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Coaching Every Basketball Player to Their Full Potential

Coaching Every Basketball Player to Their Full Potential

This basketball coaching article was written by Basketball HQ Co-Founder Kyle Ohman.

 

When coaching your basketball team, you have to remember that every player is different and has a distinct personality. As a coach, to tap into each player’s full potential, you need to motivate them differently. This only comes from being around your players and getting to know them personally.

You must be invested in your players for this type of basketball coaching to work. The better you can understand what makes your players tick and what motivates them, the more successful you will be as a basketball coach.

 

Coaching Different Personalities

Some basketball players, when they are yelled at and criticized, completely shut down. Instead of playing at a higher level, they tend to shut down and cannot perform. Don’t get me wrong; I am not saying that you shouldn’t point out something if a player messes up and does something; that is how they learn what to do or not to do.

What I am saying is this; when that player gives you the opportunity to praise them for doing a good job, take advantage of it. It doesn’t have to be a big thing in front of everyone, but let them know that they did a good job when you get a chance.

 

 

Don’t Play Favorites With Your Basketball Players

You need to make sure that you do not play favorites with different players. As the coach, you know what players respond to what type of coaching the best, but you don’t need to let your players know. The other players might think you are babying one of the players while you are too hard on another. Players want to have a coach that is fair, so this is important.


 

Trial and Error

As a basketball coach, the only way to figure out how different players will respond is trial and error. If you see that one way of coaching isn’t working with a certain type of player, don’t be afraid to change it up and try another way of motivation. A lot of times, as a coach, we get that idea of Bob Knight to get in the player’s face, be hard-nosed, and if they can’t handle it, then they are just not tough enough.

However, I have seen a lot of really skilled players shut it down because the coach did not know how to coach them the right way. On the other hand, I have seen a lot of players blossom and perform under the right coaching techniques.

 

 

Assistant Basketball Coaches

Assistant coaches are so valuable in helping with getting the most out of a basketball player. Head coaches are not going to be able to be everywhere at one time. This is where an assistant coach can help with the different player personalities. They can encourage the players that are struggling a little bit or challenge a player that needs to be gotten on. Each assistant coach should look to connect with several players on a closer level and really help to figure out what will help them be their best on the court and off of it.

 

 

Coaching Every Basketball Player to Their Full Potential Conclusion

It is a group effort, and I don’t think enough coaches are taking advantage of this coaching style. Get to know your players, find out what makes them tick, and coach them to their strengths. This will give you an edge over your competition and give you a good relationship with your players. Coaching every player to their full potential is not easy, but it is your job as a coach to find a way to get it done; and if you can figure it out, the payoffs are huge!

 

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2 Responses

  1. this is a very good article. I wish my coach had seen this. he just yells at every one and he never gives anyone a compliment. We would have been a great team if he saw this.

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