The word practice still holds value. It’s a sacred space. A place where we aim to master the movements we want to repeat with ease. That’s something I’m grateful for. Because every great performance starts with a private repetition that was once a struggle.
But now that I’m deeper in this BAG mindstate, I’m more aware of what I’m practicing — and why.
Balance Comes First
Practice isn’t just about getting better at one thing. It’s about asking:
“How does this movement add balance to my whole game?”
Because if it doesn’t serve balance, it doesn’t serve the player long-term. We’ve confused mastery with memorization. But BAG teaches us that real mastery is movement with purpose.
What Makes Practice Great?
There is no single perfect path to excellence — but the efficiency of the path matters. It’s measured by how much balance it adds to your game and life.
If the dribble move improves your shot mechanics – Great practice. If the layup drills tighten your dribble control – Great practice. If sled rebounds build your resilience & patience – Great practice. If counting down 5-4-3-2-1 builds team rhythm and trust – Great practice.
The Key?
Be intentional. Be observant of your body. Watch how your balance shifts. Listen for aids — physical cues, internal signals, emotional triggers. They’re always there when you pay attention.
To All the Coaches Out There:
If you’re coaching with heart and awareness — I salute you. Keep teaching. Keep serving. Keep growing. Your way is yours.
The BAG way is just another way. A way built on Balance, powered by Aids, and rooted in Gratitude.
We’re walking together. And I’ll always be grateful for that.
Author’s Note: Living the BAG mindstate means sharing reflections as they happen. Here’s what rose up for me today on the court—and in life.
A Moment of Rest at the Summit
I’ve been busy living 🧠⚡️❤️⚓️. This morning delivered a profound reminder: the top isn’t a place you reach—it’s a place you stay. Once you arrive, the only option is to keep going.
Balance in Competition
Competition is woven into our nature—and into basketball. But I’ve learned that true balance in competition isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about playing with honest values, giving your all, and trusting the flow of the game.
Balance: Showing up fully—mind, body, spirit—without fear of outcome.
Misses and turnovers? They’re not failures—they’re opportunities to grow, moments to reflect for better balance next time, since we keep getting the chance to express.
Aid Through Generosity
When you pass the ball, you’re offering more than a simple assist. You’re giving the energy you’ve stored up—your focus, your intention, your gratitude. And the game gives back in equal measure.
Aid: Every good pass, every perfect shot—these are gifts exchanged between players.
Gratitude in the Flow
Hearing “Great pass!” or “Nice shot!” It’s not just competition—it’s shared celebration. It’s two or more people from different paths finding common ground through balance.
I had the best game of the year today. We laughed. We flowed. We honored the court and each other. And through every swish and every cheer, I felt gratitude.
Gratitude: In every moment of play, we experience the freedom that comes from balanced giving and receiving.
Closing Prayer
May the impact of balance bless every part of our lives—on and off the court. I know the players I played with today feel it, too.
The Way to Play the Game Is to show up, give your best, and celebrate the balance we create together.
I’m stacking bricks. Locking in a new aid, refining a concept that already works, testing and teaching my body what balance really means.
Last night was a breakthrough. I focused on the shooting elbow — finding the perfect angle from different shot pockets. It’s subtle, but this minor adjustment fixes the off-hand naturally and locks in a consistent shooting release.
This might be the final shooting aid I needed.
It’s teachable. It’s beautiful. And it works.
It’s not just about form—it’s about body awareness. This is going to be a major addition to the BAG system, especially the Body Awareness Guide. It even looks sharp on camera—those gestures will make for some powerful visuals.
I walked away from the session feeling grateful. Not because of perfection, but because I’m becoming more in tune with my own process.
The bricks are being laid. One by one. And none of them are rushed.
Day 2- Presence Over Pressure 4/9/25
The energy is flowing.
Everyone I hooped with today felt it too. But I’m not doing this for their approval—I’m doing it for the kids, for the students, for the ones looking to get in their BAG.
I’m present. I’m grounded. I’m anchored.
I played with rhythm and control today—feeling my balance increase in real time. My body responded. The movement was mine. Teachable. Tappable. Transferable.
I inhaled. I exhaled. And gratitude filled the space in between.
Old aids came back to life. New aids emerged effortlessly. I’m witnessing the power of patience and the reward of reflection.
The BAG isn’t just a mindset—it’s a movement. And I’m proud to be its messenger.
Day 3 – Boundaries , Not Battles 4/10/25
Today tested me in a different way.
I was asked to babysit on a weekend that wasn’t mine. And I had to say no—not out of spite, but out of structure.
I understand that my daughter’s mom has her own pressures, her own lens, her own life. I don’t carry anger toward her, and I respect that parenting is difficult for both of us—especially during times of transition.
But I’ve learned that empathy doesn’t mean self-abandonment. I can care and still say “no.” I can love my daughter deeply while still creating healthy lines around my time, energy, and commitments.
I didn’t retaliate or argue. I stood firm in my decision, and I honored the balance I’m building in my life.
Because when I’m grounded, my daughter gets the best version of me. Not the burnt-out version. Not the overextended one. The present, peaceful, and purpose-driven one.
And even with all the tension—I still went to hoop. Not to escape, but to reconnect. Every dribble, every shot, every moment of flow reminded me:
This is how I process. This is how I grow. This is how I stay in my BAG.
Evening Session Recap:
I went to hoop the at night and had to stay grounded.
The teams I ran with didn’t really want to pass me the ball—whether out of ego or misunderstanding the rhythm of the game—but I didn’t let it take me out of character. I found other ways to contribute. It did interfere with the opportunities I needed to test some shooting aids, but I still found bright moments.
Great passing. Tough shots made. Tough layups finished. Dribble control? Locked in and flowing.
And the next day, I went back to my day job . Gratefully, I got to work alongside someone who shared amazing energy and deep gratitude. Their stories made the whole shift feel light and reminded me: there’s promise in this path.
Then, after work—I got invited to hoop again. This time, something unfortunate happened… I hyperextended my left leg. It was tough—especially because my right leg was just getting back to 85–90% after healing from the last hyperextension of my right leg.
Still, I walked it off. I kept playing. I adapted.
The beautiful part? This squad actually passed the ball. I shot the lights out. Multiple games won. Deep shots falling. The Bag Mindstate Aids were working, even through injury.
I reminded myself: Athleticism can fade—but Aids? Aids evolve.
I didn’t lose a game. And even while injured, I made the team better because I had other tools to rely on.
This injury is a reminder to continue healing with discipline, to lock in on my physical BAG just like I have with my mental one.
Wrap-Up – Coach Bag’s Corner
Three days in—and I feel stronger, wiser, and more purposeful than ever.
This isn’t just a blog. It’s a journal of transformation. It’s the birth of a mindset movement.
Coach Bag is more than a name. It’s an example. A framework. A mission.
From injury to insight. From pressure to presence. From frustration to fuel.
If you’re reading this—you can build it too. Just don’t rush. Don’t copy. And never forget—the bricks are the aid… but the foundation? That’s gratitude.
Stay in your BAG. Stay anchored. Stay building.
Coach Bag
Always Grateful,
‘If this blog speaks to you, stay tapped in with Coach Bag. Drop a comment, share story, and remember – your BAG is waiting”
Coach BAG 