Scott Fisher in the coaching corner

Scott Fisher - Perth Wildcats - two years as a coach.

WABN: What techniques do you use to motivate players?

SF: “Motivation is internal; the athletes have to want it. I just try to show them how they can feel rewarded and good about themselves by playing all out. We talk openly about our goals in front of each other, so that their teammates know what they want to achieve. Hopefully, it becomes obvious that if they work together they will all achieve their goals.”

WABN: What has been your biggest mistake as a coach and what did you learn from it?

SF: “Not going with my gut feeling on a major decision. I try not to be impulsive, but when your gut tells you the same thing over and over, you have to act.”

WABN: What other profession do you most often seek advice from with respect to you team’s performance and why?

SF: “Our strength coach is a better judge of the team’s fatigue levels than I am.”

WABN: What currently frustrates you about your sport and what would you do to change it?

SF: “The talent pool is not big enough for the number of teams in the league.  Players have the ability to hold a team ransom at the end of the season, due to supply and demand. I would reduce the number of teams in the league.”

WABN: How do you manage player egos?

SF: “We always try to use ‘we, us, our’ terminology. We publicly reward the little things that players do.”

WABN: How important is it for players to develop skills outside of their sport? How do you encourage it?

SF: “You can’t play and get paid forever.  We are only allowed to train before or after 1:00pm, allowing the athlete to dabble in other pursuits. We encourage this, as a more balanced athlete is generally more consistent.”

WABN: What sport do you play to relax?

SF: “I lift weights about every other day and cycle 150 to 200 kilometres per week.”

WABN: What sporting identities do you most admire and why?

SF: “Retired baseball player Cal Ripken Jr. He is a class act, was twice ‘most valuable player’ and played for nearly 20 seasons without missing a game. A current athlete would be Tiger Woods.  Blessed with remarkable physical ability, but this talent is multiplied by his amazing mental control.”