Sport and the Growing Good #178: Coach Phil Jackson: “Know yourself, be yourself.”
In this session, we discussed the importance of having a system to give your team focus and direction. Coach Jackson also gave many other words of wisdom for aspiring coaches and leaders as we seek to impact others in sports.
1. The importance of physical surroundings and living by water.
2. Situational awareness.
3. Having a system. “It allows a team to focus.”
4. “The first 30 minutes of practice are the most important because it’s what the player remembers.”
5. The importance of “entrances and beginnings.”
6. Gathering in a circle at the beginning of practice.
7. “The moment of truth” when bringing the ball up the court.
8. The importance of the physical space and what it represents. Bulls meeting room: The White Bull. A head dress. Arrows and bows.
9. Finding the balance in “sticking to the system” vs. adapting.
10. Putting in constraints in practice to encourage player development.
11. Coach Jackson’s journaling. An “event journal.”
12. Off-season reflection routines.
13. “You have to be a salesman if you’re a coach.”
14. Teaching the team how to breathe together.
15. Keeping scrimmages competitive in practice. Mix-up the lineups. E.g., matching up Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
16. Being more patient as a more experienced coach.
17. Keeping players calm. Breathing.
18. Rooting.
19. Snapping the rubber band to get back to yourself.
20. “Know yourself. Be yourself.”