Hardwood Hustle

Bob Starkey joins once again this week to discuss opponent scouting. Spurred on by a recent twitter storm from Coach Starkey, we discuss how to approach scouts, use film, and communicate clearly to ensure your scouts are giving your team an advantage next season. Show Notes: • Watch the whole game • Concepts over patterns • Cutting the head off the snake • How to use video • Scouting to impress • Personnel    - Prioritize    - Slow feet don't eat    - Getting your message across • Start scouting defense work in preseason • Timeline of prep example • Make them a bad passing team • Making adjustments • Emphasizing Terminology • Book Mentioned: Football Scouting Methods by Steve Belichick • Up 3 - Foul or Don't Foul? • Identifying Substitution Patterns and Opportunities • Reviewing how team's scouted your team • Knowing your own team • Getting another coach's scout on your team • It takes what it takes

This week, Bob Starkey, Associate Head Coach for LSU Women's Basketball joins us again for the first of two episodes. In this episode Coach Starkey shares what he's learned from Head Coach, Kim Mulkey , what they focused on strategically, and what they did every day in practice en route to their national championship. To take your defensive to the next level, join PGC Coaching's 4-Week Defensive Strategies Track for coaches. Go to pgccoaching.com/tracks by April 4th.

This week, TJ and Sam are joined once again by PGC Director and now professional pickleballer, Kyle Koszuta to talk player development. With examples and applications in basketball and pickleball, they discuss strategies coaches can take back to their teams. 

This week, TJ and Sam tackle whether there's room for trash talk in the game of basketball. The distinguish the difference between it being used to promote the team or the individual and discuss how coaches can help players navigate today’s culture and competitive environment while keeping everyone focused on the team.

It’s easy to see the challenges, issues, and uphill battles for coaches trying to build a great team environment. This week, TJ and Sam share what leaders need to consider when building a transformational culture. They hit on topics such as creating buy-in, winning over everything,  outside influences, and living it out daily.

This week, we discuss what it means to have no excuses as a coach and focus on nothing else this off-season except getting better by finding creative solutions to your problems and overcoming any obstacle you may encounter in coaching.

This week, TJ and Sam discuss recent March Madness events and coaching strategies. In this episode they cover off rebounding, 3 pt shooting, game pressure, style of play, and what wins come tournament time. Show Notes:ReboundingIs boxing out overratedNot all rebounders are created equalPersonnelMake it an all the time thingGame Pressure & 3 pt ShootingWhat lowers a team's percentageGetting ahead of itAttacking the momentStyle of Play & What WinsTournament v. Regular SeasonBeing a Tournament Team

This week, we discuss what’s next when your season has just ended including where to start your post season evaluations and how to have the right conversations to move your program forward.

This week, we’re joined by Craig Nickel, PGC Director of Basketball Development. As a coach and now leading PGC Director team, Craig shares insights into how coaches and players can grow this off-season in developing player decision-making, leadership, and more. 

This week, we have a conversation with Mark Jarram, former college and professional basketball coach, and now Head of Coaching and Performance Development at Loughborough University. In this episode we discuss 4 areas of opportunity to help coaches reach their potential.Developing a Growth Mindset Curiosity, Open-Mindedness and Hunger for GrowthBeing Brave - Finding Things that FitSo What? - Now What? Doing something about it - Exposing yourself to new perspectives, environments, and ways of doing thingsAvoiding the Comparison ConflictPressures of WinningMeasuring Against PotentialLetting Things Pass Through YouCreating an Environment Where People Can Do Their Best WorkGratitudeSeeking and Sharing Clarity - Creating AlignmentPower of PurposeAnswering: How Do You Know?Building Self-AwarenessHow We Build ItAsking the Right QuestionsGetting Feedback   About Mark Jarram: Mark Jarram qualified in Sports Coaching Science at University of Worcester.  Then began his coaching career,  spending three years in the United States coaching at Bard College in the NCAA.  He then coached at the Elite Academy Basketball League, then at the University level for ten years as Head Coach of Loughborough University men's program. Simultaneously he was also coaching professionally in the British Basketball League for the Leicester Riders.  He has National Team experience coaching Great Britain U16's, U18's and U20's spanning five year period attending multiple European Championships.   Mark is one of the most decorated coaches in British basketball, winning 25 National Championships along the way, three Coach of the Year awards, and multiple Team of the Year awards.  He coaches and speaks at a variety of camps, clinics, and events.   Now venturing into coach development, Mark's current role at Loughborough involves working with and through staff for development and making sure that performance is trending in the right direction.  He's passionate about helping teams and people reaching their potential, focusing on trying to make a positive impact.   There is an expectation for him to collaborate internally and externally and to look outside of the Loughborough bubble, globally, to find opportunities to transform the Loughborough environment. 

Coaching changes happen every season. This week, TJ and Sam discuss how you should go about evaluating where you’re at and whether or not a coaching move is right for you. Some topics in this episode include:Self evaluationIs the grass greener? – Dealing with problems in your programShould you keep coachingMaking your job betterProtecting Your Joy and Shutting out the noiseReasons to look for another jobKnowing who you areThe Interview process

This week we dive into coaching the mental side of the game in hopes of helping your team peak at the end of your season including, continuing to have great practices and performing at your best in games.

This week we discuss how to handle winning streaks and losing streaks as the leader of your program. Topics we touch on in this episode:Setting a foundation on the mental side of the game.Consistent MessagingHaving the heartbeat of your teamThe best coaches have the heart beat of the teamMaking changes and providing a solutionHow and when to be inconsistent Asking yourself the right questionsCreating the feel you want your team to haveWorking through adversityPrepared for and intentional about teachable momentsSeeking out your deepest problems

This week TJ and Sam dive into the decisions coaches have to make in games. From substitution patterns to managing player fouls, running set plays versus your motion, and fouling in end of game situations, they discuss their opinions and how coaches can figure out what’s best for them and their team.

"Your offense is only as good as your ability to create, recognize, and use an advantage." - This week, PGC Director, Dustin Aubert joins TJ and Sam to discuss what makes teams successful or unsuccessful no offense. Dustin shares lessons from his coaching career and the deep dives he's done into the game on the offensive side of the ball.