Tuesday, December 30, 2003

LOVE, GLOBAL STYLE – Formerly Love American Style

I can't believe we are about to ring in the fifth year of the new decade, century and millennium.  With barely a deep breath to reflect on the old, it seems like this brave new world has been busily and quickly defining its new form while distancing rather than connecting itself with all things that have come before. Perhaps this is the natural path that progress has taken during a generation of Pepsi Generation progeny. Out with the old and all that. 

THE KING IS DEAD – LONG LIVE THE KING

Teams are like this, too. It doesn't matter how much success a team might have, the next group the next year always thinks it has the new, improved plan.  Why is this so?  I always thought you were supposed to "model" success by taking notes on it (success) whenever possible so that wisdom gained might let you have a chance to create it (success) when you are in an unfamiliar situation and there is no model to work from. 

Nope, that ain't it.  If we had green gloves last year, then by God we'll have gold ones this year.  The black sweats must now be gray.  It was pointed out recently to me, "Coach, we need more rides (as in organized ways to stop opponents from getting ball out of their end of field).  They have seven at New York Tech".  Apparently the two players that brought this to my attention weren't happy enough with the one ride that I have used a lot lately (almost 20 years).  That one riding formation is really only 75% of where it needs to be before I would consider moving on to using another one as things are.

I AM THE LIZARD KING – I CAN DO ANYTHING  - Jim Morrison 

Hmmmm.  I'm also thinking right now that I could not possibly comprehend 6 more of them (rides) well enough to be able to create any sort of team success with them, especially with the 20 minutes or so of on field practice time we will likely have totaled up before our first set of games.  What is the point?  If I'm going to make stuff up, it is going to come from "baking" with the ingredients that I have in the kitchen, and not because you somehow can't be good unless you do things a certain way.  If that were the case we'd be screwed anyway.

YOU AIN'T NUTHIN' BUT A HOUND DOG – The King, Elvis Presley 

From a coaching standpoint, here are my thoughts on riding: It's hard enough to get offensive players to forget about the goal they didn't just score, to immediately switch gears, and get back quickly to "ride" well enough to keep bad things from happening to our defense at the other end.  Our goal is to not let the opponent get quick pressure on our defense ever, but especially in riding situations.  If we get a takeaway on a ride I'm thrilled, but it is not the real goal.  Why would I want to make this whole process more complicated than it already is when we will have so little time to practice as is?  I guess this is my response to the request to have seven rides for seven situations.

EARTH WIND AND the funky PLONKEY

We are, in fact, a team that often can't wait for you to bring it (ball) down to our end, because we have more and better ways to get it (ball) back down there. As stated I have only one goal that must absolutely be achieved by our team in riding situations and that is to not give up any fast breaks to the other team.  When we get there I'll be all about multiple rides.  I'm a good student.  I'll learn.  I'll read all about it.  I actually had well above a 2.0 GPA in college. Until then, my advice would be to shut up and run like hell.

KING OF THE ROAD (I'm a man of means by no means)  -  Roger Miller

 Don't get me wrong, I like input from players.  I like it a lot when it comes from the right place, too.  When a player (or anyone) says something to me that I know in my heart holds the best interests of this team in the palm of that thought, I strain to hear the whole gospel, and then I say thank you very much and look for the hat. 

"My way or the highway" is a popular coaching attitude that I am either not smart enough or secure enough to pull off.

WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING KING

The other side of the truth equation is that if they (team) don't trust me we got problems.  Every year I must prove myself over again to a brand new but not so new team.  I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.

Next Entry | Previous Entry


Flip Started Blogging Before it was Cool, Read Over 400 of His Entries Since January 2001
Jump to a Period:
2006: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov
2005: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2004: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2003: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2002: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec
2001: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Sept Oct Nov Dec