Is that where you feel your team is right now?? Have you heard that term before? From ESPN yesterday, Bill Self talking to Dana Jacobson about Kansas Jayhawks basketball, he described his team as "not a a good practice team yet." I would venture that late October / early November, most coaches would characterize their teams the same way. Here is the full interview if you want to see it:



I've often read from teaching, coaching, and even parenting articles that you should always start strict at the beginning of the season, and slowly ease up later when the situation warrants it. The idea being that it is much easier to ease up later than to start easy and go hard later.

On the other hand, after being away for so long, most players by nature aren't in the right mental state at the beginning of the season and therefore maybe they need more time to get into the right state of mind. Accordingly, you would then start the season with practices slightly easier, and gradually start tightening the screws as the season really gets started.

What do y'all think about it?? Or are you the kind of coach that only has one mode: all out all the time.

Anyways, just some philosophical thoughts about starting the season to think about. For more practice tips and strategies from Coach Self, take a look at Bill Self's DVD on Better Practices. The Jayhawks will start the season as pre-season favorites to the 2009-2010 season.