Don Showalter
Thought of the Month

 

 

 

The Commandments of Skill Development

By Don Showalter

Coach Director, Youth Division

U16-17 National Team Men’s Coach 2009-2018

10 Time Gold Medalist

USA Basketball

 

The following has been adapted from a presentation by Don Showalter.

  1. Consistency creates greatness - Practice is recreated in a game for better or worse. You are only a success (great) at the moment you perform that act – You have to do it over again.
  2. Players never graduate from a skill - Players never get good enough to not practice a skill.
  3. A player doesn’t rise to the occasion, s/he sinks to the level of training - Skill development must be game like with competition to allow the player to develop skills in a game like-method.
  4. Comfort zone is the enemy! - Learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Determine what is out of the comfort zone for developing skills. The player must make their weakness their strength.
  5. The illusion of choices - If a player wants to be great the choices are limited. Does the player’s work ethic align with the goals?
  6. Training is linked to competition - Must be meaningful competition.
  7. Demand perfection to get improvement - Skills must be held to a high standard to get improvement. Habits are developed with perfect repetitions. Rep skills – correct reps – Rep skills again. Teach skills progressively to get perfection.
  8. Evolve from individual skill development to skill decision making - Progressively go from skill work to decision making. Decision making is not same as competition. Adding obstacles enhances decision making.
  9. Practice skill development for the entire year - Practices should be conducted in thirds – 1/3 for skill work, 1/3 for whole offense, 1/3 for whole defense. Practice sessions go from maximum of 2 hours on court time to 45-60 minutes at end of season.
  10. National team gold standards
    • NO EXCUSES - We have what it takes to win
    • GREAT DEFENSE - This is the key to winning the gold. We do the dirty work.
    • COMMUNICATION - We look each other in the eye. We tell each other the truth.
    • TRUST - We believe in each other
    • COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY - We are committed to each other. We win together
    • CARE - We have each other’s back. We give aid to a teammate.
    • RESPECT - We respect each other & opponents. We’re always on time. We’re always prepared.
    • INTELLIGENCE - We take good shots. We’re aware of team fouls. We know the scouting report.
    • POISE - We show no weakness.
    • FLEXIBILITY - We can handle any situation. We don’t complain.
    • UNSELFISHNESS - We’re connected. We make the extra pass. Our value is not measured in playing time.
    • AGGRESSIVENESS - We play hard every possession.
    • ENTHUSIASM - This is fun.
    • PERFORMANCE - We’re hungry. We have no bad practices.
    • PRIDE - We are the best team in the world.