Real-Life Communication
According to basketball coach Scott Clark, being a coach doesn't
just mean being a teacher. "It also means being a motivator, getting them
to do things they do not want to do but must in order for them to be successful."
You
are in the last quarter of the game, down by one. The opposition fires a shot.
Your team takes down the rebound. You quickly signal them to take a time out
in order to get the ball at half court on the final possession.
Your
team gathers around you. You bring out the clipboard and look at your players.
They should be tired now, but they aren't, due to the adrenaline rush they're
all feeling. The knots in their stomachs must be as tight as yours.
What
are you going to say and how are you going to react? How are you going to
will your team to put the next shot in to the basket?
"In coaching,
you want to communicate what your expectations are in terms of what the team
needs to accomplish," says Clark. "This has to be crystal clear. You want
your players to be here at an exact time. If the player is not there, he is
out of position. If the player is late, he is out of position. Direction needs
to be clear and precise."
What do you tell your team?