A weekly resource for coaches
by Coach Ashworth
Game Shots: On Hubris in Coaching, Teaching Life Lessons, and Brad Underwood's Rebounding Philosophy
Happy Wednesday - Make sure you’re taking game shots.
Quote of the Week: “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
The Opening Tip
When Success Blinds You
I’ve seen a lot of good coaches get caught in the trap of hubris. They start winning, things are clicking, the players are bought in, and suddenly they believe they’ve unlocked the secret formula that nobody else knows. You can almost see the shift happen. The humble student of the game turns into the know-it-all professor.
I’ve seen coaches who think their system is bulletproof, that their success is solely because they outsmart everyone else. But the truth is, most winning programs are built on a thousand small things going right. Talented and coachable players. Great assistant coaches. The benefit of players staying healthy and no major injuries. A few lucky bounces that could have gone either way. Success is rarely the result of one person’s genius.
And yet, it’s so easy to get lost in it. I’ve felt it too. When your team’s rolling, people start complimenting your system, your style, your leadership. You start to believe it a little. That’s human nature. But sports have a funny way of reminding you how fragile success really is. A few missed shots, a tough injury, a bad matchup, and suddenly you’re right back on the ground where everyone else stands.
Ego is quiet when you’re struggling, but it gets loud when you’re winning. The challenge is learning to keep it in check before it does the talking for you. The best coaches I’ve been around stay curious. They give credit to their staff and players. They know that success is rented, not owned.
Remember, the game has a way of humbling us all.
Something to think about:
When success comes, do you stay as hungry to learn as you were before it?
How often do you give credit away instead of keeping it?
Would your assistants and players describe you as confident or cocky?
If you lost tomorrow, would your humility show up as quickly as your pride did in winning?
The Huddle
Sports as Life’s Classroom
Every coach knows that sports teach more than how to set a screen or box out for a rebound. What we sometimes forget is that we’re not just preparing kids to win a game, we’re preparing them to live a life after sports.
Playing for a team teaches you how to show up for others. It means learning to trust teammates, communicate, and find your role inside something bigger than yourself. That lesson sticks. One day, those same kids will walk into a workplace where teamwork and reliability matter just as much as they did in the locker room.
Playing for a demanding coach teaches you how to handle leadership and expectation. Not every boss will be gentle or patient, and that’s not a bad thing. Learning to take feedback, adjust, and stay coachable builds a skill that most adults still struggle with.
Losing a game teaches you how to handle disappointment without giving up. You won’t always get the promotion. You’ll make mistakes. Life has plenty of tough losses, and the kids who learn to respond with effort instead of excuses end up stronger because of it.
Being held accountable teaches you the value of discipline. Showing up early, staying focused, doing the small things right. Those habits don’t fade away after you’re done playing. They turn into reliability, resilience, and work ethic.
As coaches, we can’t just teach drills and plays. We have to help players connect the dots between the game and the rest of their lives. The moments after a loss, the talks about effort, the reminders about attitude…those are the lessons that last.
So keep teaching the X’s and O’s, but don’t forget to teach the why. Because years from now, when your players are navigating careers, families, and challenges, it’s those lessons from the gym that will guide them most.
Reflection for Coaches:
What’s one life skill your players will walk away with this season because of you?
The Scouting Report
The Scouting Report is your weekly dose of resources that can help your coaching. Plays of the Week, videos, drills, etc. What’s the old joke? The best coaches are just the best thieves?
Plays of the Week: (not my financial information haha)
Shared Resources
Illinois coach Brad Underwood discussing rebounding philosophy:
@coaching_u 🏀 Illinois head coach Brad Underwood explains his why he changed his rebounding philosophy, their simple rebounding rules, and how these c... See more
A 30 min skill workout for training or practice:
Crazy Parents of the Week:
We’ve all gotten that one message from a parent that makes you pause, blink twice, and say… “Did they really just send that?”
If you’ve got a funny, confusing, or just plain wild message sitting in your inbox, send it in to [email protected]. We’ll feature the best ones anonymously - names and personal info will be removed.
Let’s remind each other we’re not alone in this coaching journey.
That’s a wrap on Episode 16 of Game Shots. Thank you for subscribing. Truly.
My mission has always been, and will always be, to support coaches around the world who love the game and want to keep getting better.
