A Pen And A Napkin

One of the best ways you can bring your team together is through a planned team excursion that often combines team bonding and basketball. In today's podcast, we look at why team excursions are important, what it takes to put one together and possible destinations or ideas that you can use to bring your team into a great environment outside the gym. In addition, we've got a great quote from Kelvin Sampson about team achievement (or lack thereof), along with a study of one of the most consistent coaches of the late 20th century, Eddie Sutton. Enjoy!

One of the most critical points of any game night is your postgame routine and how you both react to the events of the game, but also how you analyze and prepare for your next interaction with your team. In today's pod, we discuss what to do in your post game, ideas for sprucing it up, what not to do and how to communicate with your team the next day. In addition, we've got a great quote from James Clear, and a study of the guy who is most responsible for UConn becoming a blue blood in men's college basketball!

We're really excited to have Kevin Furtado, the host of "The Championship Vision" podcast and GBB HC at Calvary Day (GA) High School on the podcast! On this podcast, we discuss his influences, learning from his own podcast, creating a strong culture using the "Row The Boat" theme, attacking offense and much, much more! We had a little technical difficulty at the beginning, but enjoy!

Hey, we're halfway through this grand experiment of the "Win The Season" podcast, and today we take a look at what you should have implemented by your first game. Every team is going to be different, but we share some ideas about what you should have in and how to implement it. In addition, we've got a great quote from one of the GOAT'S of the NFL in Bill Walsh, and we study the greatness that was John Thompson at Georgetown. Enjoy!

One of the best ways to alleviate some of your future parental issues is by getting out ahead of it and communicating effectively with your parents before the season even starts. In today's podcast, we discuss what most coaches do in this day and age, a preseason parent meeting. We discuss the things to do and not to do, things you should discuss, and ways that you can effectively communicate the goals of the team to the individuals on the team. In addition, we tie in the American Revolution to your parent meeting (trust me, it works) and we study a great coach that never quite got over the top in Don Chaney.

As a team, you will perform transition (from offense to defense or defense to offense) more than any other concept in the game in a 5 on 5 situation, so you must have a great plan for what you're going to do! In today's podcast, we discuss a variety of thoughts about transition and how to teach it during practice. In addition, we've got thoughts about not getting frustrated by your team's failures from Robert Greene, and we've also got a great coach study today!

It's hard to run a program without parental involvement, but it is also a slippery slope; you need the help, but you don't want too much help from the wrong people. In today's podcast, we discuss strategies to help you with parental involvement, how to make it positive for both your program and the parents, and ways that you can involve peope without involving them. In addition, we've found a way to mix Marlon Wayans with basketball, and we discuss legendary Georgia women's basketball coach Andy Landers!

Some nights, it's the shortest 10 or 15 minutes of your day, while other night's, it's the longest . . . being efficient with your halftime can really help your team with it's second half adjustments and performance, so control it! Today's podcast features some thoughts and ideas on how to make your halftime more efficient, interactive and effective to get you ready to dominate the second half. In addition, we've got a great quote from John Delong and the indepth dive of the guy whose influence is essentially the reason for A Pen And A Napkin, the GOAT himself, Don Meyer.

If you're listening to this podcast, basketball is obviously something that is very important to you. What we sometimes fail to realize is that for others, they are just as passionate about their sports and activities as you are about basketball. In today's podcast, we discuss the importance of supporting other activities in your school, and not just athletic activities, and how your support of them can enhance and elevate your own program. In addition, we have a study of one of the most controversial, yet brilliant, coaches of our game, Bobby Knight. Enjoy!

We had a great time in this month's Zoom roundtable with Jamie Smith, the GBB HC at Solon (IA), Ken Kulus, the BBB HC at Omaha Concordia (NE) and Todd Fergot, the BBB HC at Lacrosse Central (WI)! In this pod, we discuss terminology in your offense, implementing your base offense and defense, how you organize your staff and things that you should be working on before the season starts! In addition, we have an impromptu discussion on the falling numbers in high school girls basketball and how it can be fixed. This was alot of fun to record, and I hope you enjoy listening to it!Get your copy of Hoops 365: A One Year Guide to Becoming a Basketball CEO here! Hoops 365Get your copy of The Last of the Cowboys: The Story of Snow Valley Basketball School here! The Last of the CowboysGet your copy of King Of Their Court: Three Teams, One City and the Greatest Season in Nebraska High School Basketball History here! Kings Of Their CourtWant to get more from A Pen And A Napkin? Go to apenandanapkin.com for videos, handouts, links and more!Want to learn more about coaching basketball and becoming a complete basketball coach? Subscribe to The Opening Tip newsletter on Substack! https://apenandanapkin.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search

The entire floor we coach is 94 x 50, so in many ways, we should use that entire space to our advantage, right? In today's podcast, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of full court pressure defense, how you can use it to control the tempo of the game and ways that you can implement it throughout a game. We also have a great quote from Denzel Washington, and we breakdown the importance of studying one of the most successful modern coaches of the game, John Calipari!

The lifeblood to almost any high school program is its youth program, so today, we break down the important elements of developing a quality youth program. We discuss structure, areas of emphasis, bringing in the right people and much more! In addtiion, we've got a great quote from Bob Starkey, and we study one of the legends of college basketball, Jerry Tarkanian, also known as "Tark The Shark". Enjoy!

99% of your players are going to play under the rim, so you've got to work on finishing around the basket. In today's podcast, we discuss the importance of finishing around the basket, how you sell the importance of finishing and techniques you should use to help with finishing. In addition, we've got a great quote from Geno Auriemma about finishing and a study of Jody Conradt, one of the important pioneers of the modern women's game!

We discussed Defensive Pillars just a few days ago, and we're back discussing the same thing, just on the other side of the ball! Today we take a look at the 7 Pillars on offense that we used in our system and program, as well as ways to make sure that it is engrained in your players minds. In addition, we've got a great quote from Steve Kerrm, and we also study one of the least well known but brilliant head coaches in modern basketball, Rick Byrd.

Pregame doesn't start with the 20:00 warmup; it starts long before that. In today's podcast, we break down the routines and rhythms that you should establish, both for yourself and the program, in your pregame preparation. This ranges from arrival times to personal focus to getting a great warmup going, your pregame will often determine your success level. We also have another great quote from Marcus Aurelius, and we are studying one of the most influential coaches of modern basketball, the great Dean Smith.

You can't do this job alone, and one of the things that you should seek out in life is strong mentors, people you can ask hard questions, get hard answers and learn from their experiences. In this episode, we break down the importance of mentors, and I take the time to discuss some of the really important mentors of my life. In addition, we have a great quote from the Roman philosopher Seneca, as well as a study of one of the great early basketball coaches, the one they called Mr. Iba . . .

Todd Kuntz, the head boys basketball coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie (IA), jumps on episode #340 to discuss his growth as a coach, important influences (including Mr. Tony D. Vis!) and serving on the IBCA board, making the leap from a small school to a big school, offensive basketball, building a culture and communicating with both administration and parents. This was a lot of fun chatting it up with one of the up and coming coaches in state of Iowa!!Get your copy of Hoops 365: A One Year Guide to Becoming a Basketball CEO here! Hoops 365Get your copy of The Last of the Cowboys: The Story of Snow Valley Basketball School here! The Last of the CowboysGet your copy of King Of Their Court: Three Teams, One City and the Greatest Season in Nebraska High School Basketball History here! Kings Of Their CourtWant to get more from A Pen And A Napkin? Go to apenandanapkin.com for videos, handouts, links and more!Want to learn more about coaching basketball and becoming a complete basketball coach? Subscribe to The Opening Tip newsletter on Substack! https://apenandanapkin.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search

It is imperative that you have a strong half court defensive philosophy within your program, so how are you going to construct it? In this episode, we breakdown all of the important questions that you need to ask yourself about building your half court defense, suggestions on how to implement it and more! In addition, we've got a great quote from Rick Pitino and a study of the recent Hall of Fame inductee Doc Rivers!

There is a MASSIVE difference between rules and standards; rules should be few and far between, where as standards should be what actually rules your program. In this episode, we discuss standards, what good standards should look like, and how they should be implemented in your daily execution of the program. We also have a great quote from the great Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus, and we focus on learning about the master of the Triangle offense, Tex Winter!

Regardless of what defense you run, you have to have great closeouts. If you're consistently having to send help on dribble penetration, your defense is going to be in a lot of trouble. In this episode, we discuss different philosophies of closeouts, what you should be doing in practice to emphasize closeouts, and how working on closeouts will also benefit your offense. In addition, don't forget that there will be an APAAN Drill Video on "The Opening Tip" newsletter! In addition to closeouts, we discuss a great quote from Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Sutton, as well as a study of one of the great college basketball coaches of today, Matt Painter.

A great way to get your team moving in the direction that you'd like for it to move in during the preseason is doing team readings and discussions! In today's podcast, we discuss the parameters that you should use in figuring out what readings you should use, how you should convey the information to your team and some my recommendations for great preseason readings. In addition, we've got a great quote today, along with a coach study of one of the must underrated women's basketball coaches in the history of the game!

One way of winning on the margins is having outstanding execution out of timeouts and quarter breaks, so today we dive into what your mentality should be and how you can build your team's ATO repertoire. We talk about offense and defense, including free throws and how you can or should prepare for each game. We also have (another) great quote from Kevin Eastman, and a deep dive on legendary Virginia WBB HC Debbie Ryan!

If you really want to lead your team, you first, to the best of your ability, must be able to master yourself and know what YOU stand for. In today's podcast, we discuss the concept of core values, both personally and what your core values for your program are and why you need to have them in place for not only the good of your program, but for your own good as well. In addition, we've got a great quote and a discussion on one of my personal influences and a man I consider a friend, Bill Fennelly.

Really excited to have Blake Sandquist, the head men's basketball coach at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) on the podcast this week! Coach has had a great run these last three years with the Bears, including an undefeated conference season last year, and he's looking to do more this year! In this pod, we discuss his influences, how he has grown the last three years, offensive transition, 1/2 court offense, player development and much more!Get your copy of Hoops 365: A One Year Guide to Becoming a Basketball CEO here! Hoops 365Get your copy of The Last of the Cowboys: The Story of Snow Valley Basketball School here! The Last of the CowboysGet your copy of King Of Their Court: Three Teams, One City and the Greatest Season in Nebraska High School Basketball History here! Kings Of Their CourtWant to get more from A Pen And A Napkin? Go to apenandanapkin.com for videos, handouts, links and more!Want to learn more about coaching basketball and becoming a complete basketball coach? Subscribe to The Opening Tip newsletter on Substack! https://apenandanapkin.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search

As we've talked about numerous times during this series, there is a minimal amount of variables that we can control once the ball is thrown up on game night, but sideline out of bounds situations (SLOBS) are one of those things. In today's pod, we discuss strategies for both sides of the ball, both during the flow of the game and how to attack late game situations! In addition, we've got a great quote from Michael Hyatt and a study of the guy whom the "Princeton" offense is named after!!!

We all want to have a team that thrives on both talent and cohesion, and a great way to build trust between your players is to take them on a team retreat! In today's episode, we take a look at the process that it takes to bring your team on a retreat, it's benefits and risks, and why you should consider engaging in a retreat. In addition, we discuss the always fascinating Buzz Williams and a great coach from the legendary Chuck Daly.

Shell Drill is one of the most basic drills in our game, but if you are going to "Win The Season", you've got to be able to change up your Shell Drill to match what your team needs! In this podcast, we discuss the importance of Shell, how to change up your Shell Drill to keep your players engagement up and how you can position yourself on the floor to make yourself a better Shell coach. In addtion, we have a great quote from one of basketball's greatest defensive coaches in Adolph Rupp, and we discuss one of America's best kept secrets in coaching . . . and he'd like to keep it that way.

Efficient language is necessary in high stress situations, so why shouldn't you create your own language within your own program? In today's "Win The Season" podcast, we dive into creating a program language, the elimination of confusion and I throw out some examples of my coaching career where we tried to use a common language. In addition, we've got a great quote from Steven Bartlett, and a study of perhaps the greatest modern college basketball coach, the one they call "K" . . .

Bobby Knight once said that "Basketball is the most overcoached and undertaught game in the world", and in many ways, Coach Knight was exactly right. In today's podcast, we talk about the warning signs of overcoaching, ways you can not overcoach and practices that will help you and your team grow! In addition, we've got a great quote from Marcus Aurelius (again) and a study of the "Zen Master" himself, Phil Jackson. Enjoy!

If you don't know what you stand for, you don't know what you're going to emphasize, right? In today's episode, we discuss your defensive pillars, the non-negotiable, always enforced rules of your team or program on the defensive end. Directly inspired by Jim Boone, we discuss why it is important to clearly define your pillars, how to implement and I share my seven defensive pillars with you. In addition, we have another great quote from Kevin Eastman, while we discuss one of the all time great coaches (and former APAAN guest) Roy Williams.

I was at Snow Valley Basketball School a couple of weeks ago, and while there, I got the chance to sit down with Karen Self (of "The Karen Self A Pen And A Napkin Moment"), Cam Schuknecht, the new Midland University Women's Basketball Coach and Joel Lincoln, the director of "Game Shots 3 on 3" out of Charlotte, North Carolina to discuss a variety of topics, including Snow Valley and why it works! We also discuss the importance of 3 on 3, improving as a coach and much more!

One of the greatest examples of basketball's "Special Teams" is your baseline out of bounds philosophy and execution on both sides of the ball. In today's podcast, we discuss goals that you should have for your playbook, who the ball should go to, formations, counters and selling the importance of baseline out of bounds to your team! We also have a great quote from USA Basketball, and we also discuss today in our Coaches Study one of my friends in the business who made his name nationally via USA Basketball!

We are 1/4th of the way through this crazy idea! Around a week ago, we discussed the struggles of handling success, so today, we flip that on its head and discuss what to do and how to handle failure. Our lives are not linear; life (and basketball) will trip us up, so today is all about why failure is necessary for growth, how to react to it and the mental approach we need to take even before the season starts. In addition, we have a great quote from Marcus Aurelius and a discussion on perhaps the greatest coach in NBA history, Gregg Popovich.

One of the great skills of the game (which, in my opinion, is the most important skill) that we often push off in practice is shooting, and it's a huge mistake! In today's podcast, we talk about the importance of getting shots up in practice, HOW to get more shots up and tips to help develop shooters. We also have a video with my favorite shooting drills, but you'll have to go to "The Opening Tip" newsletter to get that . . . In addition, we got a great quote to help with shooting, and a study of one of my favorite people that I've ever talked to on "A Pen And A Napkin", Coach Mike Neighbors!

We can't do this job (or any job) for a long time without knowing WHY we're doing the job, and coaching basketball is no different. With its long hours, intense nights and tough days, coaching basketball is a mission, but you have to know why you're doing it. What do you enjoy? That's what we want you to answer in today's podcast, while also discussing a little Leo Tolstoy and pushing you to research and learn about one of the great coaches of the 1980s and 1990s, Dale Brown.

Every second counts on game day, and organizing your bench is one way to save those precious seconds. In today's podcast, we breakdown thoughts on game day management of your bench, how to practice it before games even start and tips on be as efficient as possible during timeouts and quarter breaks. In addition, we've got a great quote from John Maxwell, while we discuss one of the great early coaches of the game, Clair Bee! Enjoy today's podcast!

As we get closer to the start of the season, what are ways that you can get your team into optimal shape before your first practice? That's the topic of discussion in today's podcast, where we break down various options, both on and off the floor, to help build toughness, chemistry, camaraderie and skill before your first day of practice. In addition, we've got a great quote from Jerry Rice and some research points of interest for one of our best modern coaches, Billy Donovan. Enjoy!

It was a blast to have on three great coaches for this month's Zoom roundtable! Rob Brost, John Carrier and Jake Nannen jumped on the pod to discuss how to be a great teacher of the game, what their focus is on for this fall to improve upon, things that they've learned this summer and one favorite drill of each coach! This was a blast to do, and I hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it!

We love X's and O's. I mean, we really love them, right????? One of the biggest draws for coaches to the game is drawing up plays, and watching our team run a set to perfection is extremely gratifying for most of us. In today's podcast, we discuss what we should and should not be doing with our set plays, suggestions on how to install them, the ideal number you should have in your portfolio and other tips! In addition, we've got a very appropriate quote from Mike Neighbors, and a study of one of our most popular and successful coaches of the last decade.

For most high school programs, the players that you have in your program are going to be pulled in multiple directions, whether that be by other sports, school activities or family activities. You have to show your human side and have some understanding, but you also have to hold players and families accountable for their non-emergency absences. In this pod, we discuss how to create a positive absence policy and how to clearly define repercussions, In addition, we have a quote from one of our Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, and a discussion of the predecessor to Dean Smith at North Carolina . . .

Ball handling and passing are two of the three ball skills of the Holy Trinity of player development, but they need to be emphasized DAILY this upcoming season. In this podcast, we discuss how you should implement ball handling and passing in your practices, ball handling techniques that you should be working on, and the difference between in-season and off-season development of these skills. In addition, we have a great quote from Coach Wooden and a study of one of the more underrated modern coaches who people often forget that he won a national championship!

As humans, most of us bounce back fairly quickly and strongly from failure, but where many of us get tripped up is when we experience too much success. In today's podcast, we discuss stories from my career of how success took off the edge, creating adversity in your team, anticipating adversity and more! In addition, we've got a great quote from the Roman philosopher Pliny the Younger, all while discussing the man who had more success than anyone else, yet remained grounded as a teacher his entire life . . .

Preparation is key for everything we do as coaches, but pregame scouting report information and implementation are vital to your team's success! In today's podcast, we discuss putting together scouting reports, what you should and should not include, how to present that information to your team and how to implement it in your practices! In addition, we've got a discussion on one of the great coaches and basketball influences of the last 50 years!

Each and everyone of us have our shortcomings, both as human beings and as coaches. Some of these shortcomings we are aware of, while many of these things we are not. In today's episode, we discuss our personal and professional "Blind Spots", what we can do to both diagnose them and make them a better part of our personality. In addition, we've got a great quote and a discussion of one of the all time greats, Adolph Rupp!

Newly minted as the women's head coach at Texas State, Chris Kielsmeier comes on the podcast this week to talk about a variety of topics, including program building, learning from tough times (including an early Covid-19 diagnosis), entering a new conference, fundamentals, building chemistry and much more! We also throw in a little Harry Caray for old times sake as well, so enjoy the conversation!

If someone is going to pressure you, you can't just break that pressure; you must ATTACK IT! In today's podcast, we discuss various ways that you can attack pressure defenses and make them pay for being overtly aggressive with you, things you should be implementing in practice to attack pressure and late game thoughts. In addition, there will be an "Attacking. Pressure" drill list and press breakers video on the next edition of "The Opening Tip" newsletter on Substack, so be sure to check that out to supplement today's pod! In addtion, we've got a great quote from Coach Meyer and a discussion of one of our great modern coaches in Tom Izzo!

One of the golden rules of coaching is to not allow non-basketball things to trip up your career, and not taking care of your program's inventory is one of those things that you can control with simplicity. In today's episode, we talk about how to take care of your inventory, some important things that you should want and the importance of collecting inventory quickly. In addition, we have a great qoute, and we discuss one of the greatest (short) careers in coaching w/ Pete Newell.

As we wind down the summer and we give our players some time off from either AAU or our program (or both), we need to start planning ahead to when our players come back for individual workouts and how we're going to work with our players. In this pod, we discuss strategies for individual workouts, how to structure them and what you should be working on. We also have a great quote from workout guru Alan Stein and a re-examination of a legendary coach whose legacy is both confusing and also deceiving . . .

Especially when you are builing a program, you need to identify the teams that you NEED to beat, and this season will be true for every team. Who are the teams that you need to put in a little extra preparation and emphasis for tactically? What team is standing in the way of your team getting to where you want to go? Here are some thoughts on how to go about this process, including a great quote from Wayne Dyer and some reason why you should study Norm Sloan, one of the great forgotten coaches in our game!

Every program, in this day and age, has to do some modicum of fundraising to afford what was once considered extras that have now become mandatory expenses in a quality program. In today's pod, we discuss what to do and what not to do when it comes to the structure of your fundraiser, how to distribute those funds and what you, as a coach, should and should not be doing! In addition, we've got a great quote from Coach Meyer and a discussion on the "40 Minutes of Hell"!