25 Quotes by Swen Nater

Our relationship was forged slowly over time, and strengthened by the combination of the intense fire of his high expectations and my determination to learn. It matured when it became a “learning relationship” and my respect for him caught up with his respect for me.

There are actually eight laws of learning—Demonstration, Explanation, Imitation, Repetition, Repetition, Repetition, Repetition, and Repetition. The importance of repetition until automaticity cannot be overstated. Repetition is the key to learning. There is absolutely no substitute for repetition. I believe in learning by repetition to the point where everything becomes automatic… the best teacher is repetition, day after day, throughout the season.” - John Wooden

You haven’t made a fire till it has burned. You haven’t made a dollar till it’s earned. And no teaching has transpired If the child has not acquired. You haven’t taught a child till he has learned.

Coach Wooden’s approach succeeded: Setting challenging expectations appropriate to each individual; getting to know each individual well and caring for each as a person; tailoring his instructions and support to individual differences; and treating everyone with respect and fairness. It succeeded for him in the classroom, on the court, and in life.

Condition, skill, and team spirit are the heart of the Pyramid of Success.

In Coach Wooden’s case, the term “drill” does indeed refer to making execution automatic, but it also means more. He designed lessons so that players could execute the fundamentals so well that they were able to, as the opportunity presented itself, take initiative and exercise imagination. “Drilling created a foundation,” he likes to say, “on which individual initiative and imagination can flourish.

Coach Wooden preached against comparisons and external rewards, and for focusing on becoming your best.

First, demonstrate what you want. Second, allow the person learning to imitate with the trainer coaching until perfect execution is achieved. Last, build repetition until it becomes second nature.

Coach Wooden’s philosophy is for players and students to improve a little every day and make perfection the goal. His method for improving conditioning included one painful demand—each player, when reaching the point of exhaustion, was to push himself beyond. When this is done every day, top condition will be attained over time.