Coaches are always complaining they don’t have enough time with their players and this certainly has been the case in the last two seasons at the Hawks. As much as assistant coaches do a great job there is nothing like having the coach at training controlling things, as long as they are doing an admirable job of course. In the last two preseasons I have been working in the Australian NBL and based in Sydney, thus I have arrived only a week or two before the season began. This year unfortunately I lost my job with the Sydney Spirit due to the team no longer existing and I am really revved up and ready to go. With all of our players arriving next week on January 25 it will give us one of the best preseasons in my time with the Hawks.
 
In fact we have had a few of the players training since before Christmas and Ben Hill arrived this week to continue his rehab on his knee. With the addition of strength and conditioning coach Dan Rodden we will have our players in great shape to start the season. Dan who is based at the PGA is has started his own personal business and is doing a super job with the players. Most who know me understand how important conditioning is and to have a person like Dan on board will certainly help us achieve our fitness goals.
 
In the last couple of years I have felt we entered the season under done and started poorly. This year I expect us to be a lot better prepared for the start of the season and to have improved results to start the season. The other factor about having a proper preparation is that you are less likely to have injuries when the season starts. While you cannot avoid some injuries there are certainly injuries that occur due to poor fitness levels.
 
Last year we introduced a new offensive system and perhaps my timing of this wasn’t the best given our limited preparation in preseason. With a longer time with the players I will be able to introduce the system at a higher level and we will be able to have a much higher understanding of how to make it work. This was certainly something that affected the team last season and I want to make sure that players are better suited to what we do. We did improve as the year went on but I felt we didn’t back ourselves at times and were a little cautious. I want our players to play with confidence and a freedom to express their individual talent. I also want the system to be reactive to how we are being defended so that it is a lot harder to scout us.
 
Why will our system make us hard to scout? Because we will react to how you are defending us and play from there. Thus we will not always be sure what to do until particular circumstances arise. Thus we have to drill this to become adept at it. However it is an exciting way to play for both players and fans yet has proven it is a system that can be successful.
 
I look forward to having the guys here next week and if you are in the PGA in the mornings pop in and say high to the guys. I also want to take this opportunity to say thanks to both the PGA and Woodford House School our two training venues.
 
Talk again soon
 
With energy
 
Shawn Dennis
Head Coach