#146 Coach Phil Jackson (8): On Experimenting as a coach  

1.     Why it’s important for coaches to take time to commemorate noteworthy holidays and occurrences.

2.     Coach Pat Rice embracing systematic innovation in his football program.

3.     Choice architecture—Behavioral economics and Coach Kelly Sheffield.

4.     Developing a culture of experimentation.

5.     Intellectual humility.

6.     Finding the sweet spot between rigidity and constant change.

7.     Pre-studying before trying new things.

8.     Evaluating marginal gains and losses.

9.     Scrutiny from trying new things.

10.  The positive effects and experimental culture can have on the spirit of a team.

11.  The late 1960s was a time when “breaking the mold” was happening in many spaces.

12.  Tai Chi as a valuable contributor to sport.

13.  Experiments that don’t work.

14.  Tailoring your system to players’ attributes.

15.  Mindfulness and meditation beginnings as a player. Finding the breath and the quiet.

16.  Dean Smith and Bobby Knight’s comments on “turning off the lights and holding hands before the games.” Then contacting George Mumford to work with the team.

17.  The importance of the beginning of practice. “They will remember more from the beginning of practice.” Skills and drills.

18.  Homophily and propinquity in coaching and athletics. Examples from the game of basketball.

19.  The importance of language.

20.  Coach Ekker’s conversation with John Wooden. “I changed, not the players.”

21.  Seeing the potential of the team. 

22.  The team “starting to use your language.”