This month, Go Team spoke
with Dan Mosby with the Dunnigan Family Branch of the local YMCA. Here, he
offers an insider’s view of life on the sidelines and in the locker room.
GT: How did you get
into coaching?
DM: I played sports my entire life: golf; baseball;
basketball. I went to IU, majoring in sports management and I worked at the Y up
in Bloomington for a while. Just volunteering, working a little part time,
coaching soccer and basketball helping out here and there. When I graduated I didn’t know where it was
going to lead me, I came to Evansville and became the sports assistant here at
the [Dunigan] YMCA, and helped organize and plan and coach all of the sports
here. We have soccer, flag football, basketball and when the sports director
Gary Niemeier left in September I took over and I have been sports director as
of December. Involved coaching basketball and organizing all of our sports in
that nature. I got into coaching because I have a love of the game and I really
enjoy helping out the kids in the community, that’s really why I do what I do.
What is your coaching
philosophy?
Especially here at the Y we want to teach fundamentals, that
is the key for everything. We really try
to stress to the kids that their not gonna learn to shoot a three pointer if
you don’t know how to dribble the ball right or teach those important factors
in the game. That’s really why I try to
be very hands-on with the kids before I’m very worksey and try to confuse them
more.
How many years have
you been a coach?
I have been a coach for the past three to four years.
How would YOU select
a coach?
I would select a coach that is a figure head, respected by
all the kids around him or players. Someone that is very instructional and
demands respect and that everyone looks up to and really knows the game.
What’s unique about
you as a coach?
I feel like I know the game and middle school aged kids can
really look up to somebody my age because I’m not much older than they are
right now. I’m only in my 20s and they can really see what I’ve done and where
I’ve been. If I know the game I feel like I can teach them the game.
How do you measure
success?
I would not measure [it] by wins and losses by any means. Success
is how well you can teach someone else the game, how well they grasp the game,
and how well they show that on the court.
What is your Program
Philosophy at the YMCA?
Winning is definitely not first, we stress caring, honesty
and responsibility here at the Y.
Everyone plays, here we do a lot of financial assistance and we want to
make sure that everyone has the opportunity to play, whether they can afford it
or not. That is our philosophy here at the YMCA.
Do you have any
special tips or tricks you use?
With the level that we coach it is very important to be
patient with the kids and be very instructional with them and show them hands
on and show them exactly what you want so they can reflect that on the court.
What should be the
priorities of an athlete?
It’s learning the skills that are necessary for the sport,
not necessarily going out there and wanting to score 50-60 points a game. Just
focusing on fundamentals and the key to basketball or soccer or whatever that
be, at an early age.
Pre-game tips:
Stretch it out: Make sure to know your skills and sport.
Hydrate: I ask my players to listen first.
Mentally prepare: I ask my players to mentally prepare
yourself dribbling down the court and making that basket
Take a moment to…? I ask my players to think before you act,
envision yourself before you make that pass or make that dribble. Envision
yourself against the other team.