Basketball - Praise

“Few things offer greater return on less investment than praise — offering credit to someone in your organization who has stepped up and done the job.” - Bill Walsh in The Score Takes Care of Itself

Praise has it's origins in the Latin preciare (prize, value). We praise what we value.

Praise engages. Praise fuels effort. Praise metaphorically waters the flowers.

Everyone values praise. "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." Praise softens criticism. Coach John Wooden famously used "sandwich technique" to insert coaching correction between praise. Coach Nick Saban distinguishes "you did well AND..." from "you did well BUT..." as the latter detracts from the positive. 

Some coaches are effusive with praise and others are stingy. 

Praise the praiseworthy; consider using praise strategically. Coach Dean Smith praised reserves who contributed to wins. He knew the media would take care of scorers and stars. 

Here are some AI insights: 

Great coaching uses praise as a tool, not just a feel-good mechanism. Here are a few strategic approaches:

1. Targeted Praise for Reinforcement

   • Instead of generic praise like “Great job!” coaches highlight why an action was effective:
     • “That block was perfect because you sealed the net and pressed over—textbook technique.”
   • This helps athletes internalize what works.

2. Contingent Praise for Effort and Process

   • Coaches avoid praising talent alone and instead emphasize effort and strategy:
     • “I loved how you adjusted mid-play after reading the setter. That’s the kind of quick decision-making we need.”
   • This fosters a growth mindset.

3. Praise for Leadership and Team-Centric Actions

   • Recognizing unseen or unselfish contributions reinforces team values:
     • “You kept the energy up even when we were down—your voice mattered.”

4. Delayed Praise for Deep Reflection

   • Instead of immediate praise, a coach might wait until film review:
     • “Watching that again, your footwork on that transition was excellent. That’s why you got up so fast.”
   • This deepens awareness and builds memory.

5. Scarcity Principle to Increase Impact

   • Praise that is sparing but meaningful carries weight:
     • A coach who rarely hands out compliments makes a simple “That’s what we’ve been looking for” resonate more.

Lagniappe. Youth phenoms infrequently mature into top players. 

Youth athletic parents:🤷🏻‍♂️

"Stats show that less than 10 % of elite 10-year-old athletes are still elite at age 18. Only 8 % of Nobel Prize winners & world champions were child prodigies. In fact, the only thing that early success guarantees is… early success" ~ John O'Sullivan

— Jon Beck (@CoachJonBeck) March 19, 2025

 Lagniappe 2. Backdoor cuts can be hard-to-defend actions. 

University of Alabama assistant coach Ryan Pannone (@RyanPannone ) breaks down @albaberlin double backdoor sets and what makes it so effective against traditional defensive rules. Play diagram and animation by @LuceoSports 🔥 @euroleague

💻 @IsaiahTaveras3 pic.twitter.com/3E9FcUDOaF

— Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) March 19, 2025

Lagniappe 3. Excerpts from an old Pitino teaching video.  

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