I’D LIKE TO THANK BRIAN BLACKBURN WHO IS THE HEAD COACH FOR FORT WORTH BOSWELL HIGH SCHOOL IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS FOR SHARING ADVICE FOR YOUNG COACHES WITH THE CANNON NETWORK. HE SHARED, THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG COACHES BRIAN BLACKBURN –HEAD BOYS BASKETBALL COACH – FORT WORTH BOSWELL HS “BEING A YOUNG COACH BRINGSEXCITEMENT, RESPONSIBILITY, AS WELL AS A LEARNING CURVE THAT IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH PERSON. HERE ARE SOME OF THE BULLET POINTS THAT COME TO MIND THAT MAY HELP YOUNG COACHES.• FIND A MENTOR – LEARN FROM WINNERS WITH EXPERIENCE • TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH – STAY IN SHAPE OR GET IN SHAPE • WATCH AT LEAST 30 MINUTES OF BASKETBALL A DAY (SYNERGY, HUDL,
YOUTUBE, ETC) – WATCH REAL GAMES, NOT JUST HIGHLIGHTS. COACH IQ NEEDS TO IMPROVE JUST LIKE PLAYERS • READ BOOKS FROM OTHER SPACES: BUSINESS, MILITARY LEADERSHIP, MENTAL HEALTH, ETC. YOU CAN PULL FROM THESE AND IMPLEMENT WITH YOUR PLAYERS • WORK FOR A HEAD COACH WHO DELEGATES AND GIVES YOU RESPONSIBILITY. GROW BY DOING – BE THE “HEAD COACH” OF BLOBS/SLOBS ETC • UNDERSTAND YOUR PRIORITIES AS A PERSON – WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO DO TO WIN? WHAT SACRIFICES ARE YOU WILLING TO MAKE? YOUR FAITH? YOUR FAMILY? ONCE READ THAT 70% OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL COACHES ARE DIVORCED • “DON’T GET THE A’S IN YOUR EYES” – IN TEXAS 6A IS THE BIGGEST HS DIVISION. THAT DOESN’T MEAN A 3A JOB ISN’T GREAT. • WE COACH PEOPLE NOT PLAYERS. THIS HAS HELPED WITH REAL RELATIONSHIP BUILDING • IF YOU ARE A HEAD COACH, GET ASSISTANT COACHES WHO LOVE
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PROMOTING YOUR PROGRAM. IF YOU ARE AN ASSISTANT COACH, LOVE SOCIAL MEDIA AND PROMOTING YOUR PROGRAM • EACH OFF SEASON STUDY ONE ASPECT OF BASKETBALL. FOR INSTANCE, STUDY OFFENSIVE REBOUNDING PHILOSOPHY AND GET INSIGHT FROM COACHES ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC TOPIC. • LISTEN TO PODCASTS ON THE ROAD • STAY HUMBLE AND HUNGRY BUT DON’T MESS WITH HAPPY – FIND YOUR WHY AND IT’S USUALLY NOT A “WHERE”