"Every player wants 48 minutes, wants to shoot the ball 48 times and wants to make 48 million." - Chuck Daly
There are three major kinds of pro basketball love - minutes, role, and money. But all coaches share subtler love - praise, publicity, and notoriety.
Coaches assign minutes and roles. We can't make everyone happy. Coaches get canned because influential parents' kids don't make the team, don't get the role they want, and don't get enough love in the media. How can we build bonds, distribute more attaboys, and feel- goods?
Former Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry suggests, "talk to every player before practice starting, eliminate small problems before they become big problems, usually problems about playing time."
UNC legend Dean Smith pointed out winning contributions from players who received less attention from the media than starters, stars, and scorers.
His father's assassination in Beirut shaped Steve Kerr's complex worldview (hat tip - Coach Kohlheim) shared with players. The profile from 2016 still resonates today. “Doesn’t matter what side you’re on on the Kaepernick stuff, you better be disgusted with the things that are happening,” Kerr said.
Coach Wooden asked about an exhaustive study of his practices. "Coach Wooden expressed curiosity about whether we observed this pattern of greater praise for reserves compared to regulars who got the bulk of playing time in games. He indicated that while he intended to do this, some former players had felt in their individual cases he had not done so."
But what do you do?
- Greet each player by name at the beginning of practice. It didn't always happen because a few were habitually late (dependent on parental transportation).
- Open practice. Parents can assess the tempo, teaching, and supervision. With thirteen players and two coaches, there's never enough individual instruction.
- Send the daily blog to families during the season (communication runs through parents).
- Play everyone at least twice each half. I thought it was fair although unequal. We had great parents again, although not everyone was happy. I own that.
- Send email updates to parents periodically, emphasizing progress over limitations.
- Sponsor entry into two preseason tournaments to help parents already paying substantial participation fees (gym time, league and officiating costs).
- Host offseason twice weekly workout opportunities for players (Memorial Day through end of September). Participation was variable at best. (No access this offseason)
- Host end-of-year dinner for players and parents (didn't happen this year because of the pandemic in our high mortality state - Massachusetts).
Every player deserves respect for their time and effort, but it's never enough love.
Summary:
- Everyone wants and needs to feel valued.
- Communication is the coach's first job.
- Great coaches recognized the need to recognize reserves.
- Be intentional in our methods.
- Maintain relationships over time.
Lagniappe: Speaking of Needs More Love - Zeljko Obradovic Offense
Variation on "Corner Rip" action
Horns DHO PnR