Want to know what difference a coach can make? Consider Chris's most
memorable coaching experience, when he was an assistant coach for a high school
basketball team. They were not particularly talented — in fact, "mediocre would
be a kind adjective for this team," Chris says. "We were on the road and playing
in a small, suffocating gym. Our head coach and several players were sick with a
stomach virus. The result: five unexceptional players had to perform at a level
and with an intensity that seemed impossible and improbable.
"The team we were playing," Chris continues, "had more talent, and a complete
roster. We knew this was going to be an uphill battle. We were down by 13 at the
halftime, and it resembled a bad dream until 15-year-old Roberto rallied the
team: ‘I don't care if you're tired. We're better than this. I'm not going to
lose, and the rest of you need to join me!'
"That challenge touched the team's spirits. Our guys found the energy and
guts to play the second half. Despite all their problems, those boys won!"
Was it a miracle? "No," says Chris. "What it took for our boys to win was a
belief and trust in their teammates and coaches. That's what rallied this
victory."
As for Roberto, he stunned both his team and opposing players with 42 points.
The Best Coach in Sports History
There are many famous coaches in sports history, such as John Wooden, whose
most memorable quote may be: "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes
character to keep you there."
It's All About the two Ps
The score at the end of the game may be what the public sees —but it is the
Ps that count: "practice and preparation are where it all happens," according to
Chris. As a coach, it's essential to prepare your team to work together,
teaching them the fundamentals and building team chemistry and energy. "Yes,
games are what you're measured by, but practice serves as the foundation." In
fact, this experienced coach believes that "practice should be harder to go
through than a game. If you've worked on all facets of your game, studied and
scouted the opponent's tendencies, and given one hundred percent," the game
itself flows smoothly. "Success will happen if you focus on the two P's:
Practice and Preparation," adds Chris.