Feed The Positive Dog

"The Energy Bus" by JON GORDON has me incorporating new positive techniques into my coaching. In the past I revolved my coaching on constructive criticism, even though I have NOT totally let that go, I am learning to "FEED THE POSITIVE DOG". Everyone has positive and negative energy in them, in order to bring out the positive we need to keep feeding it with positive things, positive energy, words of encouragement. If we don't keep feeding the positive dog, the negative one is going to take over. I try to start things positive, then discuss the not so positive things and finish with more positive. When one of my kids is on the foul line shooting free throws I tell the rest of the team to "feed the positive dog". My kids answer with "Come on Chase, you got it", "Alright Griffin get one here", they respond with positive statements to boost the shooters confidence and it works! Every morning we have a choice, are we going to be a positive thinker or a negative thinker. I am learning that positive thinking gives me more energy.

Leading at a "Higher Level", what ever level that is for each one of us personally means you need to be open to new ideas and willing to learn as much as you can. "Everything is Learnable". No one creates success alone. This is very true for me at EMERSON HS. Last season we won our State Sectional and NJIC League Title, and all the support that came with the program made all the difference. We are all teachers and students no matter what our title is. It is important to learn that positive people, positive communication, positive interactions, and positive team cultures produce positive results.

I asked my Emerson kids in this pre-season on a scale from 1-5 how much do they enjoy being on the team. I ask them to take into consideration everything that goes on: the lifting, the scouting reports, the film sessions, the running, the yelling, playing all year long etc. I walked away not too pleased with the numbers I received. I want these kids to enjoy this team, my coaching staff and MYSELF more. My goal is to have them enjoy being on the team by being more positive towards each of them.

Mentors

Everyone needs a mentor.

Having someone to share ideas with, seek advice from, and tap into their experience is INVALUABLE.

Being a young coach, I have a lot to learn. I try to better myself as a coach in order to better my program. My team does not get better, If I myself do not put the time and effort into becoming a better coach. I was not ready to do this on my own 3 years ago and Im still not ready. I try to keep strong relationships with people because with out people the learning is limited.

There have been two men most influential in my life, if you know my father you would know I am the spitting image of him from my mannerisms to my personality and even my hand gestures. Then there is Jasper.

Jeff Jasper my HS coach has been around the game over 30 years. He is a vet and a proclaimed name in Bergen County. But most important he is full of knowledge and always willing to share. This relationship already existed from when he coached me 10 years ago, we don't have to work on developing the relationship because its already there. Though the roles have changed from athlete to coach, to colleagues it was a natural transition. I consider Jasper a major influence on my basketball world. His door is always open, a phone call away and always willing to answer my pages of emails!

My mentors are effective in helping me and my team become better. Im always willing to listen to people, even if they have something negative to say. I rather have the opportunity of knowing, than of not having known at all.

Assistant coaches, or at least mine serve as MENTORS as well. I share the same vision, goals and ways of doing things with my assistant coaches; Janet Muller, Jill Muller and Nicole Pacciani. They are coaches I respect and whom I enjoy working with. We usually get together for coaches weekends, or take our graduated seniors out to dinner before they are set off to college. We do a great job micromanaging practice plans, scouting reports, tape and we can all be ourselves with one another.

I am great full for all the mentors in my life. They are the make up of my tactics and personality.