Apr 19, 2018Basketball Success
What makes a team successful? For Matt Shadeed, Baylor Women’s Basketball Director of Athletic Performance, being successful involves creating relationships with players, putting a focus on nutrition, and emphasizing recovery and sleep. And during his first year with the team, Shadeed proved these methods work as the Lady Bears ended their season with an overall record of 33-2.
In an article for the Waco Tribune-Herald, Author Robert Rogers explains that Shadeed did not use the exact same methods with each athlete. Instead, he built relationships with them by talking with each one individually and learning their motivation, needs, strengths, and weaknesses. To make sure the program was truly individualized, the strength staff also used heart-rate monitors to collect data on each player.
Shadeed also built relationships with players by lending a helping hand, but always sticking to his standards. For example, when Freshman Guard Alexis Morris asked him for a ride to class, he didn’t hesitate to accept.
“Sometimes you may be more of a father figure, sometimes more of a big brother,” Shadeed told the Waco Tribune-Herald. “Talking with (Morris), I’m always on her head. I love the kid to death. She’s a baller but she’s a knucklehead. I just try to teach her things. She texted me once, ‘Come get me from class,’ and I put, ‘?…’ You’re going to ask me nicely, you’re going to say please or I’m not going to come get you. We’re going to do stuff the right way.”
Beyond relationships, Shadeed also took more initiative when it came to the athletes’ overall health. When they came across a snack basket at the Rupp Arena for the Lexington Regional, he made sure to take out any juice, soda, and unhealthy snacks before the players got to them. And he also did his research on rest and recovery, concentrating on making sure that his athletes understood the importance of sleep.
“Sleep is clinically proven to have a direct impact on your performance,” said Shadeed. “We talk about that and I’m always reminding them. They’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, here he goes again.’ But it’s so important.”
Establishing relationships and emphasizing nutrition weren’t always separate entities. Shadeed connected with Sophomore Forward Lauren Cox over breakfast. Cox, who has Type 1 Diabetes, and Shadeed built their plates together in the Beauchamp Athletics Nutrition Center and then invited the rest of the team to join in a group that became known as the breakfast club. While learning the correct nutrition, this club also allowed the athletes some time to better get to know their teammates.
And to gain higher attendance, athletes who took part in the breakfast club 10 times were given a hoodie with a muscular bear on the front that says, “Breakfast Club.” By joining the Lady Bears for these breakfasts and implementing the rewards system, Shadeed not only got to know his players on a closer level, but he also succeeded in gaining buy-in for his methods.
“Getting in with them makes it more realistic because they’re like, ‘Oh, coach is with us,'” he said. “If I walked around all the time chugging a Coke, it wouldn’t work that way.”
Image by Michael Barera
