Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal

Thursday, January 26, 2006

MY CHEATING HEART

I’m not sure if it is cheating to use recycled written material in my journal. The following is most of an email I sent to the team today. It seems also like a good update on where I see us right now, too, so I’m throwing it in here.

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Sometimes my speeches do not take place on some field. For example, here's one. Listen up!

We are coming along. Last night in field house was good. I'm happy for us to be working on a zillion things at once right now, and especially the many different kinds of conditioning we are dabbling in. I know it will pay off for us in a variety of ways.

THINK ABOUT WHAT WINNING THE WHISTLE REALLY MEANS, and that things like that are a part of OUR conditioning process. It is not only running.

CONDITIONING is also about being able to THINK AND MAKE GOOD CHOICES while stressed and tired. It is to be able to avoid silly turnovers, and or things like no back-up of goal. If you are not tired, you will not push someone from behind because you were too lazy to get on the other side of him.

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TONIGHT we will focus on defense. SO! On offense it will be important for you to read, adjust, and react to different situations quickly - Use TOUCH - Read if they are in a zone type defense or whatever. Move ball and body.

PICKS away from the ball are part of what I want to do on offense, so start using more of them now in 6 on 6, 4 on 4, whatever. Pick away from the ball (weak side) is a lot of what I mean when I yell, "MOVE WITHOUT THE BALL!"

THINK about offensive timing. Mr. FEEDER, always look up and see how the cuts are coming along while you are moving goal-ward and protecting the ball. CUTTERS, look at our man carrying the ball. Try to work at and imagine the moment when the feeder can get a chance to look at you. Make it so that he sees nothing but your stick as a target moving right toward him at that instant. Then, bang (sorry) he automatically throws it, and you catch it in rhythm with time and room to get a good shot off.... This stuff does not happen because one person does something good. It happens only when many people get on the same page and the movement on the field creates a life of its own. He who hesitates is lost.

Reps will be quick tonight.

Remember that we are about 50 people working in a tiny box with a green floor. It's not easy, but I'm working on it.

Please think about this stuff. I want us to know at all times who we are and who we are trying to become,

Coach

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