In our never-ending desire to make our Players Competitive we often forget that basketball essence of the teams operation is Cooperation (often called Teamwork). Sometimes the message gets heard incorrectly and we end up with a player who thinks the game revolves around basketball the game is the stage and he is the star actor.
In my writings on different egocentric players, I have been calling him Benny the Braggart. (Yes, there also is a Betty the Braggart) We make the usual pronouncement, There is no I in Team, but Benny still believes that there is M and E in team. All of us have had to deal with that self-centered player who is quick to remind us about the great plays hes made. In dealing with him, direct talk usually doesnt get the job done, so lets come at it from another direction. During some team meetings its a good idea to talk to your players about how each of them contributes to the teams successes.
Coach Hudson took advantage of the opportunity during the last football game. Benny made a big interception which helped your team get back into the game and eventually win. As they head for the locker room after the game, he isnt letting anybody forget what he did how he dragged the team from the jaws of defeat.
Ah, but Coach Hudson is ready to deal with this issue. Lets listen in on his postgame commentary:
Coach: Well, we pulled that one out of the fire. You guys played a great game -- you hung in there until we were able to make some breaks. Let's take a look at a real turning point -- that interception early in the 4th quarter. Who made that interception?
Everyone looks at Benny who has no trouble smiling, waiting for the accolades. However...
Coach: Sandy, what did you do on that play?
Sandy: I got around my blocker and put some pressure on the quarterback.
Coach: Gary, how about you?
Gary: I shut down the tight end -- he never got into his pattern.
Coach: Loren?
Loren: I broke through up the middle and kept the quarterback from stepping up into the pocket.
Coach: Zach?
Zach: Brett and I had the split end covered.
Coach: O.K. and we had the center of the field covered by some of you other backs. O.K., Bobby, where were you?
Bobby: The quarterback got away from Sandy and came my way. I got a piece of his jersey. He pulled away but he saw me coming back to get him again. He just get the pass off.
Coach: Benny?
Benny: The pass was short and wobbly. I stepped in front of the wide receiver and caught the ball.
Coach: And you made a good run back with it. O.K. Let's answer my question now.
Who intercepted that pass?
Sam: It sure looks like a lot of guys did a lot of good work.
Coach: That's right. That is what we call teamwork. We all do our job right and good things happen. The real mark of champions is that they all do their job as well as they can and nobody worries about who gets the credit.
(Notice that Coach Hudson gave Benny creditfor what he did. He deserved it -- He earned it.)
We coaches have to keep improving on our communication skills and on our child development knowledge. Being a My Way or the Highway leader may have worked in the past (It worked temporarily at best) but it doesnt work at all any more. Mutual respect is kind of a good idea along with honest interaction and communication.
Peter S. Pierro, EdD http://www.parentscoachesasteam.com
Dr. Peter Pierro is a coach and parent who is concerned about how our young athletes are treated by their coaches and parents. He has degrees from Northern Illinois University. He played professional softball, semi-pro baseball, college basketball, and with an all-star U.S. Navy basketball team. He coached jr./sr. high school basketball, a women's softball team, a 12 and under boys baseball team, and was commissioner of a boys baseball league. He has been a consultant/contributor to the Amateur Softball Association and the Oklahoma Soccer Association. Dr. Pierro has taught in elementary, junior and senior high schools and has been Professor of Education at Elmhurst College and Oklahoma University.
