We are more sheeplike than we want to believe. Experiments prove this when people are shown different colored cards. Four observers are shown four blue cards and we call them blue. But then if we’re shown a red card and the first three (planted) subjects call it “orange”, we have a high likelihood of caving and calling it orange.
It’s not “bullying” in the classic sense but “going along.”
As coaches, some seek “a better way” realizing there may not be a best way, while others grasp “my way or the highway.”
If ten coaches tell us that preteens should spend most of their time on three point shooting, do we go along or dissent?
Controversy appears on other matters – shot clocks, zone defense for youth, traditional drills versus innovative, block practice versus random practice, the amount of scrimmaging, and so on. Courage won’t always apply to an argument or a behavior. If the majority in Missouri say, “show me” about shot clocks, that’s a matter of taste.
EVERYONE LOVES PLAYING WITH PACE
As I do my annual deep dive in to players and team stats from this past year, here are some thoughts I’ve had about Pace
1. Doesn’t matter how fast you play offensively if you can’t guard at that Pace defensively
2. Pace should be determined… pic.twitter.com/kjjdpnG6s8— Steve Dagostino (@DagsBasketball) May 1, 2026