Teach in short, direct phases.
That’s just one tenet of “master coaching,” as Coyle calls it. Just as with practice relative to the principles of deep practice, it’s important to coach in the right manner to get the desired result. It’s not enough to explain how to do something correctly; you must explain it in the right way so it sinks in. This is how basic coaching can be elevated to master coaching.
Speaking of master coaches, I read in one of the books by Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (a.k.a. Coach K) that there isn’t time for a coach to say, “would you please” or “could you do it this way next time?” In Coyle’s studies, he reveals how all of the “master coaches” he studies teach the same way.
This is exactly how we teach: in phrases, not paragraphs. Coyle cites a study of John Wooden that revealed he rarely spoke for more than 20 seconds at a time in practice.
Here are some of the examples we use as teaching phrases:
1. “Catch it low, finish high:” Catch the basketball “shot ready,” hips dropped, and ready to rise into your shot. Finish high with your elbow locked and above your eyes on the follow-through.
2. “Initiate to separate”
- Separating without the basketball: Initiate contact with your defender then separate by changing your speeds. Reggie Miller, Richard Hamilton, and Ray Allen are great at this. Richard Hamilton will almost post up his defender when in a single-double set, and then separate.
- Separating with the basketball: When attacking off the dribble, you need to drive your defender back to create space to make your play. It is much easier to create separation after you make contact with your defender.
3. “Change your pace to create space:” Attacking off the dribble, handling pressure, and creating space is so much more about changing your speeds than “sexy” combo-dribble moves. Many times it is the dribble move that gives you the advantage or of a window to attack, and your change of speed gives you separation. When changing speeds, we want our players to go from 10% or 20% to 90%, not 70% to 90%.
Wooden Compliments
Only give compliments when they are earned, rather than making them a constant part of the environment. In a yearlong study in 1970 of John Wooden’s practices, researchers compiled a list of his teaching points and comments.
i. 6.9% were compliments
ii. 6.6% were expressions of displeasure
iii. 75% were pure information
- what to do
- how to do it
- when to intensify the activity
One of the keys of ignition and a characteristic of a master coach is an ability to teach the love of the game. This requires the presence of numerous traits in a coach. At the youth level, patience, inherently liking kids, caring, and using compassion are some characteristics of a coach who can teach players to love the game for life.
Keep it short. Reserve praise. Encourage hard work.
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Mike Lee Basketball Services trains thousands of middle school through NBA players across the country each year in their skill development training, camps and coaches Academies. The owner, Mike Lee, is also a former Nike Girls Skills Academy instructor and former assistant director for the Stephen Curry Skills Academy. Recently the company has authored 7 skill development DVDs and created miSkillz Online Basketball training. To host an event in your city please email mike@mikeleebasketball.com
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Click here for more information on Daniel Coyle and The Talent Code