Learn across disciplines. Survival trainer Jessie Krebs teaches the latest MasterClass. Survival tips transfer to basketball coaching. Guaranteed.
She describes "hard skills" (like signaling) and soft skills (mental toughness).
FIVE KEY SURVIVAL SKILLS
Signaling
Personal Protection
Sustenance (Water/Food)
Explore
Staying Alive
Signaling. Teaching teenagers to talk on the court should be a no-brainer. But it's one of the hardest parts of coaching. Shibboleths like "silent teams lose" or communicate "early, loud, and often" don't guarantee players talk. Get them in the habit during drills by calling out the help, screens, cutters, and so forth. Building habits is building teams.
Personal protection. In the wild, it includes proper clothing, foul weather gear, and shelters. For the individual, managing injury risk includes proper warmups (e.g. dynamic stretching), ankle maintenance (braces are better than tape), and heat awareness matter. I've written before, "There's a suggestion that mouthguards may prevent or reduce the severity of concussions. On balance, I think they make sense, even if the benefit is small."
Sustenance. Some of us grew up in the era of salt tablets and water deprivation. I don't blame the coaches then for the "water makes you weak" mentality. If you're doing it now, you're a troglodyte, a knuckle-dragger exposing players and yourself to risk. Cold water drinkers are able to exercise longer without as much rise in body temperature.
Sports nutritionist Brooke Schantz says, "Staying hydrated means you’ll have a lower heart rate and a lower body temperature. You won’t feel as tired and you’ll have better performance," says Schantz. To make sure you drink enough water, she suggests drinking a large glass (16 ounces) a couple of hours before you exercise, then a cup (8 ounces) about 10 or 20 minutes beforehand. While exercising, especially in the heat, stop for a sip at least every 15 or 20 minutes." Sweat more, drink more.
Exploration/navigation. Every court is different. What's the terrain? Are there asymmetrical boundaries (I've seen many players catch the ball out of bounds on unfamiliar courts), floor dead spots, and blind spots from lighting. I saw one opponent catch the ball out of bounds FIVE times on a neutral court. Know where the shot and game clock are. Situational awareness matters. A few possessions decide many games. Don't give them away.
Staying alive. Take care of our emotional and physical needs. We don't always know what's going on "behind the scenes." Coaches need to "manage the room" where invisible conflict destroys teams. How well do we oversee nutrition and rest, and know about minor illnesses and injuries? Teens should get eight hours of sleep nightly. It's no accident that Coach Wooden started seasons by reviewing how to put on socks. Nobody plays their best with blisters.
Paying attention to detail always counts.
Summary:
- Teaching talk starts in practice.
- Be aware of personal protection from stretching to ankles and mouth guards.
- Hydrate with cold water.
- Navigate. Courts are different. Be aware of conditions and boundaries.
- "Athletic hygiene" includes adequate nutrition and sleep.
