My life has given me a lot of experience. Now I know a lot more then many people who grew up in the same time that I have. But I have heard the saying “Average people practice something over and over and over again until they get it right. Great people practice something over and over and over again until they can’t get it wrong.” In my world, this quote is all about basketball. Well because for me basketball is pretty much life. But it’s not necessarily for “me” in the sport of basketball. It’s for my players. My job as a coach is to get them to define what it is they want to practice over and over again in the offseason until they can’t get it wrong. Once this is defined, I put together an individual skill development plan that is tailored directly to what they said they want to get better at. It is a skill that can be transferred to many others and it is an incredible thing to learn.
The truth is that without this ability many people would not be worth a darn in the real world. In fact, one of my players must play with something that may challenge him more than his peers. He had an ostomy care procedure a few years back, and it completely changed him as a person. Not only as a player with new physical needs, but also emotionally. He became much more of a man than his peers in quick time, all because he has to practice ostomy care that the others don’t. It gave more responsibility at a younger age and much more dedication to being better. He had a chip on his shoulder.
This person was incredible so, he’s inspired me to ask my players the questions “what is something you think you need to get better at?” and “what is something you want to get better at?”. This way, they can be honest with themselves about their shortcomings when they think about what it is they need to be better at, but also allows them to have some fun with what they want to get better at. There is no reason to ever stop being better.
Most kids need to get better with their off-hand. It is not natural and it needs to be learned to do something hard that is also beneficial. It is a good lesson. So, if you’re naturally right-handed, you need to get better with your left hand so you don’t become one dimensional in all that you do (constantly driving right, finishing right, and passing right). If you can use your off-hand as well as your natural hand, you become multidimensional in what you can do, which makes you harder to guard.
It is true though that it comes with a cost. However, what you need to get better at isn’t always fun. Therefore, I give my players the opportunity to work on something they want to get better at too. This usually consists of three-point shooting, or dribbling moves, or developing a jump shot, etc. “the fun stuff”. Working on the hard things builds character and gives you grit.
Regardless, in order to get better at anything, a purposeful and driven mindset is key. You must be faithful with the little things in order to receive the benefits of great things. You cannot simply use willpower to get your left hand to be better with the basketball. You actually have to practice and put that hand in positions to get better. This takes time, dedication, and repetition. It also pays off down the road when life throws you big hard times. You know what it is like to work through the pain and hard times.
Ostomy Health Blog 