Showing Up Matters

This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association Clinic in Des Moines—a day filled with great speakers, new ideas, and reconnecting with coaching friends from the past. The clinic brought together coaches from across the state, from small-town programs to large schools, all eager to grow and get better. The presenters were outstanding and you always walk away with some tidbits to bring home.

I haven’t attended the clinic for a few years and it was great to see a lot of old coaching friends and share stories. My first year at Mason City, I attended the clinic in Urbandale and there were probably over 900 coaches there. This year, there were probably no more than 150. With all of the online resources available and how connected people are to their phones, coaches are not attending clinics like they used to. The day reminded me that while we can learn plenty from videos and social media, nothing replaces being in the room and getting hands on learning.

Here are a few takeaways from my day at the clinic:

Learning Beyond the Screen

There’s no shortage of online resources today—videos, webinars, social media clips, and endless articles. You can access great coaching content without ever leaving your living room. But being in the room is different. You don’t just hear what a coach says—you feel their passion, you see the nuances, and you can ask questions in real time. The energy in a live setting pushes you to think deeper and connect ideas that don’t always happen through a screen.

The Power of Connection

At the clinic, the William Penn women’s team and the Drake men’s team practiced in front of the coaches so we were able to watch how coaches set up their practices and how they interacted with their players. Both teams did a great job of stressing the importance of connecting with each other verbally through positive words as well as physically through fist bumps and high fives. The X’s and O’s of the game were definitely stressed, but working together as a team and connecting with each other was just as important.

For coaches attending the clinic, in person connection with other coaches is also an important part of our learrning. One of the best parts of the clinic was the time between sessions—the hallway conversations, the laughs with old coaching friends, and the introductions to new ones. Those informal moments often lead to the best ideas and strongest encouragement. Coaching can be a lonely profession at times, but being surrounded by others who understand the ups and downs reminds you that you’re part of something bigger. Community builds confidence, perspective, and staying power. This is a driving force with the mentoring program that I work with for new coaches and it is true for all of us in all walks of life-connection matters

Iron Sharpens Iron

There’s a saying we had on our team volleyball shirts a couple of years ago that we used as a motto that said “iron sharpens iron,” and that’s exactly what happens when coaches come together. The presenters challenge you to think differently, the conversations challenge you to improve, and the atmosphere motivates you to raise your standards. Growth doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens when you surround yourself with others who share your drive to get better.

Showing Up is a Choice

After a busy week of traveling and another busy week to come, it would have been easy to stay home, scroll through some highlight videos, and call it “professional development.” When you sign up for the IBCA clinic, they offer some speakers online that you can access forever which is a great tool to have. But there’s something powerful about choosing to show up. Whether it’s a coaching clinic, team meeting, or school event, presence builds momentum and relationships. The willingness to invest your time says something about your priorities—and it often leads to opportunities you didn’t expect. Coaches talk to athletes about this all of the time-you can’t connect or grow from the sidelines—show up and be part of the game by bringing your best every day and being an energy give to all you work with.

The IBCA clinic was more than a day of basketball talk—it was a reminder of why community matters. We grow better together than we ever could alone. Whether you’re a coach, teacher, or leader in any field, make the choice to show up, connect, and keep learning. The drills and X’s and O’s will fade, but the relationships, shared passion, and renewed purpose are what truly last. Have a great week!

Coach K