Blog Posting #20, November 25, 2008

PHYSICAL CONDIOTIONING IS A PARTNERSHIP
For Coach Wooden, physical contioning was not the sole responsibility of the coach; he made it clear it was a partnership between the coaching staff and the players.  Just as there is much a coach can do to condition the players during the practice session, there is much the players can do to either help or hinder conditioning.  But the players must be told about this partnership. He gave his players two directives:

ONE: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF OFF THE COURT
In our pre-season team meeting, and throughout the season, Coach Wooden emphatically told us, “Take care of yourself off the court. Eat right, stay off your feet as much as possible,  and get the proper sleep—both the right amount and the right hours. You can tear yourself down off  the court, more than you can build your conditioning during practice.”

TWO: PUSH YOURSELF DURING PRACTICE
Repeatedly, Coach Wooden told us, “There is only one way to improve your conditioning; get yourself to the point where you can’t go any more,  and then push yourself just a little further.”

SUMMARY:
By making condioning a partnership, Coach Wooden gave us responsibility and trust. One may not think that his method would be effective but, believe me, I remembered, considered, and heeded  what he said, all during practice and all during my time off the court. It’s amazing what students will do to maintain trust, once they receive it.