From the Bench »
Features

Support for high school shot clock going strong
This summer, my home state of Wisconsin became the latest to implement a shot clock for high school basketball. The change, which won’t take effect until the 2019-20 school year, was met with overwhelming support, despite the growing pains that lik...

Five tips to create a positive practice environment
As leaders, we must strive to create a positive environment that allows our players to thrive. I take a lot of pride in the fact that my players enjoy practice. That doesn’t mean practice is not difficult, but as coaches we can create an environmen...

‘You… and Your Program:’ Five valuable lessons for athletes
As coaches, we often fail to define what we actually mean with the terminology in our programs. I’m no different. During many years of coaching, I assumed players understood the meaning behind my words and phrases. For those who make the same mist...

Preparing a mobile emergency center
If you've been around athletics for a while, you know that emergencies occur — some small, and others of the larger variety. And, the key to dealing with unexpected occurrences is to be prepared for any and all unusual events. Can you plan for the...

PCA video: Notre Dame coach Mike Brey discusses body language
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-RcL-j4cU8 Mike Brey is the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Notre Dame. He led his 2014-2015 team to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. His success in South Bend includes leading nearly every ...

Teaching players situational awareness
Situational awareness is often overlooked, and not only in basketball. We spend so much time drilling players on their shooting, defense, ball handling or passing, that we sometimes neglect the fact that we also must exercise an athlete’s abilities...

Defining a winner: Becoming a better coach and leader
There are few things in life that cross all boundaries, things that are so universal that they touch and appeal to every person on the planet. Although we all have different definitions, winning crosses all boundaries. It’s a common language that s...

Keys to longevity and stability in your coaching career
Retaining qualified coaches is a constant battle for athletic directors, and turnover has become a regular part of the school year. Each state, division or league has a dean of coaches who has been in their position for decades. However, this tends ...

Take advantage of free professional development courses
Athletic directors and coaches across the country feel overworked, overwhelmed and totally maxed out the majority of the time. This is simply what they face day-to-day and week-to-week with increasing expectations, responsibilities and things to do. ...

Eight ideas to help fund coaching education
Even in good economic times, athletic budgets are usually strained and pushed to the limit. Considering all of the necessary safety equipment, team travel and other expenditures associated with operating an athletic department, this is understandable...