Or when formulating differential diagnosis, create a relevant matrix of pathology/anatomy to come up with a mental list (not all encompassing) or mental model.
Find an approach that works for you and your team. One word cues redirect our players to what's important. We might emphasize few or tens. Malcolm Gladwell introduces the term, Kaplan-Meier curves to discuss differences in cancer treatment outcomes.
At a glance, the curves separate early, showing Group 1 outperforms Group 2. Statisticians use other tools also, but you don't need to be a statistician to see differences.
What are your buzzwords and jargon? Build your "street cred" and relationships with players through constant focus. Here are just a few.
"Spacing" - during a scrimmage or game, yelling "Spacing" reminds players they're making it too easy for the defense.
"Pass." Kids get dribble happy ("dribble the air out of the ball"), selfish, or just forget principles of penetrating and reversing passes.
"Move." We use "camera" (the ball is a camera) or movement ("movement kills defense."
"Wide." Pat Riley trained players with the Laker Break to have a foot out of bounds at half-court while running the break. Everybody can't run wide but everyone shouldn't run down the middle.
"Ball." Apply full ball pressure, "don't back down." "Nose on ball" or "crawl up into them" might be better. In high school, we used "red" or "fire" as reminders.
"Middle" or "paint" as in don't allow dribble or pass penetration.
"Spain" abbreviates Spain pick-and-roll or "screen the roller." (via Chris Oliver)
"Pinch." When the dribbler picks up the ball, defender yells pinch and other players go into full denial. Ball defender chests up and straddles the pivot foot to limit the ballhandler's pivoting and vision.
Keep adding to our arsenal and reinforce teaching and fundamentally sound play.
Lagniappe: Phil Ivey counsels how to get better (at poker) in his MasterClass.
1. Study the pros (who are your role models).
2. Study your opponents.
3. See how they are playing differently than you.
4. Constantly work on your game.
5. Collaborate with other players.
6. You always can get better and others are better at some part of the game.
7. How would my opponent play different situations?
8. Embrace the game and take it head-on.
9. He played many hands in low stakes games to improve.
10. Focus on the moment, not the stakes.
11. Poker is poker and you have to make the best possible decisions.
12. What doesn't get shown on TV is guys ruining their lives. You're going to have tough moments.
"The people that are there from day one, you have to appreciate them."
