Tuesday, July 20, 2010

EMOTION VS. EVALUATION

KEVIN EASTMAN: Competition and game time can do certain things to us that sometimes we’re not even aware of. So often I see coaches (especially assistant coaches) who are so emotionally explosive during games that I often wonder if they have time to actually see what is going on on the floor. They are so wrapped up in the emotions that I wonder what their evaluation level is.

I suggest you give some thought to your own emotion vs. evaluation percentage, especially if you are an assistant coach. The Head Coach gets to choose what he wants to be at game time, but from my perspective, the assistant doesn’t really have a choice. The assistant coach is there to help the Head Coach win the game. He’s not there to be seen — and depending on your head coach, maybe not even to be heard.

An assistant needs to be 90% evaluation and 10% emotion, and in that 10%, I believe 8% should be positive emotion for your team — and zero towards the officials. The remaining 2% has to be used wisely, and not have a negative effect on the game.

Lastly, I would suggest that even Head Coaches analyze their percentages. Are you seeing the game and tracking the game as best you can? Or are you letting emotions steal time way from your evaluation?