I often feel when talking to junior coaches and other coaches that as a hole we are too soft on our players. A lot say they are not but I think in all honesty we have all been guilty of letting an athlete get away with something that they should have been punished for. But what is the definition of being tough on a player?

I have been involved in basketball at numerous levels now for over thirty years and have come across a number of different styles. Some coaches to be tough on players will yell and scream to get their point across while others will quietly go about their business to achieve a similar result. Two great examples of being at the opposite ends of the scale are legendary USA college basketball coaches Bob Knight and John Wooden. While I neve had the pleasure of observing coach Wooden, I did have the pleasure of spending a month in 1993 at Indiana University observing coach Knight. Both were genius coaches in their own right but Knight was volatile and Wooden softly spoken but demanding. While knight could unleash a tirade of abuse and profanity to get his point across, Wooden supposedly would quietly put his message across in a very frank but much softer manner.

This I believe is the answer to the question in the heading. Earlier in my coaching career I was a raving lunatic at times. Screaming and carrying on like an absolute crazy man. I thought I was doing the right thing. However, I know I have lost games for my teams because of this behaviour especially towards the referees. I know I am passionate and want to succeed badly but this is no excuse to behave in the manner that I once did. I am not saying that at times I will not unleash but certainly not like I used to. I feel as coaches we must be more demanding of our players. This doesn’t mean it can’t be fun for the athletes, it means we want to be high achievers. Majority of humans enjoy improving or having success because it brings satisfaction.

Therefore as coaches we have to set the boundaries and stick to them. Too many coaches shift these boundaries in fear of losing their best player or maybe for the fear of not being liked or whatever the reason. There must be certain concepts or agreements within the group that are non-negotiable once they are decided on as they will be the themes of the group and the foundation with which you build your team. Once you allow these to be compromised your foundations start to be chipped away at and they start to crumble as time goes on.

Coaching is something I love and I know I have really grown in the way I now get my messages across. Certainly athletes need to be reminded occasionally about their behaviour. Just remember when you enforce the rules or are demanding you are often criticising the athlete’s behaviour not necessarily them as a person. Explain this and most athletes will understand.

So next time you go to allow an athlete to get away with something just take a step back and ask yourself if this will be the best thing in the long run? Will it chip away at the foundations of your team? Be demanding on your players while being empathetic and success will follow.

With energy

Shawn Dennis