1. Players and coaches focus mostly on physical skills, strength/conditioning, and X's and O's. Mental skills are too often an afterthought.
2. When you train the brain, the body will follow.
3. Learning the proper mental skills can take you from ordinary to EXTRAORDINARY. But, just like you work on your jump shot, you have to WORK on your mental skills, too. It takes daily practice, BUT IT CAN AS LITTLE AS FIVE MINUTES A DAY.
4. The mental skills learned with Inner Hoops are applicable on AND off the court. They will serve you for a lifetime.
...mindset matters.
IIt has mattered to me ever since I was a spunky point guard for my high school team. I had some talent, but when it came to game day, I would rarely play my best. And I couldn't figure it out.
Nowdays, they might call it "performance anxiety." I had a tough time staying focused during the game. If I made a mistake, I couldn't shake it off. I was overly concerned about the people in the stands. I wanted to play so well, but the harder I tried...the worse I got.
When I played in summer pickup games, though, I was a different player. I was relaxed, confident, focused, and played like I was capable.
I'll never forget the words of one of my friends after a game one summer day: "Why don't you play like that during the season?" he asked. I just shrugged. I had no answer.
But now I do.
In my 40+ years as a high school and Division I women's basketball coach, I devoured everything I could find related to sports psych. In addition, I was fortunate to spend several summers immersing myself into the only b-ball camp that taught the mind game: Stan Kellner's "Yes, I Can" camps.
I turned out to be a better coach than player. In my first head coaching gig, mindset helped my Forest Park Lady Chargers win a thrilling state championship in overtime.
When I made the jump to coaching women's college hoops, mindset helped my Xavier University team win the MCC tourney championship--despite losing two starters to injuries the week before--and advance to its first-ever NCAA dance.
A few years later, my Toledo Rockets team found themselves down 38-15 at halftime in the MAC championship game. We took a few deep breaths at halftime, then staged a huge 2nd half comeback to win 74-65, in OT.
Mindset mattered that night, believe me!
INNER HOOPS is my baby; it's the culmination of a long coaching career, a hall of fame career. And mindset matters so much to me that I went back to "school" in 2019 to become certified with Positve Performance Training as a mental skills coach/visualization specialist.
But Inner Hoops isn't about me; it's about what YOU can do, with me as your coach. I'm starting a new team, and I want you to be on it.
But only if mindset matters to you, too!
--COACH "E" BY THE NUMBERS--
1X- Ohio high school state championship
2X- Ohio HS Coach of the Year
4X- Hall of Fame honors, including the U of Toledo Athletic Hall of Fame and the Greater Cincinnati Basketball Hall of Fame
5X- League Coach of the Year (Xavier, Toledo)
7X- Div I post-season play (5 NCAA, 2 WNIT)
8X- 20-win seasons as Division I coach2019
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