Season’s Greetings, part 3 — 5 ways to build a key habit in your team from day 1

Official practice is now under way for every college in America.  High schools get started soon if they haven’t already.  The key to setting the tone from the beginning of the year, day 1 of practice, isn’t an incredible offensive scheme.  It isn’t getting a bunch of shots up.  It isn’t going over everything you will do all year in the first 2 hours you’re with them.  The key is more of a skill, a habit, really:

Energy.

Energy is the key for the first week of practice.  You want your players to get excited, to play with passion.  If they are playing with a passion and distinct energy in every drill, but making mistakes, it’s okay with me.  The mistakes and the sloppiness will go away with time.  But, building a positive energy that make your team excited to play around and be around, is an absolute must from the start.  It’s something I’m working on this week individually, and something I’m looking for in my guys.  Every practice, energy is the focus, energy is the word we break the huddle with.

Later in the season, this becomes important.  If all things are equal, energy will put you over the top.  If you aren’t as talented or skilled, energy will even the playing field.  You have to build this habit early.

Energy is hard to fake.  Here are 5 ways to build this habit in your team from the opening tip of the season:

1.  It starts with you and the other coaches.  Get excited that you’re able to coach.  Get your guys or girls passionate to play the game.  Get pumped up when they do something great.

2.  Instill that same passion in your team leaders.  Tell them you expect that type of energy and get on them about it if your practice lacks what you desire.

3.  Keep the gym loud.  Always demand talking and communication consistently throughout your practice.  The louder it is in the gym, the more energy.  Build that communication in every drill.

4.  Demand excellence in this area and reward it when you see it.  Every day this week, award an energy player of the day at the end of practice.  Reinforce this behavior.

5.  Have your team compete… A LOT.  Spread out your leaders, have the coaches surround these teams, and have the place POPPING with energy.

For you coaches, how important is energy for your team?  How are you building this in your program?  For you non-coaches, how does this idea apply to you and your job?