Ralph Pim

High performers have great self-awareness and situational awareness. They have the ability to accurately see and feel a situation. They focus on what needs to be done. They make choices that generate and elevate the mindset and energy necessary to succeed.

BEN McCOLLUM -Mental toughness is a non-negotiable -Bad attitudes & negative energy are not accepted -His motto for his team is “Impose your Will” and it means taking control of the game or situation. -The proper mindset creates energy. Source: Don’t Complicate Winning

You win with good people. Be consistent hiring and recruiting good people. Good people will find ways of being successful. Bad people will find ways of destroying whatever you are trying to accomplish.

Great coaches prepare their team for any situation that they may face during the season.

Nuggets from Jay Wright -The one greatest characteristic you can have as a human being is a great attitude. -Stay humble. Don’t let winning a basketball game define you. -Perseverance. To never give up is the only way to make good use of the skills you have in place.

“The greatest team defenses are the greatest talking teams. So much of how you defend a pick and roll is how you talk. Talking on both ends of the court is hard to master. To have a great team, every player must talk. Work on communication every day.” -Tom Crean

Bill Self: “In studying trends of the winningest programs over the past 15 years, what wins more than anything is: -Rebound Margin -Shooting Percentages -Defensive Field Goal Percentage “The best at these three things are the best teams in basketball.”

Tom Izzo strongly believes that a player’s confidence is linked to their toughness. Coach Izzo and his staff instill toughness in their players by consistently putting them into situations that challenge their mental and physical strength daily.

“Basketball and life are both all about making decisions. The best players and the best people make the best decisions.” - Nolan Richardson, Naismith Hall of Fame coach

Coaches: establish daily routines to grow your team’s identity. Players must take pride in their identity and know that it is an important key to their success.

Working in New Zealand for 8 years was a life-changing experience. The All Blacks believed in simplicity. Their mental performance coach, Gilbert Enoka, was one of the best in the world. One of his core principles was: You’ll never rise above the opinion you have of yourself.

Bob Knight believed the key to consistent execution is to be demanding but it must be done intelligently. Don’t demand of players what they can’t do. Demand what they can do. Source: Don’t Complicate Winning

Almost all teams have written core values & standards. Teams enter the season with high expectations, but only a few reach the level of greatness & most get stuck in mediocrity. What’s the key? Great teams have a process that turns words into championship, observable behaviors.

Rituals reduce cognitive noise, giving the brain an anchor. It settles nerves. High performers need emotional regulation, familiarity, flow & rhythm. Remind your players to control what they can (effort, preparation, execution) and release what they can't (outcome).

Your habits determine your level of success. Athletes that improve the most consistently push themselves out of their comfort zone. They do more than what is required. It’s the extra rep, one more sprint, etc. that makes the difference. Make it a habit to always exceed the standard rather than just meeting the standard.

"Everything starts with trust and being honest & upfront with your players. If the players trust the coach, and if the coach is all about the team and the players, everyone will figure out, that if we do this together, we will all experience success." - John Calipari

During the off-season, every day matters. Establish a purposeful daily plan that provides a framework for you to follow. Then take the leap and fully commit to becoming the best person, the best player, and the best teammate that you can be. You will never regret it!

Spent the afternoon with close friend Dean Lockwood, Director of Player Development at Michigan State. It would be hard to find a better person than Dean, plus he is one of the best teachers of the fundamentals of the game. It’s been fun watching his success through the years!

Bill Russell was the greatest winner of all time. During his career he played in 21 winner-take-all games & never lost. “Understand why you are winning and never take it for granted. Recognize that it is harder to rebound from a win than to rebound from a defeat.” Bill Russell

John Thompson believed the game of basketball was not the end goal, but rather a vehicle to opportunity. Through demanding discipline & strong mentorship he prepared his players not just for basketball success but also for life beyond the game.