Joined by special guest, Jason Peery, this week we dive into how he built a successful high school program as he shares his best practices when it comes to creating drills, teaching the game, and developing players. Show Notes:Coach Jason Peery's backgroundBlood DrillsYour motive in care is really important Creating Connection Clear expectations Positive, negative or neutral coachingCoachabilityTeaching the little things What basketball can learn from pickleball&nbsp...

This week TJ and Sam discuss how to start the season off right by knowing what you need out of your first practices, how to evaluate your first games, and setting up your team for success not just at the start, but throughout the season.Show Notes:• General Thoughts on how to prepare your team for the first game of the season• First week of practice• Identifying the goal• How can you stack things• Balance Offense and Defense• Creating standards of practice• Attitude and effort• Capturing the ...

This week we discuss the offensive and defensive implications of the 3pt line, how it affects your players and it's changed all levels of the game.Show Notes:How the 3 is changing the game.Defensive implicationsThe equalizerThe Steph Curry effectWhere coaching mattersThe next trendA coaching mistakeGuess TJ’s favorite NBA player right nowValue of players beyond the 3The hardest teams to play against The risk of being 3 point heavy Coaching shot quality Send us a Message.

This week Graham Maxwell joins the show to discuss how coaches can win in their relationships with opponents, players, and staff and why it can be the difference maker for you this season.Show Notes:• Opponent relationships• Healthy competition• Finding middle ground• Setting the example• Tony Bennett example• Staff relationships• Who over What• Coaching hard• Jockeying for positions• Being a generous listener• Acknowledging and celebrating• Catch them doing something good• What hurts relatio...

In light of Coach Tony Bennett’s recent retirement announcement, we thought we’d honor his legacy and what he’s given to the game by reposting his 2021 interview with us where he laid out his foundation as a coach and how his team bounced back to win a National Championship.Show Notes:• 5 Pillars / Core Values• Getting player buy-in• How you face adversity• Knowing your Why• Vulnerability & Leading by example• Developing leaders• Style of play & paying the price• Becoming a great teac...

In the world of coaching and leadership we often hear phrases and mantras that serve our coaching in a positive way. And there's also statements and quotes that initial appeal to us and may even carry some truth, but if we put too much stock in them, they could also steer us in the wrong direction. Before we know it, we may end up be off course. This week TJ and Sam discuss different 'coachisms' in the form of 3 truths and 3 lies and debate what's reasonable, what's practical, and what ultima...

This week TJ and Sam discuss the importance of practice design and share common mistakes you’ll want to avoid in your practice planning this season.Show Notes:• 1. Lack of preparation• Communication and delegation + more tips• Picking the right things to practice• Enrolling your players• Knowing your strengths and practices• What to pay attention to• 2. Distributing roles in practice• "If you try and watch everything, you'll see nothing."• 3. Identifying influential practice factors• Doing yo...

This week we’re joined by Micah Mills, head coach at Wilmington College and PGC Coaching mentor to discuss managing the energy, emotions, and egos of your players as well as yourself.Show Notes:• Bringing energy & being your authentic self as a coach• Teach players how to bring their own energy• Individual hype numbers• Engaging with individual players• Managing your own energy• Changes with time• Consistency with the option to change it up• "Don't let your circumstances dictate your beha...

A good passing team is a well coached team. This week we discuss all things related to helping your players be better passers this season.Show Notes:• Why you should consider being a pressing team.• Thinking ahead in your season• Developing better passers and emphasis in practice• "Passing is like leadership"• Executing your sets• "Make the simple play"• Inability to pass is limiting - Minimize risky decisions• Defining good passing• Coaching pet peeves• Coaching different types of passes• Wh...

Building a successful program is all about how you cultivate the identity of the team. This week, TJ and Sam discuss 4 principles to help shape your team culture and strengthen your team identity in something bigger than any individual.Show Notes:• Topic Intro• Shared Ownership- Getting players to lead- Working through conflict• Shared suffering- giving players ownership• Individual Responsibility- Having it come to life in practice• Collective pride- Why its important- The challenges coaches...

This week the team discusses “Less & More” - where as coaches we should be looking to add more to our programs both on and off the court and where can we make additions by subtraction.Show Notes:What should players do less and more of?Relationships, social media, fundamentalsWhat should parents do less and more of?Perspective, teaching, blaming, relationship buildingWhat should coaches do less and more of?Preparation, mindset, drama, improvementOffense: Shot selection, transition, t...

TJ and Sam discuss the Xs and Os decisions all coaches have to make going into their preseason and the implications for your team.Show Notes:• Topic IntroOFFENSE• Why + Who = What + How• Does it matter if it's a fun offensive system to play in?• Balancing freedom & structure• Testing your team's IQ• Does your team know:- What they're hunting- How to hunt it- How to improve• Does talent need structure?• Getting player buy-in• Ability to spread the floor• Making up for deficits• Questions t...

This week we’re joined by Head Coach Missy Traversi from Army women’s basketball. With over 16 years of coaching experience at all levels, Missy shares how she’s developed as a leader, been able to adjust her team’s style of play and how the culture at West Point has shaped her coaching.Show Notes:• Leadership• Sprinting toward failure• Changing style of play• Understanding the analytics• Generating the right shots• Finding what will help your team win• What others are doing well• Controlling...

How does your team react when they face a high pressure defense? This week the discussion is around the habits, mindset, and principles you’ll want to instill next season in your players in order to be great at breaking and handling pressure.Show Notes:• Intro to Topic• Teaching necessary skills and habits• Flipping the mindset - Pressure is a facade• Being the aggressor• Making it part of your style• Who passes the ball in• Availability of the first pass• Squirrel analogy• 3 available receiv...

This week TJ and Sam discuss fundamentals, but maybe not in the same way you’re used to. They’re talking about how to develop and communicate core principles that set the foundation for your team’s success.Send us a Message.

If you want to better teacher of the game it’s important to understand how your coaching is received. This week the discussion is about putting yourself in the shoes of the learner so you can maximize your coaching.Show Notes:Why focus on your teachingOvercoaching v. undercoachingSetting goals and creating a learning environmentConnecting with playersContinuous improvement in your coachingUnderstanding the psychology behind coachingEmbracing the role of the learningFinal thoughts and a challe...

This week the discussion is all about playing time. It’s a topic that plagues most players and coaches all season long. How many players do we need or want in our rotation? How do we handle seniors who aren't going to play much? How do we communicate playing time decisions without closing the door to growth and adjustments down the road? How do we keep players who aren't in the rotation motivated through an entire season? - It's a lot to work through, but TJ and Sam share how we can navigate ...

This week Sam and TJ share 3 Preseason Mistakes you’ll want to avoid in your planning for the upcoming season and how you can begin preparing to have your best season yet.Show Notes:• Lack of vision• Defining the win• Reverse engineering weekly and monthly plans• Role clarity for staff• Humility, empower, train & delegate• Building culture• TJ's experience at Emmanuel• Creating a culture plan• Sharpening the axeInterested PGC Coaching Tracks? - Click here: https://coach.pgcbasketball.com/...

This week Sam shares Coach Pat Summitt's Definite Dozen as the team discusses leadership principles that have withstood the test of time and how coaches can apply them to their teams.Show Notes:1. Respect Yourself and Others2. Take Full Responsibility3. Develop and Demonstrate Loyalty4. Learn to be a Great Communicator5. Discipline Yourself so No One Else Has To6. Make Hard Work Your Passion7. Don’t Just Work Hard, Work Smart8. Put the Team Before Yourself9. Make Winning an Attitude10. Be a C...

This week we discuss our topic comes to us from a question posed by one of our listeners as we discuss what it takes to incorporate new players into your team. When players leave and new players come in, how do you ensure that your culture as well as your systems and strategies are going to be the right for your current group? In this episode TJ and Sam share things you need to be aware of as you avoid growing complacent and seek to bring the best out of the group in front of you.Show Notes:•...

This week our topic questions the behavior of basketball coaches on the sideline, simply, are we yelling too much as coaches? In this episode, TJ and Sam discuss the factors that lead to coaches yelling and if and when it’s necessary.Show Notes:• Introduction• Expectations of a coach• The best coaching happens in practice• Difference between passion, anger, and putting people down• Leadership and communication• Demanding high standards• Coaching effort and attitude• Urgency and context of a g...

This week, TJ and Sam are joined by Pastor Tracy Reynolds. With a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership, Pastor Tracy shares about the importance of second chair leadership, how not to get caught up in comparison or your next career move, and how you can thrive in your leadership role regardless of position.Show Notes:• Introduction• Why this book• Advantages of second chair leadership• Navigating disagreements as an assistant coach• When the grass isn't greener• Embracing where you're at• S...

This week, Coach Zak Boisvert from Saint Louis University with over 13 years of college coaching experience joins TJ and Sam to discuss building your offense, key elements of player development, along with some quick tips for defense and rebounding.Show Notes:• Building out your offense• Motion v. set play offense• Getting players to play to their strengths• Creating a malleable offense• Teaching basketball literacy• Small-sided games & asking questions• The role of the 4s and 5s in your ...

This week, TJ and Lisa discuss how to attack zone defenses with great habits, spacing, and screening, along with the types of sets you should have in your playbook, and the reminders that you'll want to give your team next time you see a zone defense.Offensive identity v. zone3s, rim shots, and counter movesAttacking the paintScouting your opponent's zone defenseDisrupting rotations with screensPlayer roles & limiting optionsZone habits & remindersMaintaining flowRunning sets v. zoneT...