Controlling Player Confidence, by Rainer Meisterjahn

One major problem many of the players I work with, including college and professional players, come to see me about is a lack of confidence. While a decrease in confidence can be attributed to many things, the one that undoubtedly stands out is a perceived lack of performance as interpreted from the traditional box score. Two words are crucial here: (1) PERCEIVED…a 2 for 11 shooting night doesn’t necessarily mean a player failed to perform even though the player, in most cases, will automatically think (s)he played poorly, and (2) TRADITIONAL box score…while it serves its purpose and provides valuable information for players and coaches alike, an overemphasis on it not only can but WILL be detrimental to confidence.

Every coach has heard the saying “control the controllables” and has likely preached this idea to his/her players. However, very few coaches understand how to shift practice and game performance away from the traditional box score, thus contributing to players’ confidence struggles. Now does that mean that shooting percentages, total rebounds, and assist-turnover ratios should not be discussed? NO, absolutely not. As a matter of fact, measuring performance on a regular basis is necessary for ultimate individual and team progress. However, timely shifts away from the traditional box score can be crucial to low-confidence player performance in particular.

Coaches, rather than overemphasizing traditional practice and game statistics, keep a Boss Box Score, named after the boss who is in charge of and controls everything that goes on in his/her office. The Boss Box Score exclusively emphasizes statistical categories a player has complete control over (e.g., while you can’t control whether the ball goes into the hoop on every shot attempt, you can control whether you take a makeable shot) given (s)he receives sufficient playing time.

Here’s how:

1. Ask your low confidence player which statistics (s)he focuses on the most pre and post-game and how his/her confidence is affected by “good” and “bad” performances in those areas.
2. Explain to the player specifically what about the category he can (e.g., boxing out every possession) and cannot control (e.g., pulling down every other rebound).
3. Let the player know that the greatest athletes in the game make their confidence completely dependent on those aspects of the game they have COMPLETE CONTROL over.
4. Identify 1 to 2 categories from the following list of controllables that correspond the most closely with the player’s previously identified categories (e.g., pick (a) for a player who is overly concerned with his/her shooting percentage). Then, select 1 to 2 additional categories to measure the player’s performance in other areas to boost confidence.

Note: / = “out of” as in a traditional box score (e.g. FGM/FGA); some categories require setting a desirable performance standard/goal prior to keeping stats (make the player aware of the goal and consider involving him/her in setting it!)

1. Great field goal attempts/Total field goal attempts
2. Box-out percentage (after shot goes up, including on makes)
3. Total number of high-5s given out to teammates/Pre-determined goal (e.g., 50 per game)
4. Picks set for teammates/Pre-determined standard( e.g., 20 per game)
5. Hands -in-passing lane percentage
6. Verbal encouragement given to teammates/Pre-determined standard (e.g., at least twice in timeouts and twice in-game)
7. Eye-contact percentage in huddles (estimate!)
8. Assertiveness percentage/Pre-determined goal (e.g., at least 3 drives to the basket)
9. Any additional categories you can think of that put the player in control.

5. Have student-managers, assistant coaches, or others keep track of the respective players’ statistics. Make sure whoever keeps track is well-trained and understands your expectations since subjective elements (e.g., what constitutes a great shot) are inherent in the Boss Box Score.

6. Present the player’s Boss Box Score statistics to him/her after every game/practice and highlight improved percentages compared to the traditional box score to boost confidence.

7. Discuss his/her performance based on the Boss Box Score and pose additional challenges. For example, a player might have gone 1 for 5 from the three-point line but the Boss Box Score indicates that 3 out of those 5 shots were wide-open, makeable shots. Challenge the player to improve from 60 to 80% in the next game.

8. Keep track of how the player’s traditional box score statistics improve over time after implementing the Boss Box Score. Just like winning is merely a by-product of playing the right way, great traditional box score statistics are merely a result of making great, confident decisions with no concern for the outcome.

Lastly, remind your players every day: “The most confident players in the world control their box score, the least confident players in the world let their box score control them. Take charge of your confidence and be your own boss!”