Integrity is a learned trait and I saw it being taught this week-end at the Attack Basketball Academy in Dallas.
Charlie Miller, owner of Attack and a former high school, college and professional basketball player started Attack in order to teach kids in grades 1 thru 12 fundamental skills on the court that are usual throughout life such as integrity, teamwork, character and accountability. Being a member of Team Attack goes beyond teaching beginners or advanced players basketball skills but helping them master some of the underlying skills that make people successful at school, work and in relationships with others.
Charlie is a strong believer in work ethic, personal responsibility and determination, so one aspect of his program is Operation 90, where he asks his players to practice at least 90 minutes a week on a court and to keep a log of how many minutes they spend and when. This is to be done without having their parents or Coach Charlie reminding them to do it. The program teaches and requires integrity since the only person cheated if a player fails to do his “90″ or fibs about it, is the player himself.
Having grown up playing a wide variety of sports Charlie fell into basketball as a substitute where his 6’7″ height was valued. However, Charlie learned from his High School Coach that simply because he was tall and in the middle in the past did not mean he would be a successful Center. He actually ended-up as a forward playing for Coach Bobby Knight at Indiana University for two years as he finished college.
Charlie’s philosophy is that basketball and “all sports are 80% mental and 20% physical”. So, he spends a lot of time on the court and off talking to his players, modeling behaviors in order to provide an example of what he would like to see. His program works with all levels of players, even beginners who know only that a basketball is round and a football is not. It is not a “select” program which he says helps make it unique and builds a better team with a greater diversity of players and backgrounds. Watching a couple of hours of practice demonstrated that he puts in a lot of effort and focus with the kids and it pays off. Two of the Mothers who were watching their children practice said that all three of their children loved the program and Coach Charlie. They also said that not only had their skills improved but their love for the game had as well. The latest win by the Dallas Mavericks is an added inspirational kick.
Charlie Miller is living up to the to Oxford dictionary definition of integrity: “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles such as a gentleman of complete integrity.” I’m glad he is teaching it to others. Check it out:
