New York City is preparing for an attack.  An American General fortifies Long Island and Manhattan with 20,000 soldiers.  On August 27th the enemy attacks and unfortunately, the onslaught from the enemy defeated the Americans and pushed them back to Brooklyn Heights.  From Brooklyn Heights, the Americans were again over-powered and forced to retreat across the East River completely into Manhattan.  Yet again, the enemy pushed the Americans north to Harlem Heights.  Defeated again, the Americans were forced to White Plaines and then to Fort Washington.  At Fort Washington, the Americans made a valiant stand, but were again defeated where thousands of prisoners were captured and killed.  The Americans withdrew out of New York, into New Jersey and retreated all the way into Pennsylvania.  In total, the Americans were badly beaten 7 times in this war. Continue Reading

Following is a piece I put together after a player on our team suffered a significant injury.  The injury occurred just before the Haiti earthquake.  The earthquake certainly put things into perspective in comparison to the injury.

The earthquake in Haiti has challenged a nation, but they will survive.  Their lives uprooted, homes destroyed, and families torn apart, but they will thrive.  Individuals will take on new roles. A teacher will use physical Continue Reading

Only a month and a half ago, we were a bunch of individuals.  Individuals that were unsure of themselves as players, uncertain of this team, and didn’t have a clue about this new coach.  But for some reason, you decided to let your guard down and listen to what I had to preach, to move in ways that were unfamiliar on the court, to take on new disciplines off the court, and slowly open up to the team about you.  You took a chance, you took a risk, and the reward is trust

Trust comes in various forms, little and big.  Little trust is knowing that a teammate “has your back”.  We line our bags up at each practice to help build trust.  We know that if you leave something behind, we’ve got your back.  We trust that you are making a conscious Continue Reading

This season we are going to play like rockstars!   You will perform your craft in front of a large audience.  Your band inspires you to keep rhythm.  Sound amazing?  It is! But to be a great rockstar, it ironically requires great discipline and consistency.

Miley and Taylor are away from their friends most weekends, just like you are away from yours at tournaments.  And their band, much like your teammates, inspires them to keep rhythm.  They have to study for school on the road.  They have to practice with their band before performances.  They have to exercise and eat right to stay in top shape.  Sound familiar?  Rockstars maintain a true discipline. Continue Reading

It’s beginning to look a lot like…distraction.  Distraction?!?!  Yes, distraction.  It is very easy to become distracted by important things in life during the Holiday Season.  Important things include academics, family, and friends.  Continue Reading

Each week I provide my team little reminders to help keep them focused on our goal.

After a first great week of practice, it is easy for each of us to fall back into our old routines, to go our separate ways over the next four days, fall back into our own worlds, and “forget” about each other (this is what ordinary teams do).  Or we can make the extra effort to become a more than ordinary, an extra ordinary, an extraordinary team! Continue Reading