The Player Who Surprises The Coach

 In the Spring, coaches are formulating plans for summer basketball and for what they think will make the team successful in November. During this process, coaches are thinking about possible starting lineups, and possible substitution rotations. Usually the coaches planning is based on where the players were in terms of ability at the end of the season. Every June when we start camp, there is a player who is clearly a better player- it jumps out to the coaches and to the team. At that point, as a coach you excitedly rethink the possibilities. You realize, "This player is going to be a real factor, and they are going to make us a lot better than I anticipated we would be."

While there were many players who "surprised" me in June, Sara Wood and Antonia Kisler. Sara Wood had started as a sophomore but was not a very good shooter. Molly Watson was a year behind her, and I projected Molly to take Sara's place in the starting lineup. When we started camp in June, Sara had not only improved her shot, she was automatic- she never missed. 

After Antonia Kisler's sophomore year, I figured she would be able to play on the varsity as a junior, but I figured she would be a "role player". I envisioned Antonia playing maybe 8-10 minutes per game. She had committed to the weight room and had not only gotten stronger, but her weight room work improved her vertical jump significantly and improved her quickness. Her improved ability and her high energy the very first day of camp, changed my thinking completely. As coaches, we excitedly began to change our plans. 

We give an award at the end of each season to "Most Improved Player."  The Most Improved Player Award is to recognize the player I have been describing. They are the player who had a vision of who they wanted to be as a player, and they developed a plan to get there. The winner of this award is ALWAYS someone their teammates recognize with a strong work ethic. It is no surprise Antonia Kisler was voted Most Improved Player at the end of her junior year. 

I believe such improvements don't just happen. Seldom does a player improve just by getting older. Improvement comes from players developing goals, a plan to reach their goals, and then putting in the work to reach their goals. Your work must align with your goals. 

Often when we think about goal-setting, we immediately turn to the desired outcomes we want. When a basketball player is asked their goals, they are apt to say things like, "be a starter", "be all-conference", or "average 15 points per game." These are all "outcome goals," they are focused on the end result. All of these goals could be good goals that serve to provide a vision for the athlete.

"Process goals" are about the steps you are going to take to reach your "outcome goals." Process goals are about the steps you are going to take to get from point A to point B. A player must develop goals about what specifically are the going to do, and specifically how are the going to do it. The outcome goals are about the future, the process goals are about the now. 

A second award we give is "Bring It Award." This is the player who always brings energy, effort, and enthusiasm in the weight room, in the off-season, during the summer camps and leagues, in the season during both practice and games. Every drill in practice is better because of their energy, effort, and enthusiasm. When we are working to improve in practices and in the weight room, we can always count on them to bring effort, energy, and enthusiasm. 

Clearly this award is all about THE PROCESS- how are you going to do things. Antonia Kisler has won this award the last two years. Why was Antonia a successful player- because she was focused on the process. Great players bury themselves in the process. Great players enjoy the process. 

Last Spring, Coach Demott gave them a workout book that challenged them to develop a workout program. Antonia bought in completely. She developed her own shooting program, and determined how often she was going to shoot. At one point in the Spring, she had come in and done her shooting workout 45 of 50 days. 

Once in the Spring, she planned to come in to shoot on a Saturday morning at 9:00am. On Friday morning, she text me to say,"I can't come in Saturday, I have to help my Grandma with a church activity." Friday afternoon I got another text from Antonia, "Do you think I could come in at 7:00am Saturday to shoot." Those two texts summed up Antonia's commitment to improvement. It would be easy to understand not coming in to shoot in order to help your grandma- that is just being a good granddaughter! But great players find a way to get the shots up. It is not about "finding time", it is about "making time." 

I am hoping as they are setting up their goals that players think about including- winning Most Improved Award and being selected Bring It Award. Because if they work to win those awards, chances are they are going to reach many of their outcome goals!! After the first week of Streaks Camp this summer, my question for the new coach will be- "Who has surprised you?"

I asked Antonia a few questions to try to get some insight into approach. 

Massey- When you entered GHS, did you anticipate having the success you had as a basketball player?

Antonia- When I first entered GHS, basketball was not the sport in which I wanted to succeed most. I wanted to be great at volleyball, and basketball was just a hobby for me. But once I saw the environment that basketball provided, I began to love it.

Massey- You always worked hard as a player, but it seems like something really clicked between your sophomore and your junior years. You took your work ethic and energy to a completely different level. Am I accurate? Was there anything in particular that served to inspire you to go to another level?

Kisler- Between my sophomore and junior year, I realized that I was going to have more competition in any position I was going to play. I was competing against girls my age and older which in my mind triggered the determination to put in extra work and go the extra mile. I also realized in order to get better, I needed to put in extra work everyday, not just when I felt like it.

Massey- As you went into your varsity seasons, did you have specific goals that inspired you to work or were you just focused on working hard?

Kisler- I was very focused on working hard everyday. I had goals throughout both of my varsity seasons. One goal was to bring the energy to every practice and every game, getting my team going. I also wanted to be a starter on the varsity team just as every girl wants to be. This past season was a little different from my junior season. This season I had a goal of being a shooter from the outside. Coach Massey always sacrificed his time and provided instruction to help me get better with my shooting range.

Massey- Our “Bring It Award” is to recognize the player who always brings it- in the weight room, in the summer, in practice, and in games. You won the award twice. What made you “bring it?”

Kisler- For me, it is a mindset. I learned from my parents at a young age that hard work was the expectation. I worked hard in school and in the sports I did. I expected myself to put in the effort and to get the results I wanted. I knew that hard work in any setting will get you farther.  

Massey- There had to be days at Streaks Camp at 8:00am or times at practice after a tough day at school, that you really didn’t feel pumped up, but somehow you always seemed to bring it. On those days when you really didn’t feel like it- what did you do to get yourself going?

Kisler- When I got out on the court for practice, I knew it was time to shut everything else out and just focus on basketball and my team. Getting up early was never a problem for me, I knew once I got to practice, it was time to work hard.

Massey-  You had an absolutely incredible spring and summer coming into shoot on the Gun. Can you describe your daily workout goals? Some people say you have to be willing to work to become a great player. Was it really work for you to come in and shoot?

Kisler- My daily workout began with form shooting, and then going on to make 50 free throws and to make 300 shots from midrange and three-pointers. I always strived for a high 60% at every spot I shot from. After I got started working on the Gun, it became a habit that I enjoyed doing. “I fell in love with the process” as Coach Massey would say. It felt good, seeing my improvement as the summer went on.

Massey- You were a captain this past year. In what ways did you try to be a leader?

Kisler- I wanted to lead by example. I would be early to practice and be the first one on the court. During practice, I would “bring it.” I would always give it my all in every game, win or lose.

Massey- What advice do you have for next year’s varsity players?

Kisler - Always work hard and strive to be the teammate that other girls look up to.