Thursday, September 23, 2010

LISTENING AS A TEAM

"When you explain a point to player X, the other players should listen so that they know about that point as well.  There's a tendency for players to believe that because the coach is talking to someone else, they don't have to listen.  If they're all listening, the coach won't have to repeat the same thing to the guys who weren't involved, and everyone will know what player X is doing on a particular play, and therefore what his options are.  Each player has to have an idea of what everyone of his teammates is doing.  Not only does it save time when you are teaching something, but it enhances the effectiveness of what you are trying to do."

-Pete Caril

We try to make sure are players are constantly listening with the following measures:

1. Eye-to-eye contact with the speaker.
2. When the coach speaks, the gym is silent.
3. Echo yells (team repeating instructions from coach)
4. Consequences for team when a player repeats a mistake caused by not listening.