David E
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Weak hand lay-ups - 2007/10/16 15:45
I want to comment on Coach McCormick's wondering in his newsletter how a coach can allow a player to progress without developing fundamental skills such as making a weak-hand lay-up.
I am a long-time coach of middle school girls, and I take pride in my players' fundamental development from grades six through eight. This includes dribbling and shooting lay-ups with the weak hand. This is easily accomplished by everyone by the middle of their first year. (I'm talking the basic stuff here.)
However, I must share the story of two girls, one a guard and the other a post, who never learned to use their left hand. These girls are probably the two best athletes I have ever coached. The guard became our high school's all-time leading scorer. The post holds the high school's record in the 100-meter dash. Both are currently playing NCAA D-I softball. One is a senior, the other a freshman.
Now these girls worked the same way in practice as the ones who learned to use their left hand. They did the drills, made the shots, just like everyone else. When the lights came on, though, whether in a game or a competitive practice situation, there was no left hand to be found. I analyzed this state of affairs for three years with each in middle school, then watched them for four more in high school, and came to a couple of conclusions.
First, they were just so much more athletic than their opponents that they didn't see the need to use the left hand. They could simply use raw speed to blow by on the dribble (the post did develop a great In & Out move) and then use strength and amazing body control to finish at the rim with their right hand. It was like watching a mature kid dominate in little kids' ball, only at a much higher level. Both girls were happy with their results and were not interested in adding to their repertoire.
Next and I really think the more important reason, both girls had never experienced anything but success in their athletic lives and I don't believe they were psychologically equipped to handle the frustration and failure that comes from learning something new. If they tried to dribble with their left hand under pressure they might lose the ball. If they tried a left-handed lay-up in a game they might miss it. For them, winning and looking good in front of their friends and family was so important that the idea of trying something new was non-existent. (I will also add that they are two of the biggest cheaters I have ever had in practice. They did whatever they thought they could get away with to win a drill. That's how important winning was to them.)
Now maybe I, the coach, should have done a better job of demanding with these two. I do think I did a better job with the second than I did with the first, but not good enough. For hundreds of others, including other top athletes, what I was doing worked. It all goes back to the player's mindset. (Carol Dweck) Did they think they could get better incrementally, or did they just try to survive on "natural talent"?
Anyway, I can see how some really elite players may fall into one or both of the categories above. Therefore, if a WNBA player can't make a left-handed lay-up, maybe it is the fault of her coaches. But maybe it's on the player for not trying.
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coachmccormick
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Re:Weak hand lay-ups - 2007/10/16 16:15
I would say the Fixed Mindset is part of it. Also, they appear to be softball players first and basketball players second or third. Therefore, developing basketball skills may or may not have been a priority, which is different than someone playing DI and going to the WNBA or someone who works with a basketball trainer and plays year-round with AAU and HS teams.
However, I also know that my dad would not play use if we did not use our weak hand when I was in 5th-8th grade. We made 20 lay-ups in a row to start practice. Our best player in 6th grade was the best 6th grader in the entire Catholic schools system. He was strong and athletic. But, if he did not use his left hand, my dad would take him out of the game. That's another example of the training vs. winning philosophy at a young age.
So, I agree. It's not always the coach's fault. But, I believe there is always something more that we can do to either help the player physically or psychologically, though if the player lacks the motivation, sometimes it is pointless.
As for fear of learning, that would have been a great issue to tackle, as one has to assume at some point in their college softball careers they will not be the most athletic kids and may struggle or may have to improve.
I remember a kid who was a great player, superfast with no left hand. When she was in 8th grade, I had a college scout ask me where she went to college. But, she's not playing anywhere because she never developed her skills. She looked like a college player athletically, but never expanded her skill set.
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David E
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Re:Weak hand lay-ups - 2007/10/16 17:10
One girl was definitely a softball player first, but the other had to choose between a softball or basketball scholarship.
Both could make as many left-handed lay-ups as you wanted. Everybody at our practices has to make 10 no-rim with each hand every day before practice. They could do that or any other staged drill. It's just when there was a defender around, they were all one-handed.
I generally do not remove players from the game before their time is up except in lack-of-effort situations. I guess I should consider not using the left hand a "lack of effort to use the left hand".
The girl who is now a college senior had a great freshman year but has struggled her last two. I'm interested to see how the current freshman pans out.
I just read this in a Rotman Magazine article titled "The Success Delusion".
"The more successful we become, the more positive reinforcement we get, and the more likely we are to experience the success delusion: I behave this way. I am successful. Therefore, I must be successful because I behave this way. Wrong!"
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coachmccormick
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Re:Weak hand lay-ups - 2007/10/16 17:21
The quote is, in some ways, the more academic argument against the system and justifies those who call players selfish, etc. They are that way because they get rewarded for playing that way.
I'm not saying everyone has to do what my dad did, just that it worked for us. I'm one of the ones that believes a "wrong" hand lay-up is often the right shot. I do not believe a player should always use his left hand on the left side, as my dad did. However, he was making sure we learned to use our left at an early age. I make sure the players I train can make all the same shots with right and left hand and they can choose which shots to use in a game situation. The distinction, I suppose, is between those who use their right hand because they cannot use their left and those who choose to use their right hand because of the way the defense is playing.
I'd guess your players suffered from a fear of failure. Maybe all the WNBA players do as well. Who knows? However, I would expect a pro athlete to put in enough work to gain the confidence, especially with her livelihood on the line, where I do not have the same expectation for a hs kid.
It'd be interesting to know why the girl struggled and if it resulted from her meeting equal comp for the first time in her life and struggling to adjust to it. I'm sure it happens to a lot of kids when they reach college.
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CoachClaytor
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Re:Weak hand lay-ups - 2007/10/22 17:50
David I believe you are correct with your assumptions of the girls and their athleticism. I am a junior high boys coach and varsity assitant, but I did notice something in one of our high school girls this past season.
She was one of the best high school girls players to come out of southern ohio. She finished her career scoring 2300 points, which is 13th All-Time, and during her senior year she scored 63 in the sctional final game. She was named Division 4 POY.
Anyways she rarely used her left hand at all. Always shot her layups with her right hand no matter what side she was on. Rarely did she even dribble with her left hand. She would sometimes take 3 or 4 dribbles but rarely more than that. All of this and she could score at will because she was amazingly athletic and could shoot the lights out.
Now he is a Freshman playing NAIA ball so I am looking forward to seeing how she can compete at that level.
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