Skills For Life

1. Skills For Life A Basketball Player

2. Table of Contents

3. General Philosophy“Acquire Balance and growth as a Person, Student, and Player” Cycle of Achievement • Develop the desire to make Young-Adult Decisions and have a “good attitude” • Learn to care about the people around you taking a “we” rather than “me” approach and act with a servant’s mentality to the program. • “A Great Player must prove they want to be both THE BEST player on offense and defense.” • Understand factors that aid success and negate talent: • Attitude • Intelligence • Conditioning • Work Ethic • Strength Personal Academic Basketball

4. A Basketball Player A basketball player can come in any size, shape, color or ability level. He can come from any school as a freshman with any degree of ability and skill. The things he will learn and will have handed down to him are pride, respect for the game, and understanding of his strengths and weaknesses. He will be taught and will take pride in the history and traditions of our basketball program . This will include the good, the bad, and the ugly. He will learn to take pride in the sacrifices that those players before him have made so that he can wear his jersey and school colors with pride. All players will learn the importance of us over me and the dedication of winning efforts as opposed to individual awards and accolades. The true measure of each individual is in how much of himself he has given to reach his own potential as a team player ---- mentally, emotionally, and physically. In the end, he is what that small eight grader wants to be and what an old man can remember in great pride what he once was! “The test of this century is whether we mistake the growth and power for the growth of strength and character. We’ve weakened discipline and respect for authority and let freedoms of the individual dominate.” Vince Lombardi Legendary Coach of the Green Bay Packers

5. The Best You Can BeWork on your fundamentals everyday. A serious disconnect has impeded the passage of conventional wisdom – life’s invisible education – from generation to generation. Whatever the cause, this breakdown in communication has resulted in the failure of many people (young and old), to learn the behaviors and thought processes that lead to success and satisfaction in school, at work, at home and in sports. Without learning the life skills and fostering those habits they will need to succeed, current and future generations will find it very difficult to achieve economic success and personal fulfillment. The Unwritten Rules are an important component of the invisible education we all need to acquire to assist us in our day to day instructions, and to assist us in instructing others while helping them help themselves in the real world. Character • Always tell the truth. • Live up to your responsibilities, then, do more than asked. • Be sympathetic to those in more difficult situations than yours. • Stick with what you believe in and trust your own instincts. • Develop a reputation for being dependable. • Understand that your word is your bond. • Don’t take the easy way out. • When in doubt about a course of action, ask yourself, “What would my mother say?” Attitude • Develop your own prospective (s) – find something of value in every situation. • Have a positive outlook; don’t let negative thoughts (yours or others) take over. • Everything you do should be done with enthusiasm. • Surround yourself with people you like. • Maintain your sense of humor; smile and laugh often. • Encourage yourself and cheer up others. • Dare to dream, then live your dreams. • Eliminate the word “quit” from your vocabulary. Getting Along • Treat everyone, as you would like to be treated. • Listen to other people and consider their point of view. • Keep your promises, large or small. • Treat everyone with dignity. • If you cannot say something nice, don’t say it at all. • Mind your manners. • Remember the “little things” - please and thank you, • Hold the door for those behind you, addressing people as Sir and Ma’am • Always return a favor. Spirituality • Exercise your spirit as well as your mind and body. • Believe in a power greater than yourself. • Carve out some quiet time for reflection every day. • Lend a helping hand – to family, friends, and your community. • Be humble. • Cultivate relationships with friends who share your values. • Count your blessings – every day.

6. Appearance and Costume • You only have a few seconds to make a good first impression. • Clothes can make the man or woman. • Look the part of the position you want rather than the one you have. • Devote enough attention to fitness, nutrition, sleep, and recreation. • Self – respect is reflected in your appearance. • Be well groomed at all times – hair, face, and hands. Basic Communication • At a first meeting, shake hands firmly, look the other person in the eye, and smile. • Be a good listener – use 2 ears and 2 eyes and close 1 mouth. • When speaking, use your words, voice, tone, and body language to communicate your message. • Be animated and enthusiastic. • Watch the words you use (slang, profanity, etc.) as people will remember them in forming an opinion about you. • When using the telephone, speak slowly, clearly and deliberately. Be respectful of others in your use of cell phones. • Observe good communicators and imitate those you admire. • Think before you speak. Work With a Plan • There are no shortcuts to success. You must prepare yourself to have a plan. Remember, if you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. • The dictionary is the only place where you’ll find success before work. • Take an inventory of your strengths and weaknesses and use it to set realistic goals for yourself. • Time is the currency with which you “purchase” your goals – manage it carefully. • Create “To Do” lists to schedule all your daily activities – job, school, sports/recreation, etc. • Organize your workspace and living space. • Do the hardest tasks first. • Be prepared accept and adapt to change. Matters of Money • Know where your money goes – keep records of what you spend. • Always pay your bills on time. • It is never too early, or late, to start a savings account. • No matter what your economic status is, have a budget. • For financial peace of mind, spend less than you make, or make more than you, spend. • Set realistic limits on your credit card use and stick to them. • Think about the types of insurance you need – now and in the future.

7. CHARACTER WATCHWORDS • Watch your thoughts; they become words. • Watch your words; they become actions. • Watch your actions; they become habits. • Watch your habits; they become character. • Watch your character; it becomes destiny. THE ESSENCE OF CHARACTER Your true character is revealed by the clarity of your convictions, the choices you make, In addition, the promises you keep. Hold strongly to your principles and refuse to follow the currents of convenience. What you say and do defines who you are, and who you are…you are forever.

8. CHOOSING A COLLEGE • DECISION MAKING • Make a list of factors that you believe to be important when choosing a college to attend. Factors such as: • Distance from home • City vs. suburban type campus • The head coach and assistants • The players • Academic programs available • Conference and schedule • The facilities, athletic and academic • Opportunity to play • Style of offense and defense • Winning/losing history of the program and fan support • Do the coaches behave and recruit like they really want you • To make this evaluation process more objective, you can assign point values, 1-10, for each category; then total the score for each school to help you objectively determine your opinion of each school. Be sure as you make your decision that you are happy, not just trying to please your parents, friends, coaches, ..... Visit a few different campuses on unofficial visits to help you determine what you really like. • OFFICIAL/UNOFFICIAL VISITS • You can unofficially visit college campuses as many times as you want and the college allows. Unofficial visits are visits in which you pay the expenses. You can stay overnight on an unofficial visit, but you must pay the overnight cost of a dorm room (usually nominal). Most colleges prefer that you do not spend the night on unofficial visits. • Expect on an unofficial visit to talk with any or all of the coaches, tour the campus, speak with an academic advisors and/or a financial advisor, tour the athletic facilities, and possibly meet players or other important people related to the athletic program. REMEMBER THAT YOU CREATE AN IMPRESSION WITH EVERY PERSON YOU MEET. • If you attend an athletic event during an unofficial visit, the college can provide you with up to 3 complimentary tickets. • The best time of year is the time that's most convenient for you. August is OK, but to get a good idea of what a college campus is all about, it's best to visit during a time when students are on campus. • NO UNOFFICIAL VISITS ARE ALLOWED TO VISIT IN JULY.

9. OFFICIAL VISITS- A prospect is allowed a total of 5 official visits, with no more than 1 to any single institution. • The college can pay hotel and meal expenses for a prospect and his family. • The college can pay for the prospects travel, not the parent's travel expenses, even if the parents transport the prospect. • Official visits can start on Jan. I of the prospect's junior year, but are not allowed during the time period between the prospect's junior and senior year. The official visit can last up to 48 hours, starting with the time the prospect arrives on campus. • Before the official visit, the prospect (or the prospect's school) must provide the prospect's academic transcript and the ACT, SAT, PSAT or pre-ACT test score. • *you can play open gym during an unofficial or an official visit. Remember to be personable to the players. They will report back to the coaches about not just your play but also your personality and whether they think you can fit into that program. • PHONE CALLS/E-MAILS • A prospect can call a college coach any time, but if the call is during a no-contact period for the coach or the coach has used his I phone-call-per-week, the college coach may not return the phone call. • A prospect can e-mail a college coach any time. • College coaches can make1 phone call during March of the prospect's junior year, and 1 phone call on or after June 21 of the prospect's junior year. • The college coach can make 3 phone calls in July during the prospect's junior year, and I phone call per week thereafter (except no contact periods). No contact periods include any time the prospect is in competition at a tournament. REMEMBER, YOU CREATE AN IMPRESSION WITH HOW YOU SPEAK ON THE PHONE AND HOW YOU WRITE YOUR E-MAILS. SPEAK AND WRITE CLEARLY. USE GOOD GRAMMAR AND SPELLING

10. HOME VISITS: • College coaches do not always, but they can make home visits in September of your senior year. They can make home visits after Jan. I of your junior year (during the school year) but typically wait until your senior year September. The home visit may last from 1 to 2 hours. Food or dessert-type food can be served but is not necessary. If you are serving a meal, please consult the coach first. He may not have time for a meal or may have eaten at an earlier meeting. During the visit, the coach will talk with you about his program and the college/ university. Much of the talk might be repetitive from an earlier unofficial or official visit. Your parents and you should ask questions. You may ask questions from a prepared list of questions, which will help make you look more organized. • The college coach is trying to get to know your family and you better during this visit, so YOU ARE CREATING AN IMPRESSION WITH THE CLEANLINESS OF YOUR HOME, YOUR PARENTS APPEARANCE AND THEIR COMMENTS, AND WITH YOUR APPEARANCE AND COMMENTS. • A college coach might also visit you at school. He might watch you workout on the court, lift weights, or play open gym. REMEMBER, YOU ARE • CREA TING AN IMPRESSION WITH YOUR APPEARANCE AT SCHOOL, AND WITH HOW HARD YOU WORK IN THE WEIGHT ROOM OR ON THE COURT. TO PROMOTE YOURSELF • You can call any college coach, your high school basketball coach or an AAU coach to call any college coach on your behalf. Also, you can write or e-mail college coaches who coach at colleges where you think that you can play. • You can send DVD's or videotapes to any college basketball coach. Your video or DVD should include a short (10-15 minute) highlight of your scoring, passing, or rebounding ability (depending upon your position) and at least 2 full quarters of play; the 2 quarters should be quarters in which you played well, not necessarily scored every possession, but you played well. • You should create a short resume similar to the forms colleges send to you to complete. Information such as your full name, social security number, birth date, home and cell phone number, home address, parent's full names-occupations and college (if any) attended, your brother's and sister's names/ages, high school name-full address-phone number, your school counselor, your e-mail address, your GPA, your ACT and/or SAT score, academic honors (such as honor society) and your offices held or community service activities. • Also include all of the varsity sports that you played, the position(s) that you play in each sport, your height, your weight, your positions played, your athletic honors, your averages relative to shooting, rebounding, assists, steals, and any other pertinent statistics, your high school coach's name and contact information, your AAU coach's name and contact information, your team's season records and accomplishments (such as league and or district champs, etc.). • Store this information in your computer to use whenever colleges send you information requests. Make sure that the above resume is well presented- neat and organized. This also is an impression-creating tool. OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: • Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse ONLY if you think that you are NCAA Division 1 or a NCAA Division II prospect. NCAA Division II prospects do NOT need to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. Register on line at http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net and take the necessary forms to your high school counselor so that she/he can send your high school transcripts to the Clearinghouse. You CAN NOT send your own transcripts to the Clearinghouse. • See your high school coach, high school counselor or talk with the college coach who is recruiting you about financial aid such as academic scholarships, grants or loans if you are not being offered a full at athletic scholarship.

11. QUESTIONS TO ASK COLLEGE COACHES: • What is your graduation rate? • How many players graduate in 4 years? In 5 years? • In what academic areas do your players major? • What career counseling services are available? • Does your team participate in community service activities? • Do you help with scheduling and would I work with an academic advisor from my major AND with an academic advisor from the athletic department? • Do you pay for 5 years of school? • Do you pay for summer classes? - On campus? In my home town university (if you are going away to school)? (DO NOT ASK DIVISION III) • Do you require or do you want players taking summer classes? • Do you require or do you want players to stay on campus for the summer? • If players stay on campus, do you help players get summer jobs? If yes, what types of jobs? • Do your players work your summer basketball camp? • Do you help your players play in NCAA sanctioned summer leagues? • What is the Basketball program's relationship with the different academic departments? • What tutoring services are available? What do they cost? • What are your study hall policies? • Are computers and tutors available during study hall? • Where is study hall, media center, classroom, etc.? • Does the basketball staff monitor the player's weekly progress and class attendance? • How many days of class did the players miss last year? • What do you do to allow the players the opportunity to complete class work while on the road for any extended time? • What was the team's GPA last year? • How many of last year's graduating seniors are employed full time? • What are some of the careers of graduated players over the past 5 years? • Do players live in dorms? Or can they live off campus? • Do you encourage the players to live together? • Describe your meal plan? (DIVISION III will not pay for your meal plan.) • Who pays for the textbooks? (DO NOT ASK DIVISION III.) • Describe your pre-season conditioning program- weight room, running, agilities, etc. • How do you spend the 2 hours per week of individual skill instructions? • Which coach works specifically with my position? • Do the players lift weights during the season? • What time of the day do you normally practice? • Describe your normal practice plan- in pre-season, during mid-season, during late season • How would you describe your coaching style? • Who are the other players in my position? • What other players are you currently recruiting at my position? Where do I stand in that group? • How many junior college players and transfers have played for you in the past 5 years? • How many players typically play in each game? • How much time does a typical freshman play in your program? • What type of offense do you run? • What type(s) of defense do you play? • Do you think your players and teams improve as the season progresses? • What is your non-league schedule? • How successful have your teams been over the past 3 years? DIVISION III • How many freshmen do you recruit each year? • How many freshman basketball players enter your school each year? How many freshman play varsity basketball? • Do you have a JV basketball team? • What academic scholarships, financial aid, or work study opportunities are available? • Can the financial aid package change from year to year during my academic career? • How many freshmen who enter your program as a freshman, graduate as a senior in your program? • Do you travel to any tournaments during the pre-season or regular season?

12. McDonogh 35 BasketballSKILLS FOR LIFE PERSONAL INVENTORYGrading Scale: 0 = Never 1 = Once in a while 2 = Half the time 3 = Most of the time 4 = Always