Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Basketball: Transformative

Coaches can influence players positively and negatively. Telling a player or team, "I believe in you," can make all the difference.

That doesn't mean that coaches should oversell players. But when we confirm our belief in a player, it can be transformative. Players remember genuine expressions of confidence in their work and progress. 

At the end of her eighth grade season, I told Cecilia Kay, "you are the best player I have coached in twenty years of coaching." I encouraged her to represent Melrose in the postseason league all-star game. She was the leading scorer with 24 points. She followed that up with four years as an All-Scholastic and was one of six McDonald's All-America nominees from Massachusetts.  

Transformative techniques:

1) "Speaking greatness." "That was great BUT" underperforms "That was great AND..." Kevin Eastman says, "you can't fool kids, dogs, and basketball players." 

2) Video. "Video is the truth machine." Showing players positive video shows proven success. And Bill Parcells says, "confidence comes from proven success."

3) Media recognition. 'Statistical leaders' get regular media attention. Noting players who get less 'ink' supports players who impact winning yet may be less well known. 

Lagniappe. Bill Walsh changed everything for John Lynch. 

Lagniappe 2. 1-4 low BOB with screen-the-screener 

Lagniappe 3. Get separation with one dribble.  

 Lagniappe 4. Sacrifice. 

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