"Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character." - Albert Einstein

It's time for this week's edition of The Deep Three!

Three thoughts/ideas/motivations that will help you and your team be more successful this season!

If you're reading this email, you're probably familiar with the old basketball adage: "Players are made in the offseason." I have one thought on that:

Players aren't made in the offseason. They're made year-round!

Unfortunately, most teams spend a majority of their practice time focused on team concepts and team ideas. Yet when those things don't work in games, coaches often complain that it's because their players aren't skilled enough!

Great teams spend time every practice working on their skills. Take the Villanova men's basketball team for example. They spend every single practice working on offensive and defensive fundamentals. Rim finishes. Closeouts. Game-like 3's. Help defense. Pivoting under pressure. Rebounding. The list goes on.

Want to win more games this season? Spend more time working on the fundamentals in game-like situations that your team needs to be more successful the rest of this season.

Great coaches like Jay Wright understand that plays don't win games, players do. If you want your players to have the necessary skills to be successful in crunch time this season, you must spend intentional time in practice getting better at the things that happen most often in your games.

If you're looking for a good place to start, here's a great finishing series from Villanova that is a staple of what they work on in their practices.

100% of basketball players know to be their best, they have to train their game. Many players take it a step further and train their bodies, but very few players take the time to intentionally train their minds.

That's why the "secret" to mental toughness is so simple. It's all about practice!

You see, being a mentally tough player comes down to two things: the ability to 1) control your attitude in tough situations, and 2) improve it. Your attitude will define who you are as a player, so you must be aware of it at all times and focus on who you want to be.

Just like getting physically fit doesn’t happen after one workout, developing your attitude takes time to develop as well. You can learn strategies and exercises that can change your thoughts and feelings in the ways you want.

Just like Albert Einstein once said: "Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."

Here are three quick, daily keys to improving your attitude:

1. Express gratitude.

• Gratitude is your solution to anger and fear
• It's impossible to be upset and thankful at the same time.

2. Clear the air.

• Intentionally get quiet with yourself for 10 minutes each day.
• This will lower your stress and improve your brain function.

3. Read inspirational quotes.

• It will energize you and prompt you to take action.
• A timely burst of wisdom will help refocus your mind.

Practice these three things throughout this week. I guarantee you'll find yourself immediately more mentally tough!

I've got a question for every player and coach reading this email.

When an opposing coach or player thinks about you, what are the first 2-3 words that come to their mind?

Not the words we want or hope they will think, mind you, but what actually goes through their mind. Typically those moments will go one of two ways.

It could be words we'd like: Tough. Shooter. Playmaker. Hard-nosed. Amazing teammate. Great schemer. Always prepared. Great basketball mind.

Or, they could think of words that would make us cringe: Lazy. Not a threat. Selfish. Always yelling. All about themselves. Doesn't care about their players.

How we show up on a daily basis determines the identity we're known by. What are you going to do today to level up your identity in the minds of your opponents?

Don't miss this great video from Coach LeVelle Moton. He's the head coach at North Carolina Central, and a great follow on Twitter!