Defining toughness (Must read)
This entry was posted on 4/27/2009 6:51 AM and is filed under Boys Basketball News, Girls Basketball News.
We constantly talk to our players about toughness. We let them know that this is one of the main things that collegiate recruiters are looking for while evaluating players. Defining toughness is hard to impart to the players. Although toughness may imply physical toughness in most cases we really are talking about the mental aspects of the game.
It isn't often that articles are written that explain in depth what we are trying to teach to our Metro players. Jay Bilas of ESPN has written a great article that explores defining toughness. As he mentions in the article " Toughness has nothing to do with size, physical strength or athleticism. Some players may be born tough, but I believe that toughness is a skill, and it is a skill that can be developed and improved. ".
He has listed 33 items that help to define toughness.
1. Set a good screen
2. Set up your cut
3. Talk on defense
4. Jump to the ball
5. Don't get screened
6. Get your hands up
7. Play the ball, see your man
8. Get on the floor
9. Close out under control
10. Post your man, not a spot
11. Run the floor
12. Play so hard, your coach has to take you out
13. Get to your teammate first
14. Take responsibility for your teammates
15. Take a charge
16. Get in a stance
17. Finish plays
18. Work on your pass
19. Throw yourself into your team's defense
20. Take and give criticism the right way
21. Show strength in your body language
22. Catch and face
23. Don't get split
24. Be alert: Tough players are not "cool."
25. Concentrate, and encourage your teammates to concentrate
26. It's not your shot; it's our shot
27. Box out and go to the glass every time
28. Take responsibility for your actions
29. Look your coaches and teammates in the eye
30. Move on to the next play
31. Be hard to play against, and easy to play with
32. Make every game important
33. Make getting better every day your goal!
As it says in the article, "Tough players come to work every day to get better, and keep their horizons short. They meet victory and defeat the same way: They get up the next day and go to work to be better than they were the day before. Tough players hate losing but are not shaken or deterred by a loss. Tough players enjoy winning but are never satisfied. For tough players, a championship or a trophy is not a goal; it is a destination. The goal is to get better every day."
The remainder of the article that defines all of the 33 items is here :
DEFINING TOUGHNESS
Go in and print this article and review it constantly.
What is great about toughness is that EVERYONE is capable of having it and doing all 33 items. The only thing holding you back from doing it is you. If you can have toughness as is mentioned here and in the article you will be a successful basketball player that coaches and teammates love to have on their teams.
