The Definite Dozen of Lancers Basketball

Now that basketball season is around the corner this is a good time to re-post some of the cornerstones to our program.

TO STAY HERE:

1. BE COMMITTED TO YOUR ACADEMICS – Know you’re A-G requirements…make a plan…get a diploma. Go to class every day. Be on time. Sit up front. Take good notes. Do all extra work possible. Plan ahead and talk to your teachers when we travel or you are having a problem. Get tutors when you need them.

2. BE COMMITTED TO HAVING CLASS – Treat teachers, trainers, support staff, cafeteria workers, and all you meet with respect. Treat other people the way you want to be treated. Moody people are rude. Everyone takes notes, everyone picks up trash and everyone is courteous. Say please, thank you, yes sir, and yes ma’am. Give people the benefit of the doubt and always remember to smile.

3. BE COMMITTED TO DOING THE RIGHT THING – We have plenty of school rules…know them. Realize if you just try to do the right thing you will be OK. Try to do the next right thing right and you are as close to perfect as any person can be.

4. BE COMMITTED TO THE PROGRAM – We realize that athletes are in a fish bowl at B.G.H.S. Every word and action will be watched. Our program’s reputation provides many opportunities yet brings many responsibilities. We must be committed to build on to the tradition of our program and respect those that have gone before us and paid the price to build the program.

TO PLAY HERE:

5. BE COMMITTED TO HARD WORK – Our program is built on the concept that hard work pays off. We believe that we work harder than anyone else…and because of that we always deserve to win. There is a reason we are the best we can be…we work at it. Our best player must be our hardest worker. Be our hardest worker.

6. BE COMMITTED TO BECOMING A SMART PLAYER – We all must be ready to learn. We believe we work smarter than anyone else…We must develop players who understand the game. We all must be good listeners and learn by watching. We must make good decisions, we must play with poise. We prepare mentally for practice and games.

7. BE COMMITTED TO OUR TEAM ATTITUDE CONCEPT – We must all believe in our team concept. Our program is built on the concept that the team/program is bigger than any one player or coach. We need unselfish players and coaches.

8. COMMIT YOURSELF TO A WINNING ATTITUDE – Our players must be committed to winning but understand we don’t measure our success by winning alone. Each time we play we evaluate ourselves on reaching our potential. The test for our team is to play against the game not just our opponent. We never quit. We always are looking for ways to win.

TO WIN HERE:

9. BELIEVE IN OUR SYSTEM OF PLAY – Commit yourself to our philosophy, to our system of play. Be a sponge and soak up the concepts of how we play. Learn your role…then accept your role and do it the best you can.

10. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF – Play with confidence…think positive. Don’t get down when you play poorly… …be a leader... remember that your heart controls what your tongue says. Lead by example.

11. BELIEVE IN YOUR TEAMMATES – Communicate with each other…help each other. Remember the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack. Encourage each other and support each other. Don’t ever forget the importance of the shell around the team. Be a friend. We are all different – be tolerant of teammates and others.

12. BELIEVE IN YOUR COACHES – Understand that your coaches are trying to help make you better people and players. Ask questions…don’t whine, complain or make excuses. Learn to take tough coaching. You must believe that the coaches are doing what they think is right for the team and you.

Five Characteristics of Successful Players

Very important for our Student-Athletes to remember this stuff:

FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL PLAYERS

1. Commitment

• Don’t be Luke-warm, put your whole self in – Be PASSIONATE about what you do
• “A leader with great passion & few skills will always outperform a leader with great skills and little passion.” – John Maxwell
• Be committed to becoming the best you can be – Skill Development (develop the unconscious)
• Confidence comes from demonstrated ability

There are four types of players:
1. Unconscious & incompetent: You stink, but you don’t know it. You don’t improve.
2. Conscious & incompetent: You stink, and you know it, so you work at it (not so bad).
3. Conscious & competent: You’re good and you know it, so you don’t get better.
4. Unconscious & competent: You’re good but you don’t think about it because you’re always working.

2) Toughness (physical & mental)

• Mental more so than physical (attention to detail because good is in the details)
• BE COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE (pressure is good & stress is bad)
• You have to have tenacity, which is the ability to stick with it and be persistent in your attitude and effort
• If you want to be the best player you have to be the hardest worker and those who work the hardest are the last to surrender

3) Communication (on & off the floor)

• Listen vs. hearing ( listen with your eyes, ears, mind & heart)
• Great players crave hard instruction
• Have huddles on the floor to communicate with teammates
• Sometimes you have to figure it out without your coach (communicate to “Fix It”)
• Adapt, Improvise, & Overcome

4) Leadership

• Leadership starts from the top
• You have to learn to serve before you can lead (servant leader)
• Lead from the front not from the rear (lead by example because your example isn’t the main thing, it is the only thing)
• Not everybody can lead, but everybody has a role
• “An army of lions led by an ass will be defeated by an army of asses led by a lion.”

Roles:
1. Define
2. Understand
3. Accept
4. Fulfill

5. Goal Oriented

• Have long term & short term goals
• Set specific goals that are observable & measurable (Have a narrow focus to help concentration)
• Set goals that are realistically attainable & within your control
• Determine what you want – find out how much it is going to cost you – decide whether you are willing to pay the price
• You must have the persistence to follow through with your set goals (BE A FINISHER)

Thank You!!

Thanks to all the BGHS staff, families, and friends that were able to attend our benefit show last night. A great time was had by all. We plan to do another show very soon, but this time on a Friday so that we can draw an even bigger crowd. See above for a small fundraiser this week.

3 Pt Shooting-6:30 AM

BG Coach: Robert Zaragoza doing well in his professional head coaching debut.

ONE GETS AWAY

With a 2-0 series lead last week in the Best of 5 series, The Commish, Robert Zaragoza's Halcones de Xalapa semi pro loses in the Liga Veracruzana Finals last night.

The Xalcones were defeated by interstate rival Halcones Rojos de Veracruz. Both teams ended their regular seasons with a record of 9-1 in their respective divisions.

Xalapa gained the 1-0 lead at home by beating los Rojos. Game 2, Xalapa down 17 at halftime and with League MVP Jesus Gonzalez eject make a miraculous come from behind victory, 99-98.

On the road for Game 3, the Halcones are without Gonzalez and SF Julio Martin del Campo (back injury) and drop Game 3 by 25. With a 2-1 advantage entering Game 4, Xalapa makes some adjustments and take this game into overtime and let the series tie at 2-2.

Game 5 at Xalapa was close throughout trailing by 3 at halftime but a few miss cues in the 2nd half and the Rojos pull off the win and championship.

"It was a great run this season. But ultimately we lost the games that mattered most." said Coach Zaragoza, "Xalapa is known for making Finals and winning them and we couldn't seal the deal. I am proud of my kids too bad we couldn't get the one win we needed. This is a tough pill to swallow but we'll be back."

Burpies Workout

We'll be adding these to our workouts this week. :)

Coach Cuevas and Olympian & BG Alumni Brenda Villa