BlitzFirst said:
so if we just start winning suddenly, you'll stop questioning things right? Until then, you're going to pick apart everything with supposition and guesswork based on a few soundbytes from the coaches?
This goes for everyone here...everyone seems to think that the coaches suck, they can't develop talent, and they can't fix anything.
I think people are creating a narrative of negativity and piling on.
What I would say is, if we started winning suddenly, I wouldn't know what one would point to. Personally, I don't think our coaches suck, nor would I ever purpose to use those words. If anything though, Scott has seemed to make the most blunders. The surprise is to see the small details missed at key points/games/situations. If it isn't a key turnover, penalty or missed assignment it is something he missed.
I can understand if you think folks are creating a "narrative of negativity" ... I can see you linking me into that ... that's okay. I'm simply expressing the BS of the "coach speak" ... but the reality that he is still gonna get at least 2-3 more years ... so we are gonna see if he "fixes" what he says he will fix.
At this point, a lot of the board had some pretty positive records for even the first few seasons ... and I was the pessimist thinking just to get to 500 would be a great improvement. So, for me, I'd be tickled to win half our games next year. I just don't know what all the folks who thought we would only lose 2-4 games are thinking now. For me, next season isn't the "turning of the corner", but actually is the next. It is tough to gage because of the core "basics" that still aren't fundamental in the program ... and that boggles my mind.
In my limited coaching in tennis, I got my players to play smart or skilled with the phrase, "solid play wins the day". Was able to get very average players winning in the district title games by being and playing smart. In successive years, those average players developed in their skill and beat many more talented players/teams which always baffled the opponents.
A few things I did that made my players play smart ...
- A double fault was 25 push-ups on the spot in practice. A drill during practice was 20 serves in a row. A missed serve was 25 push-ups, then a restart until you did 20 consecutively. A double fault in a real match was a mile run [per incident] at a 10:00 pace before next practice. My own son had to run 18 miles his first year after one match.
- You could not hit to the players forehand side until the third ball to the backhand [the why is because that is the weakest shot for most players]. I was always getting my players playing to the opponents weakness.
- In practice, all returns had to hit within 3' of back line [tape marks were put down]. A miss was a run around the court. If the player was not back into the cycle by the time the next 8 players cycled through then the team would all stop and do 25 push-ups. This created great movement and pressure both to the #1 and #4 players and created encouragement and leadership top to bottom.
My favorite example of growth was my own son Brandon who went to state in doubles four years straight. It was always a hoot to hear how many other coaches and players said he was terrible [he really didn't have a serve and was more of a "pusher"] ... but he was solid and played smart until the other team made the error. He had a lob shot that he could execute to perfection and hit 90% of his balls to the opponents backhand. On his end, I developed his own backhand to be his stronger shot so when a good opponent was trained to hit to his backhand it worked to Brandon's advantage.
Let me relate this to football ... in the words of the board, "Iowa Sucks" ... however, we can't beat them. Why? We don't know how to embrace "solid play wins the day". We believe talent can win and lack the intangibles. Thus, why an Whisky, Iowa and NW out-develop is and a team like Whisky continues to gain in the better ranked player from say, 10 or 5 years ago.
All the best to you. Still hopeful here.
