The Art of Connection: A Coach’s Guide to Effective Communication and Trust
The onus is always on the sender to ensure that the message is received
The game plan was simple and straightforward.
“Pressure the s*** out of him for forty minutes. When he doesn’t have the ball, go into full denial!!”
The players knew what was expected of them. It was a solid plan. And then, the game started…
The Easter Tournament held in Vienna, Austria is one of the biggest youth basketball tournaments in Europe. Every year, over 400 teams flock to the Capital to compete over a week of basketball and earn bragging rights.
The 2024 Tournament was no different. My MU16 team had been performing amicably. At times, we were exceeding expectations. Then, we faced our old foe in the Conference quarter-finals of the tournament.
“You don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training!”
We had played this team three times already this season, twice during the regular season. The last time, they blew us out by 40 points. This was always going to be a tough game for us. At least, mentally tough.
At times like this, the importance of connection, trust and communication cannot be overstated. Hence, the game plan was laid out. In time-outs and during half-time, the game plan was re-iterated and players were reminded.
After a couple of blown assignments, my frustrations got the better of me and I subbed out a key player, asking him what was so difficult for him to get about the game plan.
He looked at me with a blank expression and simply stated that he was doing what I had asked.
He truly believed that he was doing what we had agreed upon, despite his interpretation being the polar opposite of what I wanted. He was sagging off and allowing his player to dribble up the court unopposed.
Despite my frustrations, my thoughts shifted, “If he doesn’t get it, maybe the others don’t either!”.
Quick Timeout!!
Rather than re-iterate, I decided to check for understanding, therefore, I posed the question to the group during the timeout. “What is our game plan?”
My intentions were not to single this player out but to assess whether the rest of the team had misinterpreted my message too. Well, it turned out that the rest of the team were on the same page. They knew what was being asked of them.
This isn’t a problem in the execution or the buy-in of the game plan. This is a totally different problem.
How could a message, so clearly understood by the rest of the team, become distorted to one player?
My role as a coach means that I am ultimately responsible for communicating a message so clearly that everyone on the team understands it. If one player, such as in the above example, is unable to interpret the message correctly, it leaves the team at a disadvantage.
This isn’t a case about blaming, rather, it is about me understanding that I am the adult here. I am the one that is responsible for communicating in a way that each player can understand.
Consider a coach as a lighthouse, guiding ships through foggy nights. If one ship strays off course, it’s not enough to blame the fog or the ship's captain. The lighthouse must pulse its beam stronger, and clearer, ensuring safe passage for all under its watch.
Similarly, our words, our guidance, must reach every player, illuminating their path on the court.
As coaches of young athletes, let's embrace this wisdom. Let's strive to be the lighthouse for our players, adapting our communication to ensure no player navigates in the dark. It’s about more than just tactics; it’s about creating an environment where every player feels understood, valued, and connected to the collective mission.