Basketball: Everyone's Favorite Radio Station, WII- FM

WII - fm. "What's in it for me?" 

Use incentives to modify behavior. A woman wrote an advice column and explained that her husband was incorrigible. She went to the library and studied books about animal training. She rewarded "good" behaviors and ignored "bad" ones. Within a short time, good behaviors won.

Find out what matters. For players, it's Chuck Daly's '48 minutes, 48 shots, 48 million." For young players it's minutes, role, and recognition.  

Tension battles "what's in it for me" and "what's good for us?" 

1. Excellent players win one-vs-one battles.
2. Exceptional players make everyone around them better.
3. Valuable players contribute to winning. 

Watching an AAU Showcase stream, I felt too many players engaged, Night at the Opera basketball, mi-mi-mi. 

Guards took "three-after-three" and repeatedly missed. Where's the added value?

Years ago, I heard a parent counseling her daughter before a high school playoff game. "Get your shots. You're every bit as good as anyone on the team." 

"Too many minds." Mind the team. Basketball's great paradox balances individual excellence for the good of the team. "From the moment they wake, they devote themself to the perfection of whatever they pursue...I have never seen such discipline."

Make what's good for me become what's best for us. And reward that.

Summary: 

• Players value minutes, role, and recognition.  
• "What's good for us?" 
• Excellent players win one-vs-one battles.
• Exceptional players make everyone around them better.
• Valuable players contribute to winning. 
• Basketball's great paradox balances individual excellence for the good of the team.

Lagniappe. 2 v 2 Transition.  A versatile drill. "Every day is player development day."