While building out the curriculum for a new post player basketball camp for PGC Basketball called ‘Inside Presence’, I was fortunate enough to be teamed up with two wonderful coaches in Adam Turner and Craig Snow. Each week we met up to map the teaching progression for the course. Additionally, thanks needs to be given to others who have so generously shared their ideas and philosophy for developing post players. (Extra special shout out to Coach Scott Hawk of the Connecticut Sun for the shares!)
For the first time, I tried something new. I began soliciting feedback through my Facebook page. I asked the question: What’s your definition of “TOUGHNESS”..?
You see, toughness is one of those catch-all buzzwords that gets tossed around by coaches, players, parents and sports analysts. It’s amazing though, that very few have taken the time to clearly articulate what it is and come up with ways to quantify it.
What does toughness look like? Can it be taught? If so, how? These are the questions that I get excited about.
One of the best definitions of toughness I’ve seen comes from Jay Bilas in his ESPN article. He gives some specific examples of how one can demonstrate true “toughness” in college basketball; for instance:
- Going after rebounds with both hands.
- Stepping to the line and knocking down pressure free throws, especially when tired.
- Talking on defense and letting your teammates know that you are there in case they get beat.
- Sticking with your team’s defensive principles, and doing it under pressure.
- Getting on the floor for a loose ball.
- Taking a charge.
- Getting down in a stance and staying there.
- Setting up your man and making hard cuts.
- Getting your teammates together and keeping them together on the road.
- Not allowing yourself to get screened.
- Moving on to the next play, and displaying positive body language to give confidence to your teammates.
- Taking good shots, and having the judgment to pass up challenged ones.
There is another defining quality, at least for me, that is characteristic of “tough” players: TOUGH PLAYERS DON’T WANT TO BE TREATED LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.
That’s right. Welcoming unfairness is one of the most useful principles in the life of any athlete.
Dick DeVenzio expresses this best…
Desiring fair treatment is the province of the mediocre. Champions don’t want to be treated like everyone else. Champions don’t want to be put on an equal plane with others, they welcome the opportunity to show what they are made of under all sorts of conditions. They don’t worry what has happened to anyone else. They are eager to demonstrate what they can do.
Tough players do not go through life constantly looking to see if they’re being treated like everyone else. Instead, they make a habit of “responding famously” to whatever treatment that comes their way.
There’s a lot more to ‘toughness’ than what Bilas has articulated, I’m sure. But, DeVenzio has hit the nail on the head as their is a mental resiliency and discipline of thought that precedes any outward action. At its core, that’s the foundation of toughness.
What’s your opinion? How do you describe or define toughness? Do you believe this attribute can be taught or is it innate?
/sef.
