Coaches Toolbox

The following is a listing of all posts in the category of Program Building for our site.

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The Power of an Athletic Department That Focuses on Culture, Relationships & the Extra Mile

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Former coach and athletic director Cory McCarthy shares how focusing on three main priorities made a huge impact on New Mission High School — and how they can do the same for your school.

Basketball transformed my school, New Mission High School (Boston, Mass.). We were once an alternative education school with low student growth. Our basketball teams had jerseys with numbers made of tape. We had to take public transportation to the games. Practice was running two miles to a train station and back. Having gym time was about as impossible as shaving while skydiving.

But we had players who believed this chance to play was their opportunity to survive. I remember sitting in the back of a bus from Somerville fielding questions like, “Cory, you think I can make it? Can you tell us about college? Why you still here man? We’re terrible.” We weren’t talking about basketball, we were talking about life.

Two years later, that same team was in the state championship game with only six players, one just eight post-op from hernia surgery. Our small alternative education school with the taped jerseys won a state championship, and our entire school was there to witness it.

Two state championship teams in two years.

Another year later, we had attracted even more students and clinched another state championship. And finally, when a school on the other side of town closed, we got a gym of our own.

Because of sports, we cemented our identity. Because of sports, I began to see more parents at games and meetings. Coaches can easily see the inherent value of sports—our challenge is to get kids to believe in themselves, change their course and inspire others.

Throughout my years as a five-time state championship coach, I’ve learned there are three major components in building a program that will provide student-athletes the best experience and character development possible.

Culture

Not only do coaches need to do whatever it takes to help players believe in their own value to the team, they must also understand that it’s not always the game plan that wins the game—it’s the team’s identity and philosophy.

Think of culture as a loose ball. You gotta dive for it. My focus is on making sure my players handle the honorable variables of being an athlete, like time on task, engagement, random acts of kindness and, most importantly, the two “extras” that help you win in the classroom—extra credit and extra help.

There are so many things coaches can do to build a strong culture. I spent my first paycheck as a basketball coach on making 300 t-shirts with our team logo and mantra. I handed those out to anyone who would listen. Months later, many of our freshmen showed up to school with New Mission t-shirts already on their backs. These kids had never played for me, but they were already connected to our team culture. They were Titans.

My focus is on making sure my players handle the honorable variables of being an athlete.

Relationships

If you have no idea what your players’ home situations or backgrounds are, how can you expect to coach them? Player development is not exclusive to skills and drills anymore.

It’s the conversations that happen after practice. It’s the bus ride to or from games. It’s the impact a coach can have on a player in their most vulnerable moments. You don’t even have to talk—it’s more important to listen.

Relationships help players buy in. I always kept an identity chart of my players so I could help them understand the value of being their best self even when it was hard. Be the example—teach them how to show who they are by showing them who you are.

The Extra Mile

Coaching is a job where when you win, someone else gets the credit, and when you lose, “It’s on you bruh.” It’s full of ups and downs. But when all else fails, trust in your players.

As coaches, we need to remind ourselves of the impact going the extra mile can have. It matters if I drive the 20 miles to take a player to a college visit or show up to a parent meeting. It might be the difference between life or death if I don’t check up on a kid in the summer to make sure drugs or violence hasn’t swallowed them whole.

How to Get Started

  1. Build relationships with all of your players.
  2. Have the NCAA qualifying conversation with them in 9th grade, and use the guidelines to help them in their academics.
  3. Create an environment that reflects success and family. Develop mantras, post quotes about your program philosophy or create incentives—whatever it takes to help them understand that who they are on the court is who they are off of it.
  4. Be intentional about your goals. Every step forward is a step closer to a championship.

Everyone seems to hate the phrase, “Ball is life.” But from my experience, it is.

 

Cory McCarthy spent more than a decade coaching basketball. As Director of School Culture and Climate at New Mission High School, he has helped lead the school to being named the 2012 EdVestors’ School on the Move, 2013 National Blue Ribbon School for Improvement, and the 2017 Title One Distinguished School. McCarthy has represented Boston Public Schools at conferences such as ASUGSV Technology Summit in San Diego and COSEBOC in Boston, MA and New York, and has been a guest lecturer at Emerson College and UMASS Boston.


AD Insights: Everyone Is a Student of the Game

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Learn how an independent college prep school in Tennessee used Hudl to teach athletes and parents the value of video analysis.

Things at McCallie work a little differently. As an independent school, they have more opportunities than usual to give their students the very best, including access to premier academic curriculum and superior athletic programs. Do-it-all coach, teacher and administrator Adam Tolar knew Hudl could help them expand this excellence. 

McCallie was already using Hudl, but only in an a la carte capacity. “We were recording everything,” Tolar said, “from weightlifting sessions to gameplay.” But having the entire athletic department on Hudl would help McCallie make the most of the suite of products, including benefitting from unlimited storage. Tolar went to the school board to champion the athletic department package. It has since transformed McCallie’s athletic potential.

The ‘Hudl’ Guy

Tolar is now known as the “Hudl guy.” At first, his main responsibility was assisting with training coaches new to Hudl. Their upgrade into a full department package came with customized education for coaches that Tolar helped organize. This training enabled coaches to apply what they learned into game plans. 

Now, almost every sport at McCallie has a coach educated in Hudl’s products. But Tolar still thinks they haven’t unlocked its full capacity. He’s excited about the ability to get better.

Accountability is McCallie’s mantra, and it works both ways for coaches and athletes. Hudl’s text effects feature allows Tolar to pose questions directly on film clips. If an athlete doesn’t answer a question, he knows they haven’t completed their assignment. Conversations through video ensure athletes found and understood corrections so they could make them in practices and games.

Hudl has also created a growth pipeline for McCallie’s young athletes. “Middle school athletes don’t know how to watch film,” said Tolar. With their athletic department package, McCallie could begin the film education process at the middle school level. 

The younger teams can access practice film to help them learn proper techniques. With Hudl, they’ll understand earlier on what they need to do to reach the varsity level.

You Never Stop Learning

Teaching is a cornerstone for Hudl with the entire McCallie sports community. “It’s brought players and parents into the fold, and created transparency,” said Tolar. 

At the start of term, Tolar meets with parents to educate them on Hudl’s features, and the right things to look out for. That way they can cheer on their athlete from afar and play a role in their development. 

Hudl’s easy-to-use features help hold athletes accountable for their actions. They can watch, analyze and use footage to focus on the important aspects of their game. Products at Hudl have made McCallie athletes true students of the game.

The Right Way

For Tolar, Hudl provides peace of mind and confidence. He knows their products offer McCallie’s athletic programs the best. And with superior customer service, he has a whole entire team of assistants ready to support him. 

In a world where the standard is changing, and learning is crucial to success, let Hudl help your school learn the right way.  

 


Small Budget Doesn’t Limit High School’s Big Dreams

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It wasn’t easy to squeeze Hudl into the budget, but Spring Valley (N.Y.) athletic director William Pilla is certainly glad he did.

William Pilla was in a real pickle.

When Spring Valley (N.Y.) football coach Andrew Delva approached him about adding Hudl a few years ago, he strongly wanted to say yes. As a former football coach and now the school’s athletic director, Pilla knew how much video would help both the team’s record and the odds players would receive college offers, a pipe dream for many outside of athletics.

But Spring Valley’s budget was already stretched thin. The school has no booster club to turn to, and any additional costs would either come out of the coaches’ pockets or from whatever funds they could raise.

Pilla decided the sacrifice was worth it, and he was right. The coaches have seen the benefits of Hudl firsthand. More players are finding paths to college careers and the whole program is in a better place with video incorporated.

“Pretty much everyone else within our county has a booster club that can pay for this and pay for that. We do not,” Pilla said. “Money that is raised is from my football coach getting different things and putting things on social media. We don’t take (Hudl) for granted one bit. We’re just so happy to be able to have all that stuff that every other school has.”

Pilla was so pleased with Hudl that he added Hudl Sideline and got the basketball team hooked up as well. The coaches have improved the depth of their scouting reports, better preparing the Tigers for games.

More important has been the development players experienced from studying the video. Many of Spring Valley’s athletes aren’t introduced to the sport until middle or high school, giving them a steeper learning curve than their counterparts at other schools. The video helps bridge that gap and the Tigers can’t get enough.

“They’re always wanting to learn more,” Pilla said. “It’s like Christmas when the coaches send out the video to everybody. Now our film sessions are them trying to get themselves better because they’ve been able to watch themselves over and over again. It’s allowed them to create a higher football IQ.”

But Pilla’s favorite benefit is the way the players’ highlights have helped get them on more college coaches’ radars. Athletes who wouldn’t have otherwise had a chance at a college education are now getting noticed.

And while Spring Valley is placing players in Division I programs, their eyes have been opened to possibilities at the Division II and III levels as well.

“Hudl has helped our coach have a vision and say, ‘Going anywhere to play college football is a great thing because you’re playing the game that you love and you’re getting a higher education,’” Pilla said. “We used to have real difficulty getting our kids to buy in to play at the Division II and Division III levels.

“With kids seeing the highlights and seeing through football that they can make it to the next level, we have really created a culture here. It’s enabled our kids to see their hard work and dedication really come through to getting them some money and into some schools they wouldn’t have even thought of.”

Adding Hudl originally seemed like wishful thinking, but it’s turned out to be a massive blessing for Spring Valley and its athletes. The coaches are learning more and the athletes are developing and receiving previously-undiscovered opportunities to continue their education.

“We can’t function without it,” Pilla said. “It really was a godsend.”

 


5 Tips for Dealing with Difficult Players

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Use these ideas to help manage players who challenge your team culture.

Most athletes do their best to avoid being disruptive, but every coach has encountered their fair share of challenging players. Next time this happens, consider using these tips to improve the situation.

Make sure everyone on the team is engaged

Kids, particularly younger ones, have a lot of energy and short attention spans. Keep your practices active and get every player involved. When running drills, aim to pair or group together players of similar skill levels. Every player will feel challenged, but not intimidated.

Also consider including small group work in your practices. This can bring shy players out of their shell while ensuring disruptive players are kept busy.

Every player is unique—your behavior expectations shouldn’t be

Getting to know your players is an important part of coaching. Everyone has different on-field and off-field strengths, motivations and unique personalities. But when it comes to behavior, your expectations should be standard across the board.

“You have to be consistent in your messaging. If that is your core principle, your core value, then everything has to be in alignment with that,” Gabe Infante, head football coach at St. Joseph Prep (Pa.), said. “I think it’s very easy sometimes to lose focus. Sometimes you become emotional about things and you lose the consistency of the message. It takes practice.”

It’s no secret good players sometimes feel like they can get away with subpar behavior because of their skill. At the same time, weaker players may take a lazier approach because they don’t feel like they’re contributing. It’s important everyone on the team understands how you expect them to behave. Be consistent, no matter who breaks the rules.

Reward good behavior with positive reinforcement

When players act out, it’s often because they want attention. So the best option might not be to call them out for it or make them run laps. Instead, pull them aside and have a one-on-one conversation to address their behavior. They won’t be the focus of attention, but you’re still addressing the situation.

You’ll also want to avoid only scolding players, unless they’re putting themselves or others at risk. Try pairing compliments with constructive criticism. Encouragement is often more effective than doling out punishment.

“A lot of young people can be resistant to coaching. They mistake coaching for criticism when in reality what the coach is trying to do is just help them get better. It’s really a partnership between the coach and the player,” Shaka Smart, head basketball coach at the University of Texas, said. Punishment has its place, just be sure players understand exactly what they did wrong so they know how to avoid it in the future.

“We’re the first time that a parent hears that their son isn’t good enough. How you deliver that and how you handle your players and how you develop respect and trust with your players is where it all starts.”Gabe Infante, head football coach at St. Joseph Prep (Pa.)

Don’t forget about the parents

Make sure your players’ parents understand the rules and expectations you have for the team. While parents can help keep their kids in line, you might find difficult parents just as common as difficult players.

Kids pick up a lot from the adults in their lives, so encourage the parents on your sideline to be good sports. Don’t be afraid to tactfully tell them if their behavior is a negative influence on your team. “A coach’s job, in my opinion, is very much the same as that of a parent—to prepare your children to live life without you,” Infante said.

The other key to strong parent-coach relationships is open lines of communication. Set ground rules such as ‘wait 24 hours after a contest to talk to me about it,’ but let them know you’re available to address their concerns.

Keep your cool even when you’re frustrated

Staying calm is easier said than done, but it can go a long way when it comes to dealing with difficult players. You’ll be able to make better decisions on behalf of your whole team.

Try to understand why the challenging players on your squad might be acting out without letting them monopolize your time. Listen to their concerns and consider the challenges they may be facing at home or at school. You may not be able to fix their problems, but they’ll appreciate your effort to meet them halfway.

And when it’s time to focus on the team, they’ll be ready. “We had a team meeting in the locker room and I said, ‘Guys, from this point forward we clear the mechanism,’” Steve Specht, head football coach at St. Xavier (Ohio), said.

“I don’t want to worry about what your grade in biology is or the issues you’re having with your girlfriend or any problems. When we set foot on this field, for two hours we clear the mechanism and we have fun.”

Want more tips on how to ensure players buy in to your coaching philosophy? Check out our comprehensive guide to reaching full program alignment.


Using Google Drive to Coach? There’s a Better Way

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Are you really getting the most out of your film with Google Drive? Check out all the advantages of using a software system instead.

Whether you’re an educator, or working in the corporate world, you’re probably all too familiar with the intricacies and benefits of a digital file-sharing system. They’re ubiquitous, and for good reasons. But when it’s time to put on your coaching hat, are they the most efficient option?

After all, with a coach’s plate already way too full, convenience and comfort will always rule the day, right? But a file storage system like Google Drive doesn’t operate on the same level as fully customizable, cloud-based storage software.

We get it. Your setup isn’t ideal. You’d like to level up, but you’re worried about being overwhelmed, over-charged, or both. But more and more coaches are turning to programs like Hudl for getting the most out of their film. They’re compartmentalizing it in such a way that’s easy for everyone involved—and gives them more bang than they bargained for. Here’s a litany of reasons why.

Easy to Organize

Google Drive really isn’t meant to be used how coaches use it. It’s difficult to organize, filter and share. When you upload film, there are no tags, no playlists, and no attached notes for teaching points. You have to do all that heavy lifting on your own, which can take hours on end.

Want to see how efficient you are with a certain play? Want to see how your players are taking care of the little things that make the difference on the court? With a system like Hudl, you can arrange your film however you like, in a manner that’s easier for athletes to digest. And if your stats are on Hudl, it’s even easier to find and share the moments that matter most. (There’s definitely no way to link stats to video on Google drive.)

More Accountability and Clarity

Google Drive doesn’t show how much time athletes are watching film, so it’s hard to hold your athletes accountable. With Hudl, you’ll know who’s doing their homework and who’s not. You’ll be able to track how long your players are watching film, and what they’re watching.

Need to communicate your points with crystal clarity? Intuitive analysis tools let you draw on top of the film, or stop the action to call up notes that point out something on screen. Try doing this with Google Drive and you’ll end up shelling out big bucks just for the requisite video editing software.

Unparalleled Speed and Convenience

Unless you’re stopping the film periodically—which, in a fast-moving sport like basketball, runs its own risks—you’ll likely be spending some time cutting up the film before you upload it to Google Drive. That can sometimes take hours. If you only have a limited amount of time, you can’t afford to be handcuffed by the clumsiness of hitting the “forward” and “rewind” buttons over and over.

With Hudl, the film is ready for you to tag to your modifications. You can even eliminate the tagging with Hudl Assist’s interactive reports, which tie advanced statistics directly to video. Want to see how a certain set looked against a zone defense? You can create a playlist for it immediately.

As a coach, you not only want as much information as you want. You want it instantly, while that brilliant thought you just had is fresh in your mind. Say you’re preparing for an opponent that runs a complex defense you haven’t seen since last season, and want to see how you played it that last time. How long would it take you to go digging through your archives just to find the right game, never mind what you’re looking for from it?

Whatever your analysis workflow looks like, Hudl’s custom tools adapt. Distribution to your players and staff is as simple as the push of a button. You can simply call up a playlist, and text it out to all the necessary parties that need to see it, all without skipping a beat.

Support When You Need It

Have you ever heard this from your staff?

“Oh my God! I accidentally deleted it!”

Or maybe it’s, “S$*!! I didn’t mean to go in and delete that tab!”

We’ve heard it a lot. That’s why awesome technical support from a Hudl representative is only a call, email, chat or tweet away. Our experts think like coaches, so we’ll always have a good understanding of what problem you’re trying to solve.

Like sharing files. It hasn’t always been easy. But with a program like Hudl, everything you share with your staff and your players is essentially read-only. Only you can edit or delete what you put up there, leaving no room for error and more control over your film.

Maximize Your Recruiting Potential

“I tell my guys, if you’re trying to get a scholarship based on buckets, you’re getting nothing,” says University High (Orange City, Fla.) coach Robert Soler.

Nobody gets an opportunity to play at the next level based on stats alone—college coaches want the whole body of work. That means game footage and advanced data. Pace-adjusted stats like turnover percentage, rebounding percentage, plus-minus and points per possession can tell a lot about a player’s efficiency when they’re on the court, especially in limited minutes. Hudl Assist tracks all of these stats and more, plus they’re tied right to the video, making it easy for any coach to comprehend.

Set Them Up for a Bright Future

Just like holding a basketball doesn’t make you the next LeBron, merely sharing game film with your athletes doesn’t make them film buffs. If your athletes want to play at a higher level, they’ll need to know how read stats and watch film. If they don’t have that discipline, they’ll fall behind quickly.

College conferences are heavy on the film-sharing. Subsequently, the best college athletes routinely find themselves combing through video clips and scouting reports, trying to study up on how they’ll defend the next player they’re guarding. High school athletes need to be doing this, too.

Don’t have them look at film just to look—stoke the film geek in your players by having them understand how the numbers come together. Another reason there’s tremendous value in interactive reports that tie every data point directly to video.

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There are countless ways Hudl can create more efficiency for your staff during the season, not to mention the countless ways coaches are already using Hudl’s tools to win more. Ready to see the difference for yourself?

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