Caring vs Understanding. Part 1

On another coaching forum a quote was brought up and a question raised in regards to how accurate you felt it might be. The quote was from Bobby Knight

"Dumb loses more games than smart wins!"

This got me thinking about a number of issues I wanted to discuss. I'll organize my response in to two categories:
- the feeling and my reaction to statement
- the reality of what statements like this imply in terms of player development.

PART 1: My feelings and reaction.

 

 PREFACE: I don't see the world like most people. When most coaches would think that their kids weren't playing well, or didn't understand, or weren't sharp or even were dumb I don't. My default position on everything in the universe is that if we cared more it would work. It you cared enough to try harder, cared enough to train better, cared enough to sacrifice yourself for the win, etc.

Point: All I really bring to this conversation is a third possibilty: rather then smart/dumb being the contributing factor to success, I'm willing to argue the heart/give a damn/ determination of purpose (however you want to express it) is really the key determinant. Kids don't make smart plays and don't have dumb moments. I don't feel like a smart team or smart plays win, conversely I don't feel like kids make mistakes and lose because they don't understand. Kids are capable of winning, growing, and executing based solely on their short and long term willingness and ability to care about their training, execution, and performance.


Proof: We accuse players of being "dumb" when they take a bad shot, make a rushed/poor choice and when they get lost on the court. Is the solution to this increased intelligence or understanding? No, the solution is appropriate reaction and decision making on the floor. What does that mean?

Why didn't they make the right reaction?  Two real possibilities: Its a day of issue or its a training issue.

On the day of they simply aren't focused, energetic, and unable to perform at the top of their game. Whether its a mental reason, distraction ,or physical issue then they didn't "care" enough to be ready. They weren't willing to do what it took to orgnaize and manage themselves to be healthy, focused and in a game ready mindset. If they need re-enforcement or support they didnt come get it. Something may happen in game to distract, frustrate or upset them, but  they aren't caring enough about the team to overlook their individual issue to make the big picture work. Caring enough to be mentally and physically ready, to be organized and focsued on the key points and issues, and having enough desire to win and a willingness to put your teammates first should eliminate the majority if not all of the problems on game day and during the game if its is a short term issue.

Now, what if it is a training issue. They just aren't strong enough, skilled enough, or can't make the right decision at speed in the situations presented. Did they and their teammates care enough to:

- Put in time in the weight room and running in the off season.
- Address the issues their coaches pointed out in their skills development at the end of their last season.
- Get up hundreds, if not thousands, of shots per week.
- Do all of their training at game speed with intensity.
- Push themselves and their teammates to be performing at the edge of their abilities.
- Simulate game situations and conditions in practice to make practice as realisitic as possible.
- Call out teammates who were not making us better.
- Accept leadership and criticism from others to improve.

The inability to execute at game time because of lacking areas or abilities in comparison to your opponent is not an understanding issue, it is a practice issue. They don't turn it over underpressure because they don't understand who they have to pass to. They get rushed and can't mentally chunk the action fast enough to react  properly because they didn't care enough to either work on their passing/ balance, or the team didn't care enough to be able to simulate game conditions and pressure properly, etc. etc.

Conclusion:

Smart doesn't win games. Dumb doesn't lose game. The argument in question is moot. Performance is based on training, prepartion and quality of execution. Be able to do those at a higher level then your opponents is not a matter of intelligence or understanding, it is a matter of willingness to train. Your commitment to task, team and improvement determines the outcome. How much you care wins and loses games.

In Part II I will examine what the attitude "Dumb loses more games then smart wins!" says about player development and coaching philosophies.