THOUGHTS FROM BILLY GILLESPIE

These notes on high school coaching are taken from a clinic in 2009 in North Carolina where Billy Gillespie spoke.


"THOUGHTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL"
BY BILLY GILLISPIE"


1. Don't worry about winning, worry about doing the right thing. (This is how to be respected as a coach.)
2. Coach "Togetherness and Toughness"
3. In a two hour practice have four quarters:
1st quarter= 30 min
2nd quarter=30 min
3rd quarter= 30 min
4th quarter= 30 min
4. Have a "Player of the Week" Jersey...You may want the to be "The Defensive Player of the Week".
5. Run Situations everyday in practice. (Late Game)
6. Force the players to make 80's in the classroom instead of 70's this way they will always be eligible to play.
7. Have Honorary Coaches for each home game. (Teachers, Administrators, or Supporters from the community) *Introduce them before the game. Talk to the PA announcer and give him some specific about them.
8. Learn to Improve while you are Winning. (Most teams don't improve while they are winning.)
9. Develop a Family within your program.
10. Try not to be NEGATIVE for one year.
11. Send personal notes to your players home in the fall, spring and summer.
12. Have the players write a one page essay on what the team would be like if everyone on the team had your attitude and work ethic.
13. In the TEAM picture each year ALWAYS have your AD or Principal in the picture. (You will need to tell them a day in advance that you need them for the picture) *They love it! After you get the picture back go to Wal-Mart and buy a $3.00 frame and you need to put the picture in it and then go give it to the AD or Principal and I'll bet you they put it up on their office wall. (This is GREAT POLITICS!)