Whitney High School Boys Basketball Program YEAR 2 Head Varsity Coach Nick French ~ Asst. Paul Ackerman ~ Asst. Shawn Andrews ~ Asst Chris Purdy JV Head Coach Lance Ohara ~ JV Asst. Bob Mack ~ JV Asst. Wayne Sharrah ~ Head Frosh Coach Alex Anderson

Whitney Wildcat Basketball is…

“DO WHAT WE DO” My Philosophy If you carefully study any successful company or sports team you quickly discover a specific culture that pervades. A culture is defined as the set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices that characterizes an organization. As a basketball coaching staff, we want everyone on our team to know what our culture is. OUR CULTURE MAKES US WHO WE ARE. It is our foundation and we refer to it as “DO WHAT WE DO.” “DO WHAT WE DO” meaning we are only focused every day on what Whitney Basketball emphasizes. Are we going to class, listening and being respectful, being honest, being a servant leader in the community, looking someone in the eye when they are talking, pressuring up on defense, blocking out, chinning the ball, sprinting the floor, taking high percentage shots, etc? Are we doing all of the little things necessary to make Whitney Basketball better each and every day? We ignore what everyone else is doing and only care about us. DO WHAT WE DO best and we will be successful!!

Whitney Boy’s Basketball Program: Year 2 Plan of Action Step #1- People of Character Step #2- Culture Step #3- Objectives & Outcomes Step #4-Academics Step #5- Whitney Community Step #6- Fall Workouts

Step 1: People of Character I FEEL THAT WE HAVE ONE OF, IF NOT THE BEST COACHING STAFF IN THE SECTION AND NORTHERN CA. People of Character VARSITY ASST. PAUL ACKERMAN, SHAWN ANDREWS, AND CHRIS PURDY JV HEAD COACH LANCE OHARA, ASST. BOB MACK, AND ASST WAYNE SHARRAH HEAD FRESHMAN COACH ALEX ANDERSON Coaches THAT ARE TOTALLY INVESTED IN OUR PROGRAM. Administration (Principal Debra Hawkins, Vice Principal and Athletic Director Jason Feuerbach. Top notch coaches at the elementary, Junior High, and AAU Level. Former Players already giving back to our program and community, ex. Kyle Creighton. Parents invested in our program, Senior parents! Boosters and Community Leaders like Wayne Sharrah and others.

Step 2: Program Culture CHARACTER For any organization to function, that involves reliance on other members, there has to be an understanding that whatever is said is the truth. Mistakes will be made; however, immediate notification to me or an assistant coach is expected. Players, coaches, administration, and parents will know what is being told to them is the honest truth. You might not like or agree with what is being said but it will be the truth. RESPECT Learning and earning respect will be the ultimate goal of all players in the Whitney Boys Basketball program. Winning will be a byproduct of earning respect. Just like winning games respect is earned, not given. Once you have earned respect from your coaches, teammates, administrators, parents, and friends you will have become a leader of your community.

Step 3: Program Objectives & Outcomes for our Students 1) Instill hard work and accountability in each student athlete so they can maximize their full potential in the classroom, on the basketball court and the game of life. 2) Prepare each student athlete for the real world by holding them accountable to our program core values of family, integrity, leadership, commitment, toughness, respect, selfless, teamwork, communication and confidence. 3) Ensure each student athlete is taking care of business in the classroom before they have the privilege to play high school basketball. 4) Create a family atmosphere for all past, current and future Whitney boys’ basketball players. 5) Set specific, measureable and attainable individual life goals, academic goals, tactical performance goals and team goals along with implementing an action plan for all four areas to be achieved. 6) Educate and counsel our student athletes about career choices and internships preparing them for the future. 7) Map-out and follow our 2013-14 Critical Path to ensure individual and team success. 8) Develop and improve each player’s basketball skill and IQ through a comprehensive system of play so they can become the best player they are capable of becoming. 9) Master the fundamentals of the game of basketball by giving 110% effort during practice and skill workouts to fully prepare for game play. 10) Upgrade the respectability of the Whitney Basketball Program in Rocklin, Sacramento and throughout the Northern CA region. 11) Establish an attitude and tradition that will attract students to want to participate in the basketball program at Whitney High School. 12) Display a winning attitude through the development of team “chemistry” and unity. 13) Build positive relationships with Whitney faculty, students, and the surrounding Rocklin community. 14) Become servant leaders in our community by conducting volunteer work, clinics and camps. 15) Compete and win the CVC Championship, CIF San Joaquin Section Championship and CA State Championship.

Step 4: Academics Our program MUST take a very proactive approach in our players education. Communication between the basketball program and the Admin/teaching staff is very important. Teachers will have the confidence in that if there is ever a problem with one of our players they can contact me immediately to help the situation. WE WILL ALWAYS stress the importance of academics before athletics! Players WILL know that if they do not succeed in the classroom they will not play on the court. After/Before school study hall for players below a 2.0 GPA (off-season and in-season) Academic Strategies will be in place for help our student athletes AVID style study habits that will help with organization, and being prepared. Weekly Grade Checks Tardiness and absences will be monitored on a daily basis, and will not be tolerated! Support from tutors will be available for players.

Step 5: Rallying and Unifying the Whitney Basketball Community Hoop Club President Wayne Sharrah will present to you his vision for the 2014/2015 Season and for years to come.

Step 6: The Weight Room and Fall Workouts Basketball Weights and Conditioning and Pre-Season Skills Workouts Calendar Expectations

Other Points of Importance Pre-season scheduling philosophy- “YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE BEST TO BE THE BEST” This season you will play a very demanding schedule. Feeder program implementation (elementary, junior high)- Great feeder program has been built (make it more fun and accessible to the community). Club Sports/AAU- Hustlin’ Wildcats has been built!! Youth Camps/Clinics- “Little Wildcat’s” must be a major source of pride for the Rocklin community, and the Whitney High School community. We must work together to grow this program!!! It and the AAU program are our “future.” Inclusion of elementary/Junior High coaches- Every feeder school in the Whitney region is part of our program and every coach and teacher will be welcomed into our program. Year Round Program- Sept 2nd to Nov 7th is Fall Workouts, Nov 10th to March ? is Regular Season, April 1st to June 30th is AAU and Summer Ball. We want multiple sport athletes in our program! We will push our players to play multiple sports. At Whitney coaches must work together to make this happen! 16 Rules for Basketball Parents

16 Rules for Basketball Parents   As both a coach and a father, I want to offer my 16 Rules for Basketball Parents: Parents… you must embrace the fact that this is your child’s journey – not yours. Do not live vicariously through them. Put your focus on being a supportive and encouraging parent. Parents… it’s true. Coaches do play favorites. They favor players who give the team the best chance to win, who have great attitudes, who work hard every day, who embrace their role (regardless of what that role is) and who support the program’s culture. If you think a coach doesn’t ‘like’ your child; your child is more than likely deficient in one (or more) of these areas. Parents… as far as playing time goes, coaches want to win. They want to win badly. If your child will help them win… they will play. If not… they won’t. Period. Parents… more often than not, your child’s coach is in a better position to evaluate and determine appropriate playing time because they see everything. They see workouts, practices, meetings, film breakdown and games (where as most parents get an incomplete picture because they only see games). Parents… more often than not, through both experience and professional development, coaches usually have a better basketball IQ and general understanding of the game then parents do (so questioning a coach’s X’s & O’s or their ability to judge talent is inappropriate). Parents… stop coaching your child from the sideline. The only ‘voice’ a player should receive instructions from is the ‘voice’ of their coaching staff. Cheer for them all you want, but do not coach them. That isn’t your job.

16 Rules for Basketball Parents Parents… you love your child more than anything in the world. You always want what is best for them (which is understandable and respectable). However, a coach’s obligation is to do what is best for the team. In many instances, what you want for your child and what is best of the team is not congruent. Parents… you should never push to discuss playing time, strategy or another player with your child’s coach. Ever. Those 3 domains are sacred ground. Parents… politicking will never get your child more playing time. I promise you, this statement has never been said by a coach in the history of high school basketball, “I really need to start playing Jeffrey more because his mom thinks he isn’t playing enough.” Parents… you should encourage your child to communicate any issues, questions or concerns they have (or you have) directly with their coach by having them schedule a meeting. It is my belief, as a parent, you have the right to attend that meeting, simply as an observant, but the discussion should be between your child and the coach. Parents… do not undermine your child’s coach in the car ride home or at the dinner table. Subtle, passive aggressive comments like ‘Your coach doesn’t know what he’s doing’ or ‘I can’t believe you don’t play more’ do not comfort your child (although I am sure that is your intention) – it enables them to have a bad attitude and to make excuses… both of which are unacceptable. Parents… if your child isn’t getting the playing time they feel they deserve or if they lose a tough game… use that experience as a powerful teaching tool. Teach them how to own it. Teach them what they can do in the future to possibly get a different outcome.

16 Rules for Basketball Parents Parents… stop berating the referees. It sets a bad example and it makes you look foolish. The referees are doing they best they can. More often than not, a referee has a better position and a much better understanding of the rules to make the correct call then a parent does. And I promise you this statement has never been said either, “Can we stop the game? I’m sorry everyone. The loud-mouth mom in the stands is right, her son did get fouled on that last play.” Parents… it is highly unlikely that your child will play professionally. In fact, statistically, only a very small percentage of you will have children that play in college. So let them enjoy the journey. Their playing days will be over before you know it. Use basketball as a vehicle to teach the life lessons they will need when they grow up. Parents… don’t push your child too hard. It’s OK to encourage. It’s OK to suggest. It’s OK to hold your child to a very high standard of excellence… but don’t force them to ‘get up extra shots’ or get in extra workouts. That has to come from them, not you. If they choose to do those things on their own, be supportive. If they choose not to, if they choose to only do the bare minimum, they will eventually learn a potent life lesson (not make the team, not get much playing time, etc.) Parents… one of the best things you can do is develop a quality relationship with your child’s coach. Listen to this for some sound advice: I sure hope this post doesn’t come off as harsh or condescending – that certainly was not my intent.   I simply wanted to share some constructive thoughts to help parents thoroughly enjoy the experience of having a child that plays high school basketball. It is an experience I very much look forward to myself. And don’t worry, as the father of the “The French Connection,” I will need to take my own advice soon enough! Coach French

“Embrace The Grind”

“Embrace The Grind”