically, there are two types of leaders, one who leads by example, and one who is the vocal leader.

The person who leads by example is the one who gives 110% in all of the drills, weight training, practice, and, of course, in actual games. He is usually the first on the court and the last one to leave for the day. He puts up those extra shots when no one is looking. He shows his teammates how to do it the right way without saying a word.

The person who is the vocal leader is the extension of the coach on the court, an effective communicator. He is the one who makes sure everyone is in the right place to run a set play or gives direction and encouragement in huddles. He is a student of the game and understands exactly what the coach wants done.

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Both types of leaders are all about team. They leave their individual egos at the door, and their total focus is about the team getting the win. They don’t care who makes the big plays, who scores the most points, gets the most rebounds, or collects the most assists; they just want to win.

According to John C. Maxwell, there are 21 indispensable qualities of a leader:

1. Character: be a piece of the rock.

a. Actions are the real indicator of character.

b. Talent is a gift but character is a choice.

c. Character brings lasting success with people.

d. Strong character is the foundation on which to build

success.

2. Charisma: the first impression can seal the deal.

“When it comes to charisma, the bottom line is othermindedness. Leaders who think about others and their concerns before thinking of themselves exhibit charisma.” (John C. Maxwell)

3. Commitment: it separates the doers from the dreamers.

a. To the boxer, it’s getting off the mat one more time than

you’ve been knocked down.

b. To the marathoner, it’s running another ten miles when

your strength is gone.

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c. To the soldier, it’s going over the hill, not knowing what’s waiting you on the other side.

d. To the leader, it’s all that and more because everyone

you lead is depending on you.

4. Communication: without it you travel alone.

a. Simplify your message: it’s not what you say but how you say it.

b. Really care about your audience.

c. Show the truth: believe what you say; live what you say.

d. Seek a response: the goal of all communication is action.

5. Competence: if you build it, they will come.

a. Show up every day and be ready to work.

b. Keep learning, growing, and improving.

c. Follow through with excellence.

d. Accomplish more than expected.

e. Inspire and motivate others.

6. Courage: one person with courage is a majority.

“Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared”. (Eddie Rickenbacker)

7. Discernment: put an end to unsolved mysteries.

“Smart leaders believe only half of what they hear.

Discerning leaders know which half to believe.”

(John C. Maxwell.)

8. Focus: the sharper it is, the sharper you are.

a. The keys are priorities and concentration.

b. A leader, who knows what his priorities are but lacks concentration, knows what to do but never gets it done.

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c. If he has concentration but no priorities, he has excellence without progress.

d. When he harnesses both priorities and concentration, he has potential to achieve great things.

9. Generosity: your candle loses nothing when it lights another.

a. Be grateful for what you have.

b. Put people first.

c. Don’t let desire for possessions to control you.

d. Regard money as a resource.

e. Develop the habit of giving.

10. Initiative: you won’t leave home without it.

a. You know what you want.

b. You push yourself to act.

c. You take more risks.

d. You make more mistakes.

11. Listening: to connect their hearts, use your ears.

a. You have to be silent to listen.

b. Both words are formed from the same letters: silent, listen

12. Passion: take this life and love it.

a. Fact: more than 50% of all CEOs in Fortune 500 companies had a C or C- average in college.

b. Fact: more than 75% of all US Presidents were in the

bottom half of their school classes.

c.

Fact: More than 50% of all millionaires and entrepreneurs never finished college.

d. All of the above had passion; it makes a difference.

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13. Positive Attitude: if you believe you can, you can.

a. Your attitude is a choice.

b. Your attitude determines your actions.

c. Your people are a mirror of your attitude.

d. Maintaining a good attitude is easier than regaining one.

14. Problem Solving: you can’t let your problems be the problem.

a. You anticipate problems.

b. You accept the truth.

c. You see the big picture.

d. You handle one thing at a time.

e. You don’t give up on a major goal when you are down.

15. Relationships: if you get along, they’ll get along.

a. All people like to feel special so sincerely compliment them.

b. All people want a better tomorrow so show them hope.

c. All people desire direction so navigate for them.

d. All people are selfish so speak to their needs first.

e. All people get low emotionally so encourage them.

f. All people want success so help them win.

16. Responsibility: if you won’t carry the ball, you won’t lead the team.

“When an archer misses the mark, he turns and looks for

fault within himself. Failure to hit the bulls-eye is never

the fault of the target. To improve your aim, improve

yourself.” (Gilbert Arland)

17. Security: competence never compensates for insecurity.

“No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all of the credit for doing it.”

(Andrew Carnegie) TRENCHES | 59

18. Self-Discipline: the first person you lead is you.

“Don’t quit because once you are in that mode of quitting,

then you feel like it’s okay.” (Jerry Rice)

19. Servanthood: to get ahead, put others first.

“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I

know: The ones among you that will be really happy are

those who sought and found how to serve.”

(Albert Schweitzer)

20. Teachability: to keep leading, keep learning. a. Your growth determines who you are. b. Who you are determines who you attract. c. Who you attract determines the success of your

organization. (team) d. If you want your organization (team) to grow, you have

to remain teachable.

21. Vision: you can seize only what you can see.

Vision is everything to a leader: a. It leads the leader. b. It paints the target. c. It sparks and fuels the fire within, and draws him forward. d. It is also the fire lighter for others who follow that leader.

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As Walt Disney once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”

Trenches Presenter: Developing the participants into leaders is one of the cornerstones of the Trenches Prep Program. Take each of Maxwell’s qualities of a leader and put them on a white board. On one side, write “How Can You Apply This Quality to Basketball?”

On the other side, write, “How Can You Apply This Quality to Life?”

Discuss each with the group, making sure that that participants are engaged in the conversation. The format for this is also in the Trenches Workbook. Have the participants’ copy what is on the white board into their workbook so they can save it for future use.

You may also assign each participant a famous person who has shown great leadership – LeBron James, Chris Paul, Magic Johnson, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Kobe Bryant, etc. Have them do some research on their person and report back to the group how each utilizes his leadership.

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NOTES

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DEVELOPING YOU, THE PRODUCT Duration: December through March LIFE POINT: “YOU WANT PEOPLE TO LOVE AND CELEBRATE YOU, BUT THEY MUST NOT KEEP YOU FROM MAKING TOUGH DECISIONS. YOU STILL HAVE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.”

This segment builds upon ‘Changing from the Inside Out” and leads the student-athlete beyond the stages of a person and process to that of becoming a ‘product.’ When that college coach comes to recruit you, are you selling him the entire product or just selected components of the product? What are your strengths? Your weaknesses? Areas that need improvement? Trenches participants will guided through a “whole-student-athlete’ self-discovery and ascertain what areas they need to improve upon to become that ‘product’ the college coach wants in his program. They will develop an individualized goal plan in conjunction with the staff to increase his or her “sell-ability.”

Introduction Life is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. Something you’ve probably heard a million times: it’s not about how fast you finish, but how well you finish. Why? Because, in the reality of life, you never finish.

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That’s some pretty heady stuff to think about, isn’t it? Right now, it may feel like you are sprinting towards getting that college scholarship.

Gotta improve my shooting percentage … gotta get my body stronger … gotta increase my speed … gotta eat right … gotta get enough sleep … gotta study more. You have all of these ‘gottas’ going on, but they are disjointed. You do a little of this; a little of that; but it’s not organized in a plan. And, it certainly doesn’t provide a college coach with much information to base giving you a college scholarship on.

We’ve talked about ‘people;’ remember your role models and the ways in which you need to treat people? We’ve discussed ‘process:’ your daily disciplines; operating from the inside out; the tapes that you play in your head. Now, we’re going to look at ‘product,’ the last point in this progressive 3P series. The goal is to give a college coach a comprehensive picture of who you are.

Applying ‘Product’ to Basketball What is a product? A product is “something (as a service) that is marketed or sold as a commodity.” Merriam-Webster Online also adds that a product is “something that is a result of a process.”

Bet you never thought of yourself as a ‘commodity,’ did you? Well, let’s look at the definition of the word. A commodity is “something or someone that is useful or valued.”

(Merriam-Webster Online)

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How do we apply that to you, the basketball player? A coach ‘values’ both his front and back court players. They are all ‘useful’ to him if he wants to win that game.

Got it? You are a commodity, a product, as a basketball player.

But! We have to look at another part of the definition so that you understand the whole concept: “something that is marketed.”

Yes, you, as a basketball player, must be a commodity that can be marketed.

Most people don’t think about marketing themselves until they are way into their career. But, as a basketball player, your body only gives you a short window in which you can play at a high level. Therefore, you have to jump start your career long before your homies even begin to think about what they want to do with their lives. In other words, it’s time to grow up and take charge of your life.

Unfortunately, many basketball players don’t have a clue about this aspect of their game. They think they can ball and still hang on the streets; they think they can have it all their own way. And, what happens is that they take their skills to the playgrounds, not the college campuses.

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But, for you, the basketball player, the scholar-athlete, it’s all about learning the right way to market yourself as a product. Keep in mind that college coaches watch hundreds of high school players, and they only give scholarships to a very few. You want to be one of the very few.

To really understand the importance of becoming a marketable product, take a look at these statistics. According to the article, “Probability of Competing beyond High School” on the NCAA website, there are 153,987 high school seniors playing boys basketball. Only 17,984 have been granted freshman eligibility through the NCAA Clearinghouse. Guess how many freshmen roster spots are available?

5,138! That means 12,846 kids don’t earn a basketball scholarship.

Approximately, 1 in 4 NCAA eligible basketball players receive scholarships. Makes you sit back and really think about your need to focus, doesn’t it?

Academics In this process, academics often get lost; in fact, they usually take a very distant second place to basketball. Amazing, especially since players are called ‘student-athletes.’

Let’s take a look at some more statistics. Of the 3,996 senior basketball players, 46 are drafted into the NBA. Using percentages, 1.2% of college basketball players get drafted! (“Probability of Competing beyond High School;” NCAA website) Makes you really think again, doesn’t it?

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Time to move the academics from a low second to above basketball; time to prepare for a future that probably won’t include bouncing a ball for a pay check; time to think of yourself as a student who plays basketball.

What does your high school transcript look like? Is it one that you are proud of? Or, is it one where it’s obvious that you just got by? Take a long, hard look at it. Is it showing a college coach that you are going to be a serious student when you get on campus?

Trenches Presenter: You might want give each participant a copy of their transcript. Go over it with them. Ask them the questions above.

Let’s assume that your transcript isn’t stellar. You’ve slacked off in some areas. What can you do to show a college coach you are serious about getting that degree?

Let’s go back to the NCAA regulations. Did you know that colleges are rated on their academic and graduation success rate?

Colleges are penalized if a student-athlete leaves school because of poor academic performance. So, when a college coach looks at your transcript, he has to make a decision whether he thinks you can succeed in the classroom.

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How can you show him that you are committed to being a student as well as an athlete? You can enroll in a local community college or an online college and take a few courses. This will show that you are serious about your education and will also allow you to earn some college credits before you ever walk on campus.

You may wonder what type of courses you should take. Most schools require freshman to take general education classes their first year.

Look in the college catalogs of some schools that are interested in you. See what is required for freshman and gear your course selection accordingly.

Another way to show your commitment to your education is by looking realistically at the results of your Accuplacer test with your advisor.

What were your academic strengths and weaknesses? Let’s say, for example, that your writing skills were below average. What are you doing to improve those? Are you committed to working diligently in your Academic Enhancement program? Gaining academic skills is really on you. We can provide you with the tools, but it’s up to you to take full advantage of them.

Trenches Presenter: You might want to have a copy of each participants Accuplacer results available. You might want to ask the Academic Advisor to join you for this segment.

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Let’s take a minute to talk about the SAT or ACT test. You know how important it is to get a certain score. SPI Prep provides different ways to help you prepare for the test. Are you taking advantage of these?

Again, your success depends on the amount of work you are willing to put into studying. Putting up 500 shots a day is great, but it won’t mean a thing, if you can’t get the score needed to be accepted into college.

Trenches Presenter: Again, you might want to have a copy of the scores each participant received on the SAT/ACT test.

You may know what you want to major in. Or, maybe you’re still uncertain, and are considering the results of the career interest inventory you took. You don’t necessarily need to know when you enroll in college. But, if possible, try to figure out a few majors that interest you.

The late Steve Jobs, best known as the Apple guru, once said: “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

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Trenches Presenters: Have the participants use the first few sentences of this quote and apply it to themselves. Instead of the word ‘work,’ have them substitute the career they are considering.

Example: “Teaching is going to fill a large part of my life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what I believe is great teaching.” Ask them if what they just said feels right in their hearts. This is an exercise that they can do independently as they think about their career paths.

Let’s go back to the title of this segment, “Developing You, the Product.” As part of your ‘product package,’ you want to include your academic goals and aspirations. Add what you have been doing academically during this prep year. You might want to detail your service project experience as part of this package, especially if it applies to your major.

Activities We’ve discussed the negative influences in your life, and we’ve talked about some activities, like hanging on the street, that make a college coach question whether you are the right fit for his program. These are the things that you’re now trying to eliminate from your life.

You can’t be hooping, training, and studying all of the time. What other things do you like to do? Maybe you’re a movie buff, or fixated on video games. Maybe you enjoy the youth activities at church or cooking up your signature dish.

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Think about some things that you enjoy doing that may be different from the public stereotype of a basketball player. (Did you happen to put any of these fun things in your Daily Disciplines?) Have you gotten any awards or commendations that are not connected to basketball?

These activities probably are not going to make or break you getting that college scholarship. But, what they show the coach is that you are a well-rounded person, someone who enjoys taking a break from basketball. That might sound weird to you. But, look at it this way.

We all need a change of scenery at times, and you know how to do that. It’s a positive; it’s a part of ‘Product –You!”

Appearance Hearing the word ‘appearance’ probably makes you groan. But, as a ‘product,’ you want to understand when you need to dress, shall we say, ‘business casual.’ And, there are a few styles that you really do need to avoid.

Let’s first talk about styles that shouldn’t be a part of your wardrobe.

The biggest one is wearing your pants so low that your underwear shows. That style started years ago in a California prison. Inmates weren’t allowed to have belts; thus, their baggie pants hung down way below their waists. The style become the rage, especially in urban neighborhoods. Today, wearing your pants like that basically says to the world that you are a part of the hood. And, we all know people’s perceptions about the hood. True or not, you don’t want to TRENCHES | 71

represent yourself, your family, or your school that way. Buy a belt and use it!

A few other questionable items of clothing include: sleeveless shirts; ripped jeans; chains, pendants, or medallions worn over clothes; or sunglasses worn inside.

Do you know that the NBA has a dress code? They actually adopted one in 2005. Players, when involved in league or team business, must wear a dress shirt with a collar, dress pants or dress jeans, and dress shoes (not sneakers). The rationale: players need to respect the game, the league, and the fans, and be professional at all times.

Does this mean that you must walk around in business casual attire at all times? Absolutely not. But, if you are going on a college visit; if a coach is taking on a campus tour; if you’re going to an away game where there are locker rooms; if you are representing your school in a press conference or other speaking engagement; then you need to dress business casual.

And, along with your dress, you have to make sure your hair is clean and neat. Does this mean you need to do away with the latest styles?

No, unless, of course, your hair gets in the way of your play. The operative words here are neat and clean!

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Picture yourself dressed business casual. How do you think this will affect you as a ‘product?’ Think it will make a good impression, and show the perspective coach that you are a class act?

Manners All your life you’ve been told, “Get your elbows off of the table;” “Chew with your mouth closed;” “Don’t run in the house;” “Don’t slam the door.” The list could go on and on, couldn’t it? This section is going to be a little different. Sure, it’s going to tell you what to do and what not to do. But, now you will learn to how to change from a typical teenager into a young gentlemen. You might be rolling your eyes or making a comment under your breath, but, seriously, these skills will not only help you impress that college coach, but will benefit you throughout your life.

You’ve got your business casuals on because a college coach is coming to meet you for the first time. You’re looking good, but are you acting good? Let’s talk about some general manner rules that you need to follow.

1. Body Language: Stand tall, shoulders back, and walk with a normal gait.

2. Handshake: As you walk towards the coach, extend your right hand.

3. Eye Contact: As you are extending your hand, look the coach in the eyes.

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4. Introduction: Immediately say, “Hi, Coach Jones. I’m John.

Thank you for coming to see me.”

Simple, huh? Guess what? You just wowed the coach! You look professional; you called him by name; you looked him in his eyes; and you greeted him with respect. Impressive!

Here’s an explanation. Two things that teenagers often do: they don’t look someone in the eye when talking, and they mumble almost incoherently when they speak. Ok, that might work with your homies, but it’s a real turnoff for adults.

Let’s take the mumbling part a bit further. We all have a certain way of talking when we’re with our friends or people that we know really well. Some of you may speak ‘street;’ others may use a lot of slang or cussing. But, when you’re in a professional type setting, you must speak the English that you were taught in school. It might feel weird or stilted, but it’s what is expected of you, if you want to make a positive impression. As you get to know someone, you may ease up some. The rule is to stick with school English and definitely no cussing. Why? Because it’s a sign of respect!

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Trenches Presenter: You might want to role play the above example with the participants. Make sure that they make and keep eye contact, and they speak clearly.

Interviewing So far, you’ve learned to market your product - you - by exhibiting your commitment to your education; by showcasing activities that reflect another side of you; by getting your business casual on; and by skillfully using manners. Now, it’s time to think about talking with the coach.

Sure, you know the coach is coming to watch you play, but he also may want to talk with you. One side of the conversation will be about convincing you to come to his school; the other will be chatting with you, getting a feeling for who you are as a person. One way to ace this part of the meeting is to become comfortable with adult strangers asking you questions.

Let’s discuss some pointers that will help you shine:

1. If you know in advance that a specific college coach is

coming, go on the school’s website. Read about the school and select one or two aspects that catch your interest.

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2. Make sure that you arrive early. If the coach is coming

at 2PM, you need to be at the meeting place no later than 1:45PM. Remember this quote, “To be early is to be on time; to be on time is to be late:” 3. Do not bring any food or beverages to the meeting.

Your focus needs to be on making a good impression, maintaining eye contact with the coach, and paying

attention throughout the entire interview.

4. If you have a phone, make sure that it is turned off. Put it in your pocket and don’t bring it out until the coach leaves the building.

5. Think about the teams you’ve played on and the experiences

you had before the coach comes. You will be prepared if he asks you about them.

6. Be comfortable discussing your academic goals. If you know

what major you want, explain why. If you’re not sure, be prepared to talk about some majors you are considering and why.

7. Keep your answers short and to the point. The coach doesn’t

need to know your whole life story. If he has any further questions, he will ask them.

8. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep, eat a good meal, and stay alert. The last thing you want to do is zone out.

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9. Don’t commit unless you know going into the interview that this is the dream school you definitely want to attend.

10. At the end of the meeting, shake the coach’s hand, look him in the eye, and thank him for his interest in you.

11. Follow up the next day with an email or a text, again thanking the coach for coming to visit you. You may not have any interest in attending his school. But, you don’t know what the future holds. You want this person to

remember you as someone who made a positive impression!

Trenches Presenter: Having the participants nail an interview is extremely important. The best way to prepare them is to role play first and then to conduct mock interviews.

In role plays, you can either be the coach or the player. If you are the player, make some mistakes that the participants can pick up on and discuss. You can also ask another staff member to assist you prior to engaging the participants.

Role Play Examples:

1. The coach from a mid-major school in West Virginia is coming

to visit your point guard. The player likes the school but isn’t sure if he wants to be that far from home. You know the coach; if he’s coming for a visit, he expects to get a commitment right then and there. Role play with the player how to prepare for this type of interview.

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2. The coach from a D3 is coming to visit your shooting guard.

This player hasn’t gotten many looks from schools; in fact, this is the first time anyone is coming to him. He’s really nervous. He’s also unsure if this is where he wants to go to school, but he’s afraid, if he doesn’t commit, he won’t get another offer. Role play with the player how to prepare for this type of interview.

3. Your big man has a lot of offers, mainly from small D1 schools. His dream has always been to play in a big time program. He’s thrilled; a major school coach is coming to visit. He has one scholarship left and is looking to secure his bench. Bar any injuries or de-commits, playing time may be limited for your player. Role play with the player how to prepare for this type of interview.

For mock interviews, schedule a time and a place for every participant. Prior to the interview, provide each player with the name of the coach and what school he represents. You may want to ask 2 or 3 staff members to sit in the interview and evaluate the participant. Prepare your questions ahead of time. (A sample evaluation form and interview questions are located in the Handout section of this manual.) After the interview, allow the evaluators to provide feedback to the player. If a participant really has difficulty with the interview process, schedule another mock one for him so that he can gain some confidence.

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NOTES

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STUDENT OF THE GAME Duration: January LIFE POINT: “WORKING HARD IN ALL THAT I DO!” Young, elite athletes tend to rely on their superb physical abilities to drive their game performance. As a result, they haven’t internalized the knowledge or intricacies of the game of basketball, or have they developed the mental toughness needed to push themselves through to next level. In this segment, student athletes will increase their knowledge of the game; for example, making the right reads on offense and defense, taking balanced, high-quality shots, running the pick and roll, setting screens, and effective communication on both ends of the court. They will watch film of their practices and games, will learn how to effectively critique themselves, and will be involved in exercises and situations to increase mental toughness skills.

Introduction

You hear people say that LeBron James is not only one of the best, if not the best player, in the world. They also add that he is a student of the game. What exactly does “student of the game” mean?

A person who is a ‘student of the game’ lives the game in every aspect that it can offer. It means learning something new about basketball each and every day. This person never tires of analyzing and studying TRENCHES | 80

every facet of the game, and is always looking to improve. This definition applies not only to players, but to coaches, too. The question becomes, as a player, “How do I become a student of the game? I pay attention to Coach and try to do what he tells us to do.” That’s an excellent first step. But, there are others you can take.

For example, get yourself a binder and label it according to the year.

After practice or a games, write down concepts, plays, rotations, and anything that the coach mentions that could be useful in the future.

You can also list questions that you want to ask your coach. Keep a binder for each year that you are involved with basketball as a reference for the future.

And, as a head’s up, many college coaches require their players to keep a notebook. In fact, some even collect them for review. Get in the habit now!

Another example is to read everything you can find about basketball.

Ask your coach if he recommends any good books. Use a search engine that will provide other suggestions. You might also enjoy reading autobiographies or biographies of the great players or coaches. Create a library for yourself.

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Beside the practical life skills that was just discussed, Trenches will cover in more detail two specific areas that will assist you in becoming a student of the game:

1. The History of Basketball: If you want to be a student of the

game, then you need to know its origins and the people who developed the game as we know it today.

2. Get Your Head in the Game: Most young basketball players

rely on their God-given physical talents when they play.

In order to become a complete player, you have to have a head understanding and a mental toughness to really succeed on an elite level.

History of the Basketball Many believe that the game of basketball actually originated with the ancient Mexicans, specifically the Mayan and Aztec cultures.

However, instead of using something rubber as a ‘ball’, they threw down the decapitated skulls of their captured enemies!

In the United States, the actual game of basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith, a Canadian doctor who developed it as a winter sport for the YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts. He wrote the 13 rules, used a soccer ball, and nailed up two peach baskets for the hoops. The peach baskets did not have their bottoms knocked out so, after each goal, someone had to climb up a ladder to retrieve TRENCHES | 82

the ball! Each team consisted of 9 players who were not allowed to bounce or dribble the ball, run or take any steps when they had the ball, and had to rely totally on the pass to advance the ball.

Interestingly, the first basket ever made was by William R. Chase; the score of the first 30-minute game (two 15 minute halves) on January 20, 1892 was 1-0.

Trenches Presenter: If you would like to have the participants experience what the first game of basketball was like, divide the group into teams of 9. Put all 18 on the court at the same time, use a soccer ball, and have them pass the ball without moving or dribbling.

As the game became more popular, a rough style of play ensued.

Many YMCAs in northern New England banned the sport. But, basketball leagues outside of the Y began forming including the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union).

These competitive leagues continued popping up all over the east coast in cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. Sometimes, teams would travel to play in another city. The first known professional basketball game took place in Trenton, New Jersey. An admission fee was charged; players earned $15. But, the best player, Fred Cooper, was paid $16, and he became the first highest paid player in the sport!

Colleges such as Yale, Minnesota, Dartmouth, Columbia, and Navy began fielding teams in 1901. Once again, the play was rough and, although there were rules in place, there were few knowledgeable TRENCHES | 83

refs. As injuries increased, people called on President Roosevelt to create a governing body that would step in and monitor the situation.

Thus, in 1910, Intercollegiate Athlete Association was formed.

It was also at this time that basketball was beginning to gain popularity in Europe. Exchange students who studied in Springfield took the game back to their countries. During World War I, the American soldiers played while stationed overseas, introducing the game to locals. Basketball made its first appearance as a demonstrated sport at the St. Louis Olympic Games in 1904. During the 1920s, the first international games were played.

Basketball in colleges became more organized, but the professional leagues remained unsettled. A team would start up with a flourish, only to be gone in a month or two. A group, called the Barnstormers, consisted of teams that included the original Celtics. There were also several African-American teams; the New York Renaissance Five (known as the Rens) and, the most famous one that still exists today, the Harlem Globetrotters, were the most popular.

In the beginning of organized basketball, there were African American teams and Caucasian teams, as noted above. The color barrier began changing in the college ranks in 1931 when a student from Columbia University became the first black All-American. Pro sports didn’t become integrated until 1950 when Chuck Cooper was drafted by the Boston Celtics. However, black players still faced the same discrimination that was prevalent prior to the 60’s Civil Rights TRENCHES | 84

Movement; they often could not eat in the same restaurants or sleep in the same hotels as their white teammates.

One of the ‘almost lost’ history of basketball are teams that consisted of the “Black Fives.” Dozens and dozens of all-black teams played against each other until the NBA became integrated in 1950. In fact, there are artifacts that show that black teams and white teams did play each other for a championship. One story says that, after a black team won the championship, a star player cut the word ‘colored’ out of his ‘World Colored Champion’ jacket. Unfortunately, stories like these aren’t always mentioned in the basketball history books.

The general public was beginning to embrace professional basketball in the late 1930s, but it was a distant third to hockey and football. Then, World War II and the Great Depression emerged, bringing the lack of food and money for most Americans. As a result, most teams disbanded due to the lack of funding and players joining the armed forces.

In 1946, arena owners were looking for a way to fill their venues and decided to establish the Basketball Association of America (BAA).

They brought together college athletes from the US to play against each other. The BAA had mixed success; often what brought the fans to the arenas was the excitement of the opening act – the Harlem Globetrotters!

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After a few seasons and the addition of more teams, the National Basketball Association (NBA) was formed in 1948. Surprisingly, at this time, the NBA was second in popularity behind college basketball teams. Unfortunately, a point shaving scandal broke in college ball, creating a need for fans to attach themselves to a more legitimate basketball league. This was the impetus that the NBA needed to establish itself as the most popular basketball league in America.

What was described above is a very brief description of the history of basketball. For the more serious student of the game, the charts below were developed to provide a more detailed, chronological listing of development of basketball.

DATE

EVENT

1891

Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball.

1898

Dribbling was added to the game.

1898

The first professional team was established, but it folded 6 years later.

1900

The number of players on the court was reduced to 5 per team.

1904 Basketball was a demonstrated sport at the St. Louis Olympics.

1910

The Intercollegiate Athletic Association was formed.

1915

Players were allowed to shoot the basketball.

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DATE

EVENT

1919

The first international basketball game played between the US, France, and Italy in what was called the Inter-Allied Games.

1927

Harlem Globetrotters came into existence as an exhibition team.

1932

Federation International of Basketball (FIBA) was formed in Geneva, Switzerland.

1936

Basketball became an Olympic sport.

1937

General Electric, Firestone, and Goodyear created the pro National Basketball League. (NBL) Most of these teams played in the West.

1938

Sports writers introduced the National Invitational Tournament. (NIT)

1939

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) was formed to create its own national championship.

1946

Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed. (Pro)

1949

Both the BAA and the NBL folded. The remaining teams formed the National Basketball Association. (NBA)

1954

NBC bought the rights to the first televised NCAA championship game.

1954

The shot clock was introduced in the pro game.

Prior to this, a team could hold the ball for the entire game. Fans became bored and didn’t come to games.

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DATE

EVENT

1954

Fouls were limited to 5 per person in the pro game.

Once a player got 5, he was eliminated.

1954

Bob Cousy of the Celtics organized the National Basketball Players Association.

1960

NBC expanded its television coverage of the NBA to Saturday and Sunday matinees.

1964

The first sports union (NBA Players Association) engaged in collective bargaining.

1967

American Basketball Association (ABA) emerged and competed with the NBA causing salaries to greatly increase.

1969

Signed Spencer Haywood, a college sophomore, creating a disadvantage to the NBA who only drafted players who completed 4 years of college.

1971

NBA and ABA merged.

1974

By allowing Utah to draft Moses Malone out of high school, the 4 year college rule ended.

1979

Debut of ESPN which showed highlights, improving the NBA’s marketing

1979

3-point line was added

1979

Larry Bird and Ervin ‘Magic’ Johnson came into the league, adding more excitement to the game.

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DATE

EVENT

1982

Michael Jordan and James Worthy won an NCAA championship for UNC

1983

New NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement: salary cap and drug policy

1984

David Stern takes over as the NBA Commissioner

1984 Georgetown won the NCAA championship with Patrick Ewing 1985

45-second shot clock was introduced to the college game.

1992

Olympic ‘Dream Team:’ Jordan, Magic, Bird, David Robinson, Ewing, Karl Malone, Pippen, Stockton, Chris Mullen, Clyde Drexler, and Christian Laettner

1998

NBA owners lock out players over a hard cap salary dispute; season consisted of only 50 games

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Instrumental in the development of basketball were several people who have gone down in history for their contributions. It is because of the courage and dedication of these people that you are preparing for that coveted college basketball scholarship.

One of the fascinating things in this chart is the NBA’s class of 1984!

NAME

DATE CONTRIBUTION

Dr. James Naismith 1891 Invented the game of basketball William R. Chase 1892

Scored the first basket ever in a basketball game

Harry “Bucky” Lew 1902 First African-American to sign a

professional contract

(Pawtucket Athletic Club in the

New England Basketball League) Nat Holman

1920

Developed the art of passing

George Gregory, Jr. 1931 First African-American All-American George Mikan

1946

NBA’s first superstar

William Garrett 1947

First African-American to play at a major college (Indiana)

Clarence Walker 1948

First African-American to play in a national championship game

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NAME

DATE CONTRIBUTION

Red Auerbach 1950

Legendary 9 time champion Celtics coach; introduced the fast break. Also known for breaking down the color barrier.

Chuck Cooper 1950

First African-American drafted into the NBA (Boston Celtics)

Earl Lloyd 1950

First African-American to play in an NBA game

Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton 1950

First African-American to play in the NBA finals

Danny Biasone 1954

Introduced the shot clock and team foul limit

Bob Pettit 1956

Won the first NBA Most Valuable Player award

Bill Russell 1956 Drafted into the NBA; a game

changer who perfected shot blocking Wilt Chamberlain 1959

Drafted into the NBA; a game changer with amazing stats

Oscar Robinson

Averaged a triple-double

1962

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NAME

DATE CONTRIBUTION

Lew Alcindor 1966

Dunk was outlawed in college for 9 years because of his domination. Converted to Islam and changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; holds NBA record for total number of points scored

Bill Russell 1966

Became the first African American NBA player/coach

Spencer Haywood 1969

Was denied entrance into the NBA because he hadn’t completed 4 years of college; signed with the ABA

Earl Lloyd 1970

Became the first full-time black head coach in the NBA

Moses Malone 1974

Signed with Utah after completing high school which ended the NBA’s ban on drafting high school players.

Ervin ‘Magic’ Johnson 1979

Drafted by the Lakers; increased excitement in the NBA

Larry Bird 1979

Drafted by the Celtics; NBA popularity rose

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NAME

DATE CONTRIBUTION

Michael Jordan 1984

Drafted as the 3rd overall pick

by Chicago; signed his own brand with Nike before he joined the NBA

Danny Manning 1984 Considered the best college

player ever; drafted by LA Clippers Hakeem Olajuwon 1984 7 ft. center drafted #1 by Houston Charles Barkley

1984

Drafted 5th by Philadelphia

John Stockton 1984

Drafted 16th by Utah; one of the best point guards ever

Kevin Garnett 1995

First player drafted out of high school in 20 years

Kobe Bryant 1996

Drafted out of high school to the Lakers via the Hornets

Shaquille O’Neil 1996

Signed by the Lakers; one of the most dominant centers of his era

Kwame Brown 2001

First high schooler taken #1 in the draft

LeBron James 2003 Drafted out of high school #1 by Cleveland

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Trenches Presenter: You can use the above information in a variety of ways, depending on the maturity and interest level of your group. You could have each participant prepare a written and oral report on one of the events and/or people. Together as a class, you could develop a visual timeline on a wall, adding other events that the participants may find while researching. This segment lends itself to presenter creativity! What is important is that the participants understand that the game they play today was over 100 years in the making; and that race and cultural differences are a part of the history, some of which correlate with the social climate of the particular times; other, with people’s prejudices and ignorance. (For example, you or the participants could do some research on Jeremy Lin.)

Get Your Head in the Game Having the physical talents to play basketball at a high level is Godgiven; having the smarts to produce on an elite level takes some serious work on your part. Two areas that Trenches is going to deal with in this session are mental toughness and using film to improve your game.

Mental Toughness The definition of mental toughness can vary, depending on the venue.

One can be considered mentally tough if he can withstand the rigors of Navy SEAL training and graduate from the program. Others who survive a horrible childhood of poverty, neglect, abuse, or illness and TRENCHES | 94

go on to do great things with their lives could be considered mentally tough. And, the college athlete who goes in a late round of the draft, yet retires after a long, productive pro career, is often a motivated, mentally tough person.

Basically, mental toughness is about attitude and self-esteem. It requires tough conditioning and a determined internal will to succeed. In other words, you need to have the mental fortitude or persistence to push your body through the muscle discomfort day in and day out.

Let’s look at this example. You’ve been in a tight, physical game where the score is going back and forth, neither team has been able to pull ahead. You get to the end of regulation, and you’re tied.

You’re exhausted; you gave it all you had for 4 quarters. On top of that, you tweaked your ankle and got a bloody nose fighting for a rebound. Now, you have to go into overtime, and you feel like your tank is empty. This is where mental toughness kicks in. It’s not about how you feel; it’s about your mind telling you that you have the resilience and the focus to get in there and play harder that you did in that last quarter.

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So, what exactly is mental toughness? There is not one definition that totally explains the concept. But, let’s look at the words we’ve just used to describe mental toughness situations: rigor, attitude, self-esteem, motivation, determination, persistence, resilience, focus. Now, let’s add some others: consistency, emotional self-control, calmness under fire, energetic. Put all of these words together, and you will begin to understand what mental toughness means. Below is a visual picture that includes some of the most important characteristics of mental toughness.

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Let’s take a look at each of these words and see how we can apply them to mental toughness.

1. Attitude: Having a positive attitude towards your coach, your teammates, your training, your game preparation; having a winning attitude and leaving any negativity at the door.

2. Resilience: Having the capacity to recover quickly from a shoddy practice, an inferior game, an unpleasant interaction with one of your teammates; quickly letting go of and bouncing back from a bad situation.

3. Self-esteem: Feeling confident in your basketball skills; you are sure of yourself but not arrogant, boastful or a show-off.

4. Motivation: Your desire to improve your 3-point shot gets you to the gym two hours before practice instead of hanging with your friends; you have the desire to keep going.

5. Determination: You have the willpower or the resolve to lock down on defense and not allow your opponent to touch the ball; your strength of character will not allow you to stop until you reach your goal.

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6. Perseverance: You work hard to earn that college scholarship, even though you haven’t been recruited yet; you keep trying, no matter how long it takes and even when someone tells you that you can’t do it

7. Focus: You won’t let anything distract you from following your Daily Disciplines; the only thing you allow in your mind is the task at hand.

8. Consistency: You shoot your jumper the exact same way every time you take one; you do what you say you are going to do.

So, the question is: how do I become more mentally tough? NBC Basketball Camps provides the following 5 ways that can help you.

1. Do what is hard for you first. Know what you are weakest at and work on it at every practice.

2. Be specific; know what you want to do and do it. If you say you are going to put up 100 foul shots before you go home, do it.

3. Be accountable to yourself, your coach, your teammates, your school, and your family. If you need help in this area, ask someone to hold you accountable, like your role model.

4. Deal with problems; don’t settle for what is comfortable but go for change. A little pain now can yield a big reward later.

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5. Guard your thoughts. You do what you think; don’t allow thoughts like ‘I can’t’ enter your mind.

Trenches Presenter: We are not born with mental toughness; it’s something that we all must acquire as we grow and mature.

This segment is one of the most important lessons that you can teach participants. Will they get it the first time you present this? Probably not! What you need to do is keep reinforcing the concepts throughout your practices, games, and interactions with the participants. Use the buzz words that are in the diagram over and over until they become a normal part of the participants’ vocabulary. This will help them internalize the concepts and then apply them in their lives.

You Studying You One of the best ways to improve your game is through film sessions.

These will allow you to receive immediate feedback on your performance during practice and games. For example, film sessions will show your opponents’ defensive sets, giving you the knowledge to counteract them and get open. Bottom line, film sessions will teach you the intricacies of how you and your team play which will greatly improve your performance.

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Trenches Presenter: You can present the concept of film sessions but it is the coaches’ responsibility to carry them out. You can point out the positives, but it is up to them to make it happen.

Talk with the coaches before you present this. If using film is not part of their plan, eliminate it from your presentation.

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NOTES

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IT’S ALL ABOUT TEAM Duration: February

LIFE POINT: “YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO GIVE UP A LITTLE OF YOURSELF TO BE A PART OF A TEAM.” The elite high school athlete is most often the best or the ‘go to’ player on the team. He is depended upon to make the spectacular plays or to score the most points. When he enters college, the team consists of players who were all the top athletes in their high schools’ programs. The student-athlete must learn to accept what he may consider a diminished role; be prepared not to start, or to spend more time on the bench than on the court. Trenches participants will understand the meaning of ‘role player’ and how to apply it; i.e., coming into a game to provide that ‘spark’ or to shoot the 3.

Through directed activities, they will come to understand the meaning of ‘team’ and discover the nuances of being a great team player, whether on the court or in the locker room.

Introduction San Antonio Spurs Coach, Gregg Popovich has very strong words when it comes to team. No one can’t fault his bluntness; it’s probably one of the reasons the Spurs were the 2014 NBA Champions. He has emphatically said, “No one is bigger than the team. If you can’t do things our way, you’re not getting time here, and we don’t care who you are.” Wow! TRENCHES | 102

Let’s think about the 2012 men’s Olympic basketball team, coached

by Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski. Players on the roster included LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Tyson Chandler, Russell Westbrook, Andre Iguodala, James Harden, Deron Williams, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, and Anthony Davis. Look at that list; a coach’s dream of superstars and all of them starters on their respective NBA teams except Anthony Davis. He, of course, had just become the number 1 overall pick in the NBA draft and hadn’t played a professional minute. Remember, there are only 5 players who start in a basketball game. So, think about this: 7 of these studs, these household names, were on the bench when the ref blew the whistle and threw up the jump ball.

John Calipari, men’s basketball coach at the University of Kentucky, mostly recruits the top high school athletes in the country. Often, his players are ‘one and done’s.’ But, for that one year, he may have 8 or 9 guys, one of which other schools would be salivating to have on their rosters, as his nucleus. Again, only 5 of these guys will start.

The result: three, maybe four of these kids, begin the game on the bench, probably for the first time in their lives.

As we stated, the San Antonio Spurs won the 2014 NBA Championship.

The 2012 Men’s Basketball Team won an Olympic gold. The University of Kentucky is consistently contending for a national championship.

And, each of these programs have at least 12 players, all of whom are starters in their own rights. Why are all of these superstars willing TRENCHES | 103

to 1) not start; 2) play a role instead of being the main guy; 3) only see limited minutes; and 4) leave their individual egos at the door?

Because they understand the concept of ‘team.’ They choose to put ‘team’ before themselves; and they believe that winning the gold or hoisting the championship banner is much more of an honor than who starts or who scores the most points.

What Is A Team?

After listening to Coach Pop’s strong statement, let’s define exactly what Trenches means by team. According to Google.com, a team is “a group of players forming one side in a competitive sport or game.”

On the surface that sounds about right; a group of guys get together and play another group of guys. Well, that’s what it may look like to the casual observer, but is that really all there is to a team? Is that how Coach Pop or Coach Cal or Coach K put a team together? Do they just stick a group of really good guys on the court together and hope for the win? We all know the answer to that is a resounding, “NO!” Of course, to start a team, there must be a group or a certain number of guys. But, that’s where we leave the Google.com definition in the dust. Why? Because ‘team’ is a concept, not a nice, little dictionary definition that we all can memorize.

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Let’s look at some of the components that make up the ‘team concept.’

1. You all come together for a common purpose.

2. You all have common goals and common objectives.

3. You all must complement each other.

4. You all must work together and help each other out.

5. You all are one; no person is more important than the other.

Ok, these all sound great. They go together and make sense to some degree. But, how do you put them into practice so that your particular group of guys can really become a team? Let’s break this down even further.

1. You all come together for a common purpose.

The obvious comment here is that you all come together to

play basketball. But, your common purpose is beyond just the game. You come together to represent the team you play for, be it AAU, high school or college. The school or organization is what brings you together; therefore, your common purpose is to respect and play your best for the colors of those who support or sponsor you.

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2. You all have a common goal.

The common goal of a group of basketball players is to increase your skill and to win games. And, as an aside, each of you wants to play for the team that has the greatest chance of winning a championship.

3. You all must complement each other.

Ut-oh! The first two were easy; now we get to one that begins to separate the serious team member from the casual one. Let’s use the example of a puzzle and look at some ways that you complement your teammates.

a. You need to have 5 people who play different positions.

It wouldn’t be very productive to have 5 point guards on the floor at the same time; they’d trip over each other because they all have the same role. So, a team is comprised of both frontcourt and backcourt players, all of which have different roles and responsibilities. In other words, all of the puzzle pieces can’t look or function the same.

b. You need to have the 5 players who can work well together. They might not individually be the best at their position but together, they work well as one.

They know how to communicate; the team performs as a tight unit when they are on the floor at the same time.

Again, the puzzle pieces are all different, but they fit together to create a completed puzzle.

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c. You need to have one and only one floor general. This

player is the designated coach on the court. The other players have to be willing to defer to this person. This puzzle piece is the one in the center, the section that all of the other pieces connect to.

4. You all must work together and help each other out.

Your point guard is struggling with his shot; he’s in a slump. You notice he’s staying after practice to get up some shots, hoping to get his rhythm back. You quietly walk over to the basket and begin rebounding for him.

You know you need his points as well as your other teammates to win the next big game. Just as a puzzle piece that has a bent edge and needs to be smoothed out, you are helping your teammate through his rough edges.

5. You all are one; no person is more important than the other.

This can be an issue for those of you who have been the stars on your team or who have worked on your game by yourselves. In order for a team to be high functioning, each person must accept the fact that he is one of 5, not a team of 1. If the coach calls out a play, then you must follow it, even if you see something different. Basketball is not a one man show! And, a puzzle is not made of only 1 piece; it cannot have rough edges on its sides or it won’t fit together.

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Are you starting to get the picture of a team? A team must have players that compliment or make the group complete. Yes, this refers to basketball skills, but coaches also look for players that are flexible and are willing to work with each other. Again, there are no individuals; a puzzle only makes a picture when it has all of its pieces connected together!

Let’s go back to Coach Popovich’s impactful quote and revisit it once more. “No one is bigger than the team. If you can’t do things our way, you’re not getting time here, and we don’t care who you are.”

You need to memorize his words and keep them ever present in your mind and heart. You are not and never will be bigger than any team you play on. It’s just that simple. And, if you truly believe in this concept, you will have ‘success’ stamped all over you.

Being a Teammate Get a picture in your mind of a good friend. What do you see? We’re not talking about the physical characteristics but of the ones that are internal. What makes this person someone you consider your friend?

According to the Urban Dictionary, as friend is someone “who is aware of how goofy you are and still manages to be seen in public with you; who makes you laugh until you pee your pants; who will cry for you when one of your special items disappear; who, when you don’t have enough money to get ice cream, will chip in; who TRENCHES | 108

knows all of your internet passwords; who would never hurt you just to be mean.” OK; maybe this made you laugh a little but you get the picture. A friend is someone who is there for you; someone you can count on.

The goal of this segment is to help you understand how important it is to view a teammate like a good friend. Ok, maybe you won’t share your internet passwords, but counting on a teammate is paramount to the success of the team.

When you first join a team, you meet people who you don’t know or don’t know all that well. At this point, you are a member of a team, but you are really not a teammate. Huh? Yes, of course, you are on the same roster, but you don’t know much about the guys. You don’t know where the center likes a lob, or what signals your point guard uses to call a specific play.

Let’s look at the information John Leonard compiled from Joe Ehrmann’s book, “InSide Out Coaching.” He makes comparison statements to show the difference between being on a team and being a teammate.

Being On The Team Vs Being A Teammate

Being on the team benefits your personal goals and ambitions.

Being a teammate benefits the goals and ambitions of your team and your teammates.

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Being on the team can make you a bystander.

Teammates intervene in the lives and actions of their teammates.

Being on the team involves personal effort.

Being a teammate involves the efforts of every player.

Being on the team means doing what is asked of you.

Being a teammate is doing whatever is needed for the team

to succeed.

Being on the team can involve blaming others and making excuses.

Being a teammate involves accepting responsibility,

accountability, and ownership of the team’s problems.

Being on the team makes you “me-optic,” asking what’s in it

for me.

Being a teammate makes you “we-optic,” asking what’s in it

for us.

Sometimes players on the team are drawn together by

common interests; teammates are together by a common mission.

Sometimes players on a team like one another; teammates respect one another.

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Sometimes players on a team bond together because of a shared background or compatible personalities; teammates bond together because they recognize every player is needed to accomplish the goal of the team.

Sometimes players on a team are energized by emotions; teammates energize one another out of commitment.

Trenches Presenter: Review above essay and use each point as a group discussion. The primary objective is that the participants understand the importance of being a teammate, not just a member of a team.

No matter how many teams you have been on or what your level of play is, one thing that is consistent is that you can always learn to be a better teammate. Below are 5 tips that will help you be that teammate that all players love and respect:

1. Learn to listen It doesn’t matter who is on your team, you can always

learn something from them. But, the first thing you need to do is get your ego out of the way. Listen to what your teammate has to say and make sure you thank them.

Then, take the time to process the advice you were given.

Maybe it was good; maybe it wasn’t. But, you won’t know until you think about how it can apply to you.

Another part of listening comes under the label of being

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questions a college coach will ask your AAU or high school coach about you. Do you listen to what the coach talks to you about; do you try to apply or change some aspect of your game that he asks; or do you roll your eyes and keep on stepping? If you do the last, then you will be labeled ‘uncoachable.’

Translation: you won’t be getting a scholarship!

2. Practice on your own

We’ve mentioned this before but it bears repeating. The best way to get better as an individual is to take the time to do your individual workout. Why is this important as a teammate? If you practice, let’s say your 3 point shot, logic assumes that your percentage will increase. So, when you get into a game, you have more confidence and more skill at shooting the 3. This, in turn, shows your teammates that you’re all in there with them, and want to do your best to help them win.

3. Be supportive

Not to be repetitive, but a team full of players who support each other will have a better record and probably will have more fun on the way to chalking up those wins.

When your teammate makes a good play, tell him. If he screws up, don’t jaw about it; after all, he knows what he did and feels badly enough about it. If your teammate falls, go over and help him up. Say encouraging words TRENCHES | 112

before he shoots a foul shot. Be the teammate that is there for others and, along the way, maybe even insert a little humor in your interactions!

4. Be accountable

It’s all about taking care of business. We’ve talked about the phrase, “Too be on time is to be late; to be early is to be on time.” This means for all team functions, not just games and practices. Make sure you have all of your gear, clean and ready to use. Turn your cell off. Keep your total focus on your teammates and coaches. Being responsible goes a long way in helping you be accountable!

5. Set goals

These goals are just for yourself, maybe something you add to your Daily Disciplines. They are simple, realistic goals in which you think about what you can bring to your teammates and team every day. As an example, maybe you can commit to being consistent in your demeanor. It’s so much easier to be around a teammate whom you know will always respond to you in a supportive manner. You don’t want to be known as a grump or a complainer one day, and a clown the next. Up and down personalities drive people crazy and aren’t conducive to good team chemistry.

Maybe you want to make sure you speak to each of your teammates every day and not just in the heat of a practice or game. It could be you are the one who suggests fun, TRENCHES | 113

team activities. Whatever you choose, set it as a goal and do it! Just make sure you bring something positive to your team.

Role Player According to Sportingcharts.com, a role player “refers to a player who plays a supporting role on his team, and does it well and willingly. A role player can either be a bench player who is a solid performer in the minutes he gets, or sometimes, a starter who plays a very specific role on the team.”

The explanation goes on to say, “Good role players are vital to virtually any team. They tend to be the guys who come off the bench, don’t play a lot, but are ready when called upon. They are usually students of the game, not the most talented players, but they make up for it with preparation and hustle. They give their team quality minutes in support of the team’s stars, or in place of the team’s stars so they can get some rest during the game.”

“The other type of role player is the kind who does play a lot, and may even be a starter. However, they are not star players, but one who have a specialty they are very good at, such as rebounding.

These players know their limitation very well, and don’t do things on the court they aren’t good at doing.”

Listen again as the explanation of a role player is read to you. Do a little mental inventory: put yourself in the position of a role player.

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Maybe you always dreamed of yourself as the star of your team, the one whose last minute shot won the game. Or, maybe you thought you would always be the top rebounder, or the go-to player on your team. Sometimes, though, it just doesn’t work out that way; your coach needs you to be a role player.

Swallow the disappointment and learn what he expects from you.

This is especially hard for college freshmen to accept. They’ve been the star of their high school team, and now they aren’t even starting. There might even be some games where they don’t play.

Now, it’s time to grow up, and understand that your role, no matter how limited, is an important piece of your team.

Learn to be the best role player that you can be. If you’re sent into a game with the sole purpose of shooting the 3, then every chance you get, practice your long ball. While you are on the bench, keep your head in the game. Observe what is going on; look for the weaknesses on the opposing team’s defense. When you’re number is called, confidently go into the game, position yourself where you saw the defensive weakness, and shoot the 3. Swish!

When you are a role player, you don’t have to be as concerned about fouls. Now, that doesn’t mean you go hack someone for the sake of hacking. It means that you can hustle more on defense. You can fly after those loose balls; you can be the ‘energizer’ the team needs to get going. In other words, get your mind set that, when you enter the game, you will make a difference!

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One thing to keep in mind is that some college coaches use their freshmen sparingly. They feel it’s a time to watch and learn. If that is your coach’s philosophy, accept your role, learn all that you can, and be prepared when you are called.

Trenches Presenter: This can be a tough area for participants who are used to getting the majority of the playing time. You will need to be sensitive to their feelings, yet practice tough love. You need to prepare the participant to be willing to accept whatever role the coach may give him and to do so with the right attitude.

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NOTES

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