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:
• Intro: The Impact of Player Addition or Subtraction
• Acclimating New Players while Maintaining Confidence and Roles
• Starting from Ground Zero Each Season
• The Interplay Between Culture and X's and O's
• Adapting to Changes in Personnel for Long-Term Success

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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 game
• Teaching mistake reactions
• Getting more out of 'kids these days'
• Why NBA coaches don't yell
• Coaching insecurities
• Reacting to players and their response
• When players tune you out
• Striking the balance
• Reflecting on your experience

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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
• Synergy and collaboration in well-run organizations and teams
• Where first and second chairs get it wrong
• Final thoughts

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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 offense
• Learning from the Celtics
• Be an expert on your personnel
• The key elements of player development
• Putting shooting in your practice plan
• Diagnosing your defense
• 5 areas you have to be good at on defense
• Prioritize drilling or emphasizing rebounding
• Tips for your coaching journey

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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. zone
• 3s, rim shots, and counter moves
• Attacking the paint
• Scouting your opponent's zone defense
• Disrupting rotations with screens
• Player roles & limiting options
• Zone habits & reminders
• Maintaining flow
• Running sets v. zone
• Timing and pace
• Quick-fire zone tips
• Hunting layups
• Role identification

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Dick DeVenzio, founder of PGC Basketball, wrote a book titled Think Like a Champion. And in that book is chapter titled, "Teammates You Don't Like." This week TJ and Sam discuss that chapter and the insights DeVenzio shares that could be a game-changer for your players individually and as a group next season.

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This week we’re joined by Matt Phillips from Pro Athlete Advantage to talk about the secret to peak performance, mental toughness. In this episode Matt defines mental toughness and shares tried and true principles and practices we can put into action to help take our performance and leadership to the next level.

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Show Notes:
• Defining Mental Toughness
 - Confidence, Focus, Emotional Control, Energy, Consistent Intentional Action
• Fake it 'til you make it?
• Compete don't compare
• Why and How of Confidence Building
• Asking quality questions
• Taking ownership and accelerating your growth
• Developing emotional control
• Proactive Training
• Managing Energy
• Small things add up

About Matt Phillips:
Matt is the Founder of Pro Athlete Advantage, and a High Performance Leadership & Mental Toughness Coach. Over the past 12+ years, he's worked with professional athletes (e.g., Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs), collegiate athletes (e.g., University of Colorado, Creighton University) and high school athletes around the United States.

Matt is a former professional baseball player in Austria's Bundesliga ("first league") and Division-1 baseball player at Creighton University. 

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This week we’re discussing how intensity can be your team’s separator next season. In a sports culture where players are playing so many games and rewarded for individual performances over team wins, TJ and Sam discuss how you can bring intensity, energy, and effort to life in your programs.

Show Notes:

• Intro Topic
• Timberwolves & Anthony Edwards
• Achieving something special
• Competing on the defensive end
• "I don't coach effort & attitude"
• Gaining skill with intensity without overtraining
• Practice goals and design
• More games & social media influences
• Intensity and toughness
• "Never stop playing hard - Never stop talking"
• Udonis Haslem story
• Giving your team an edge
• Fun to coach
• Winning players make winning plays
• Don't cheat it and stay hungry

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This week TJ and Sam discuss how coaches strike a balance between creating an intense hard-working and competitive environment with ensuring your players are enjoying their experience invested in the team.

Show Notes:
• Creating the right environment for skill acquisition
• Being aware of the player experience
• Can it be competitive, hard-working, and fun?
• Goal of a coach
• Getting your team invested in the team
• The importance of teaching
• Role of running as conditioning
• Coach personality
• Fighting to strike a balance
• Gamify
• Identifying the skills you need
• Creating opportunity for discovery
• Appropriate amount of challenge
• Intentional joy - creating a feeling of accomplishment
• Building in celebration

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This week on the Hardwood Hustle we’re joined by Coach Matthew Smith from Washington State to discuss analytics, propelling your coaching career and what we can learn from pickup basketball.

• Finding a mentor
• Opportunities to grow
• Little things that make you invaluable
• Utilizing analytics
• Do what others won't
• Teach better
• Pickup basketball

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