Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Basketball: Fear Factor


Players must overcome fear.
  • Fear of mistakes 
  • Fear of injury
  • Fear of defensive pressure
  • Fear of making a play 
  • Fear of the moment
  • Fear of the opinions of others
Fear is rational. Fear protects us. Don't stand in front of a moving car or a raging bull. But fear protects us until it doesn't. 

Gene Hackman says in The Replacements, "winners want the ball." Sports success requires skill and will. In baseball, pitchers learn to 'pitch to contact'. Many sports require 'playing through contact', including basketball. 

Fear of mistakes. Some coaches immediately sub a player out for a mistake. So players freeze up, become hesitant not wanting to 'screw up'. Players learn from mistakes and coaches have to cede control along the way. Even great players make mistakes. If you let seniors throw the ball away and pull underclassmen for the same, what does that say about you?  

Fear of injury. I coached a young girl who was small. I told her Mom that I thought her daughter was physically afraid of the other girls. "She is."

Somebody once said that if players could wear a suit of armor to the plate that everyone could hit .280.  

Fear of defensive pressure. Pressure reveals a player's makeup. Good players 'play fast' as the game slows down for them. Only practice, skill development and experience allows that progression to defeat fear. 

Fear of making a play. Choice can result in 'paralysis by analysis'. This isn't new. The ancient Latin proverb translates as 'fortune favors the bold'.  There's a stock market saying, "It takes courage to be a pig." Traders know that pigs also get slaughtered.  

Fear of the moment. Some players embrace the challenge and want to be in there in crunch time to impact the outcome. Others hesitate lacking skill, experience, or confidence. Support them. 

Fear of the opinions of others. Many people struggle under the judgment. The Four Agreements reminds us "never take anything personally." Others' opinion often says more about them than it does about us. 

Take human nature into consideration. Recognize that courage is not the extreme but balances fear and recklessness. Some players never overcome fear. Others master it. It's our job as coaches to nurture the balance. 

Lagniappe. "Every day is player development day." A coach suggests alternative shooting drills. 
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