The PGC Blog

Self-discipline is something you need to practice the way you practice a skill like shooting a basketball or hitting a baseball or throwing a football. The more you practice self-discipline, the easier it becomes and the prouder you become of it.

“I’ve got that man.” “Take ’im!” “Get through.” “Help here.” “Bring ’im here.” “Go through.” “Watch behind.” Talking to teammates, helping each other verbally, is one of the most obvious

After most wins, you really aren’t entitled to all the congratulations you get nor to the focus on all the good things that happened. And after most losses, you really don’t deserve all the criticism or the anguish of realizing that so many plays—if only just one had gone differently—cost you the victory.

Express the sincere appreciation you ought to feel for the fact that they came a long way just to watch you and your team perform.

Tell yourself a story of confidence. Something that is going to motivate you every single day and will keep you in peak state. Trust this process. It will pay off but it won’t be easy. The sacrifices you are going to have to make are going to be frustrating but they will be necessary.

How you handle adversity is completely up to you. Not your teammate. Not your brother. Not your sister. Not mom or dad but you.You will have set backs. Things will not go your way but failure is a part of success and you have complete control over the habits you have and build into your tool belt to handle that adversity.

If you want to instruct in a way that is really going to help your basketball team, you need to instruct before the bad thing happens, before the play takes place. In basketball, this opportunity—or failure—happens frequently.