I've been criticized more than once or twice for being overly optimistic. I'll take that criticism every day of the week.
After all, if we can't be optimistic about what's to come, I think that means we're doing something wrong. We are optimistic because we are confident, and we are confident because we work hard. Plain and simple.
As coaches, our teams feed off our optimism. I read an article earlier today about San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich. The focus was on the Los Angeles Lakers, and on their close loss last night to the Spurs. The writer praised Popvich for being the difference in the game last night, because of the way he is, the way he inspires confidence in his players to overachieve. Giving your players confidence that they will go out and be successful, according to the writer, helped the Spurs win a close game at the end.
If Popovich let one bit of doubt cross his mind that a certain player can't hit the game winning shot, his players pick up on that. A vote of confidence from a coach can make a world of difference.
As coaches, we don't set expectations overly high, but we approach our new seasons with optimism, that if we stick to the plan, learn, get better, and adapt that plan throughout the season, we can achieve our team's goals. You set the bar high, not so high that your team will never get there, but high enough to push yourselves to get a little higher than you did the last time you tried.
So as we begin our seasons, at the high school and college levels, we find reasons for optimism in what we have. We look forward to our first practice, our first exhibition, and our first regular season game. Everyone wants to win, and as I've written before, wanting isn't nearly good enough. You make wins. You combine all of the ingredients, a game plan, good coaching, outstanding effort from your players, and everyone's hard work in your basketball family, and you make wins. Coaches prepare recipes, players follow the directions, and add their own extras to it.
Tomorrow when you go to practice, no matter your roll, find a reason to be optimistic. Realize that your work today makes tomorrow better, and be optimistic in your ability to make a difference. You can have an impact if you choose to make one. I have my eyes on what I want, but it turns out what I want is also something I need, so I challenge myself everyday to get there. I have to be optimistic, otherwise I wouldn't do what I do.
Live in your own reality, and find your own optimism.
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-TP
