Just My Thoughts

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I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found (Hopefully)

(Blog post for November 29th)

Finally! I think I am actually ready to move forward and start my research.

Let’s begin with a quick review of where we left off. In my last blog post I shared how disappointed I was after my initial research idea was rejected and how that disappointment transformed into general disillusionment with the research process. Thankfully, my dad had an idea that re-invigorated me and I signed off on my last blog post optimistic about my next steps. Continue reading “I Once Was Lost, But Now Am Found (Hopefully)”

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Back to the Drawing Board

(Blog post for September 13th)

When last we spoke (which was, admittedly, awhile ago) I was over the moon excited. I had just found a topic for my research, one I was passionate about. The school I was teaching at had undertaken year long training on the Neurosequential Model in Education (NME) and I wanted to transfer what I had been learning from the classroom to the court. I had even made a connection with an expert one degree removed from the foremost researcher on the topic, Bruce Perry. They were piloting Neurosequential Model in Sport (NMS) courses and had captured the interest of multiple professional sports organizations. After a very encouraging phone call with said expert, I thought I had everything figured out. Then, as is usually the case when things appear too good to be true, the bottom fell out. Continue reading “Back to the Drawing Board”

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Eureka! (Hopefully)

Success in any endeavour is often attributable to several common themes: hard work, perseverance, innovation, and in almost every instance, networking. Connections, be they direct or indirect, professional or social in nature, are crucial to achieving any goal. Thankfully for the research I am due to begin this coming September I have recently established just such a connection. Continue reading “Eureka! (Hopefully)”

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Coaching = Teaching

As I embark on the second year of my masters degree I am faced with the prospect of beginning my culminating research project. Two weeks ago simply typing that sentence would have sent my brain into overdrive. A paralyzing bombardment of ideas would assault my consciousness, anxiety would ensue and I would quickly seek the respite of a distraction. Thankfully, after a series of events over the last few weeks, I am in a much healthier headspace. Let me tell you how I got there… Continue reading “Coaching = Teaching”

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Person > Player

I often wonder what John Wooden would think of modern basketball. In an era where American high school players are pseudo-celebrities and the universities recruiting them are being investigated by the FBI it no longer feels like: “what you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player.” Up north, the Canadian version of the NCAA, USports, is far less dramatic both in the news and in their budgeting . The inter-university league in Canada has differentiated itself from its southern counterpart by design. Institutions whose athletic teams belong to USports are restricted from providing scholarships greater than the costs of tuition and compulsory fees and aren’t allowed to cover room or board. Even so, the prestige of being a university athlete, combined with the desire to imitate NCAA basketball culture, leads to an overemphasis on athletics at the expense of academics and community service. This past season I aimed to change that by partnering with Boys and Girls Club / Big Brothers, Big Sisters (BGCBigs) to create a weekly mentoring program for underprivileged youth. Continue reading “Person > Player”

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The Titleless Leader: A Year in Review

My final season as the lead assistant coach with the University of Calgary Dinos men’s basketball team ended unceremoniously. We finished with a losing record and missed playoffs. The coaching staff was frustrated, the players were frustrated, everyone was frustrated. The somber, chilly climate of our post-season wrap-up meeting came as no surprise. There was little to celebrate and no one really wanted to be there… Continue reading “The Titleless Leader: A Year in Review”

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Process vs. Presumption: A Practical Adaptation of the 6 Step Process

I was given an excellent piece of advice at a coaching course I attended recently. Referencing the National Coaching Certification Program’s (NCCP) 6 step process to making ethical decision (MED), the clinician suggested it’s use extends outside the realms ethics and legality. For the purposes of this blog, I intend to demonstrate just that. By adapting the 6 step MED process and applying it to our ability to successfully recruit the best basketball players in Edmonton, I will demonstrate 3 of the 4 aspects outlined in the ‘critical thinking’ category of the NCCP core competency matrix by:

1. Taking an organized and logical approach to thinking through our ability to successfully recruit the best athletes in Edmonton;

2. Demonstrating an awareness of our relative strengths and weaknesses as they relate to recruiting; and by, 

3. Critically reflecting on the impact recruiting has on our team performance. Continue reading “Process vs. Presumption: A Practical Adaptation of the 6 Step Process”

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