Sport and the Growing Good #148 Coach Phil Jackson (10): A conversation with a top high school coach, Sara Rohde
Coach Jackson and I were joined by Coach Sara Rohde, the multi-time state coach of the year and leader of three-time defending state champion Green Bay Notre Dame girls basketball program.
1. Sara’s background in education, coaching, and playing.
2. Sara’s system – rooted in man-to-man defense and motion offense. Fast-paced.
3. Work ethic, preparation. Strength and conditioning.
4. Relationships as one of the most important ways of being successful as a coach.
5. The futures program. Introducing kids to the game at young ages.
6. Social media rules. Putting phones away and being present.
7. The importance of parents in setting the foundation for kids on a team.
8. Finding roles for all kids beyond scoring. The “dog tag” award after games for kids who do the little things and the dirty work well.
9. Defining roles for everyone. “What can you do to help our team be successful.
10. Using a “list of all the things your team is really good at and constantly refer back to that.”
11. Using visualization.
12. Parents as examples of leaders – the habit tracking activity.
13. Valuing practice. Gathering at mid-court before practice to talk about practice.
14. The NBA’s one on one tournament – what it revealed about the Knicks’ social fabric. “Keeping the competitive edge without creating conflict inside the group.”
15. The “virtuous cycle” on teams.
16. Engaging and challenging players who “float.”
17. Teams watching “how is the coach going to handle this?”
18. Getting players to understand that they can reach another level.
19. Keeping everyone engaged whether playing or not playing. Coach Jackson: “If players 9-12 are unhappy with their roles, you want to find another way to get them involved…Keep them happy, content, and involved. (Otherwise) it will create problems for the team’s chemistry.”
20. The role of parents: Support the girls. Set clear expectations. Set a clear process.
21. Getting ready for an opponent. Provide tendencies. Practice the plan.
22. Coach Jackson: in scouting, distill it to three main points about a player and the essential idea that is the driving force of the other team: “This team does this really well. They have to this or else they cannot survive.” What is their essence?
23. In preparing, sometimes focusing on mindset, hustle, rebounding – instead of being too technical.
24. “Thinking is not part of playing. You can’t think and play. You have to be instinctive.”
25. How Coach Jackson staying positive: practicing meditation. “Letting thoughts float away” and “flush it down the toilet.”
26. Chad McGahee: differences for individual players in getting in right mental space for games. Getting the work done in advance. You can’t think and play, you have to be instinctive. “Get out of your minds and into your bodies. Your bodies are ready.”
27. Wisconsin’s rich history as a “basketball haven!”
28. Coach Jackson taking summer’s off to rejuvenate and connect with family. Spending the last part of summers visualizing the year ahead.