Stop Playing the Lottery, Start Winning

“I hope I have a good year next year.”

I have heard this comment from hundreds of athletes since I have been around the game of basketball as both a player and coach. Heck, I probably even said to myself at some point.

Stop basing your game on hope and start building it on WORK.

Why do so many players prepare for the season like they are playing the lottery? Playing the lottery is hoping something happens. It’s why I don’t play the lottery. I want to go earn what I get in my life.

Here is a common conversation I have with players during the off-season.

Player: “Coach, I’m going to the gym. “

Me (Coach): “What are you going to do at the gym?”

Player: “Getting up shots”

Me: “What type of shots?” (This is when I usually get a strange look back…the wheels start turning and the athlete fumbles through their words thinking about what they are going to do and what I want to hear).

Me: “You don’t have a plan. You’re basing your game on hope.”

The first thing you do when going somewhere is figure out how you are going to get there. If you go on a trip in the car, you plug in the address to your GPS system. If you are taking a class at school, you get a syllabus from your teacher or professor that outlines what you need to do and how you can get an A or B in the class.  If you are going to cook something, you buy the ingredients at the store and follow the recipe.

“Direction and discipline, not intention, determines your destiny and success.”

When working with athletes, I often talk to them about a 3D philosophy. I have found that the athletes and people that have all three of these D’s are coming much closer to maximizing their potential and vision. The three D’s I’m referring to are this:

Dream (vision, goals)

Direction (plan)

Discipline (self-discipline – habits)

It starts with a dream. Once you are clear on your dreams, vision and goals, you can map out your direction. Your direction is your plan and process of how you will accomplish your dreams. Coaches are a great resource in helping you establish your direction and off-season training.  The third D, discipline ultimately falls on the athlete. A coach can help some with a player’s discipline, however, it ultimately comes back to the player’s self-discipline.  The highest level of discipline are habits. At PGC (Point Guard College) we often ask athletes at our summer courses this question.

Are you training according to your aspirations?

Prepare with urgency and imagination.  As a player, I used to love the off-season. I came to realize this was my time to separate. When you have inferior athleticism and speed, you must out-skill and out-will your opponent. This comes through a ridiculous dedication to off-season training. Being in an empty, hot gym or outside in the driveway or park is where players are born and games are won and lost.  This is where playing time is earned and opponents are beaten.

The problem is most athletes don’t carry this same thought.  Most athletes hope to improve their shot, get a better handle, or become a more dynamic playmaker.

Stop hoping and start working.

Another important piece to development is having an imagination. It  is critical to maximizing your time and efforts. There will be days when you don’t feel like it. There will be times when you are in an empty, dark gym.  In these moments, you have to remind yourself  that you want to perform when the lights come on.  During these lonely times, put yourself in the season. Imagine you’re playing in that championship game. Visualizing yourself going against the best defender or team you have ever played against can help spark your intensity and training efforts. 

Action Steps for this Off-Season (Separation Season):

1)   Decide your Dreams, Goals and Vision. It can even be helpful to break your dreams into three time frames (short-term, intermediate, long-term)

2)   Map out your direction and plan. Be specific. If your doing a shooting workout, saying you will get up 200 shots isn’t good enough. More exact the better:

a.     i.e. 100 made 3pt shots (40 from right and left corner, 40 from right and left wing, 20 from top of key area). 25 mid range 1 dribble pull-up jumpers going right, 25 mid range 1 dribble pull-up jumpers going left. 25 Mid range catch-shoot no dribble, 25 free throws

3)   Create the discipline that matches your habits. One great way to help create the discipline you need is to surround yourself with people that hold you accountable. Find that guy or girl who is the hardest working kid in your program or in your area and train with them.

 -Sam Allen

Connect with me on questions, thoughts and comments

@CoachSamAllen

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