- Ron Sen, "The Simple Guide to Girls' Basketball"
We all 'know' that coaching means connecting, communicating with team members. Now we understand the science behind that.
Princeton's Uri Hasson has shown that effective communication (storytelling) activates mirror responses in receivers' brains using functional MRI. The communication literally produces coupled electrical activity. The same story told in another language (incomprehensible) doesn't activate the same regions.
But that doesn't mean that every 'story' will have equal effect. From the time of Aristotle, we know that emotion creates bigger impact. How many times have you told a player "I believe in you" in a transformative way? I recall a player telling me about six months after a post-game meeting, "what I really remembered was you saying, "you live your life the way you show effort on the court. You can't live your life with half-hearted effort." We need to find a way to 'reach' our players.
We have to blend emotion (pathos), evidence (logos), and credibility (ethos) in players' education. But the emotion can't be a verbal beatdown or false praise. Players understand narrative fallacy. Kevin Eastman says it another way, "You can't fool kids, dogs, or basketball players."
Effective education changes behavior. I preach "possessions and possession." Pace and defense produce more possessions and reducing turnovers and better shooting create more effective possession.
The math is stunning (logos = evidence). The difference between 15 and 24 turnovers and shooting 45 versus 35% (forgetting about free throws) is almost a doubling (25 versus 13) of baskets. We don't make enough threes yet for that to be significant.
Ultimately, the success of the team depends more on the players than anything else. When we add value (athleticism, confidence, discipline, skill, teamwork) and help them become their own coach (self-regulation), we help them remake themselves both now and for the future. When they experience success, that helps ingrain better practice and personal habits. That's the ultimate connection...changing lives.