Building team culture and communication go hand-in-hand. We talk about it a lot on the “Courtside Culture Podcast.” That’s why the most effective communication solutions for basketball coaches should always be part of the game plan. That’s because the psyche of a high school basketball player can be fragile. And learning how to communicate effectively, is part of player development.
If you’re a coach, you probably don’t expect every player to know what a skip pass is. Or how to use a drop step to get to the basket. Or even ways to create space when handling the ball. You also should expect to teach the importance of communication.
So, let’s take a look at some ways you can prepare your players to communicate, not only on the floor, but more importantly-with you.
Not All Players Like To Talk, But Still Need To
One of the most important things a coach should understand is that all players aren’t comfortable with approaching their coaches. They may be good at communicating on the court, but just don’t have it in them to question an authority figure off the court.
To improve communication, coaches should consistently approach their players and initiate the conversation. To simply expect a player to come up and talk about what’s bothering them is not logical.
As a parent, I beg my high school basketball and baseball player to talk to his coaches all of the time. He will tell me about something that’s bugging him, or a goal that he may be working on, but sometimes it’s like pulling teeth to get him to feel comfortable enough to go talk to his coach.
It’s on the coach to create a comfortable environment for team communication, and it goes both ways—players talking to coaches and coaches talking to players.
The Type Of Communication Counts
Coaches also need to pay attention to the type of communication they use with their players. If a kid musters up the courage to approach you, your reaction is critical. If you seem annoyed, or bothered, your player will feel it. Scoffing, then providing a vague answer, or calling another coach over to answer his or her questions won’t help either.
Your reaction will mean everything. Emphasize communication, don’t shut it down.
Deliver On Your Message
What’s just as critical as creating a safe environment to talk is delivering on your message. You can’t tell a player one thing and then do another. You will crush their confidence and your culture all at the same time.
Learning how to communicate in basketball goes beyond game situations. It’s imperative for coaches (in any sport) to add it to their list of drills. Approaching players, effectively communicating, and delivering on your message are good ways to build your communication skills and your team culture at the same time.
You can get more advice like this from coaches (just like you) on the “Courtside Culture Podcast.”