Lobo BasketballNewsletter: March 2014 

 

The 3 R’s of March: The month of March is a very important time for both a player, coach, and parent to rest, recover, and reflect on this past season. I particularly have enjoyed spending time with my family, watching the state boys basketball playoffs, and filling out my NCAA tournament bracket with my extra time. I would recommend for players to take one to two full weeks off after their last game. Basketball is a long grueling season and it is important that players rest their minds and bodies. Obviously this is much easier said than done. Players need to properly address nagging injuries they experienced during the season and simply recover. The worst thing a player can do is ignore nagging injuries that will worsen or hinder their progression into a better athlete after a long season is over. After a long, emotionally draining season, it is imperative to look in the mirror and reflect on your season. Players should take 10 minutes each day to sit in complete silence, close their eyes and reflect on this past season. Players should use this rough season as a learning experience to get better. They should reflect on the challenges they faced and brainstorm ways to better handle those issues in the future. Every adversity creates opportunity. What will you take away from this season?

 

Individual Player Meetings: The staff’s post season meetings are well on their way. These are not a typical brief meeting with each player but are a through examination of the past season and future goals. The entire coaching staff has collaborated in creating a google doc communicating with all returning JV/Varsity player about what we are excited about, concerned about, and each player's strengths and weaknesses. This document will serve as a communication tool between player and coach throughout the offseason. As a player this is a journal that documents what our players are doing on a daily basis to improve themselves both as a player and person. As a coach, this document is going to be used as a resource to encourage, support, a monitor our players progression throughout the offseason.

 

Spring Workouts: Spring workouts will begin next Monday, March 31st. If you are not participating in a spring sport, it is very important that you show your coaches and your teammates that you are committed to becoming a better basketball player. Spring workouts will be designed around increasing strength and foot speed as well as our ability to dribble, pass, and shoot. Our players must learn to reach a level of feeling uncomfortable in the weight room and on the basketball floor; it is then and only then that players improve. Please do not mistake activity for achievement.

 

Lobo Book Study: So many of today’s best professional athletes are seen through the eyes of video games and social media. Today’s heroes are Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Derrick Rose. How much do our kids know about what those professionals had to overcome, what adversity they have faced, and how hard they have worked to be where they are today? I grew up with Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Pistol Pete Maravich. Not only did I grow up watching them, I grew up learning as much as I could about them by reading about them and I let those books motivate and teach me. They taught me about competition, about outworking players, and what success really looks like. Our current generation can gain so much from learning about these players and simply by reading books about successful people and athletes. As a staff, we are beginning a book study where our players are asked to devote 15 minutes a night to becoming a complete athlete. Encourage them, offer them a favorite of yours, and turn off the video games. Many of the books that are going home with your son are personal books from the coaching staff. Please do not lose them.

 

Player Meeting: For all players who are not involved in a spring sport, there is a mandatory player meeting in Coach Rakiecki’s room (307) Friday, March 28th during lunch. See you there.

 

June Camps/Information: This summer’s June schedule is not complete but planning is well underway. This summer will look different than previous summers as we try to close the skills gap. Keep an eye out for the date of our summer parent informational meeting coming soon.

 

Athlete/Parent Must Read Articles: Please read the two articles below.

 

1)  Harvard players buy into team concept

 

2)  White: Castle accepts role to aid Treynor’s chemistry