Written by MIKE MACKAY (High Performance Manager, Women’s High Performance Program, Canada Basketball) “The greatest myth currently being perpetuated is the idea that basketball players can improve their skills by playing numerous games. Many of our developmental athletes are sometimes playing up to six basketball games on a weekend. This is often preceded by only one practice …
I had to share this research summation that Mike MacKay passed on to me after he attended the Coaching Association of Canada’s 2008 Sport Leadership Conference which was held in Calgary (Alberta). The conference is an annual gathering of sport leaders from Canada and abroad. … Dr. Arne Guillich conducted a study of Olympic athletes. …
“Wow!” Three letters that sum up my trip to Ottawa for Raptors training camp. For the development coach in me, that easily was the best training camp that I’ve ever had the fortune to be a part of in all my years working in the NBA. I was able to squeeze a lot of other …
I wanted to share this email to my post on motivation sent to me… It comes from a very good friend/advisor/mentor and one of my former university coaches, Dr. Tim Elcombe. I have a great respect for his thoughts – although I have to admit that I only understand half of what the guy says …
Back from a very good week directing at Point Guard College in Denton, TX. There were a total of 121 athletes who worked with our team of basketball coaches. We made some good modifications to the format and delivery and I was pleased with the progress made in how things are being taught at PGC. …
I’m looking for some help. At dinner last night, this question was posed to the group: Where does the name “point guard” come from and when was it originally used? I didn’t know and still don’t have an answer. To give you a little background, this same question was asked of the likes of John …
If you’ve followed along with my blogs, you’ll know that I have often referenced Mike MacKay, Manager Coach Education and Development for Canada Basketball, in them (ad nauseum!). Well, he’s finally been brought into the millennium and is blogging his thoughts. Check out X’s and O’s with Mike Mackay. Well worth the invest of time, …
“If people knew how hard I worked to get my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful at all.” —Michelangelo … I’ve enjoyed this quote for quite some time. It sprang to mind some time ago after a road trip to back to Canada where I finally had the opportunity to swing by ‘Yoda Master’ Mike …
I love cooking shows. And… I think that much about coaching can be related to being a top chef. For years, a program called Iron Chef was my late night TV fix. (I’m talking the original Asian version with English voice over. The sensationalized US version just isn’t the same). During college, at 12:30am that …
It all starts with some TLC. Not tender loving care, that is, but knowing the difference between a teaching activity, learning activity and competing activity. Let me explain… TEACHING vs. LEARNING vs. COMPETING In order for a coaching staff to run more effective practices, coaches need to apply a little TLC. T = Teaching Activity …