Basketball on the Edge – 10 Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Coach

Published March 16, 2018 | By Mike Klinzing

Head Start Basketball Camp

Players often misunderstand the role that a coach can play in their success both on and off the court. Leaders in all walks of life rely on coaches to help guide them on their path. Being coachable is an important characteristic to your success as a basketball player. How can you prepare yourself to get the most from your coach? Try these 10 tips!

1. Ask yourself a simple question.

Do you want to get better? If the answer is yes, then you’re ready to take advantage of the knowledge and guidance a coach can provide. If the answer is no, then why waste your time? Go find something else to do where getting better is important to you.

2. Know what you want improve.

Is there a specific skill you want to improve? (I want to be a better three point shooter under game conditions.) Some aspect of your game that is a weakness? (I always turn the ball over when I go left) A strength that you want to build on? (I’m a good defender, but I’d like to get even better rotating into help defense). Once you know what you want to improve, you can set specific goals about what you want to get from a coach.

3. Choose a growth mindset.

A growth mindset simply means that you believe in your ability to get better at something. If you believe that your effort and determination (things you control) will result in improvement then you are on your way to reaching your goals. The coach provides guidance and instruction while you provide the energy and focus that is required to improve.

4. Talk with a successful or more experienced player.

Find out how they made the most out of coaching. What strategies did they employ to maximize the advice of a coach? Learning from those who have already done something that you want to do is a smart strategy in basketball and in life. You might pick up a concept or idea during your conversation that opens the door to maximizing your coach’s advice.

5. Be open to new ideas.

John Wooden said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that really counts.” If you think you have all the answers then you won’t be willing to listen with an open mind. Too often players get defensive when coaches tell them something, especially when criticism is involved. If you want to improve, you must be able to accept the idea that you aren’t perfect and that there is always room for improvement regardless of how good a player you are.

6. Be ready for a challenge.

A good coach will push you to be your best. A coach’s job is to help players get to a level that they might not be able to reach on their own. You must be willing to accept the challenges that your coach puts in front of you. The results will show AFTER you rise up and meet the challenge, not before.

7. Put in the work.

Your coach won’t be doing the physical and mental work it requires to meet your goal. That is up to you. A coach can give you the best advice, design the perfect workout, or have a great game plan, but the fact is, you have to put in the time and deliberate practice that improvement requires.

8. Individual effort is required.

I say this to players all the time, “If the only time you pick up a ball is at your team practice or when other people are in the gym with you, your success will be limited.” You have to make time to take what you have learned from your coach and work on it on your own. One hour a week of individual training with a coach won’t make much of a difference unless you put in time between coaching sessions or team practices.

9. Don’t expect instant results.

Coaching will help you get results. It just won’t happen overnight. It takes time to incorporate what you have learned into your game. Be patient, keep working, and believe in the process. If you get down on a coach because you aren’t suddenly scoring 20 points a game after 4 hours of training you’re expectations of what it takes to be successful are unrealistic.

10. Keep the lines of communication open.

Have frequent conversations with your coach about how you are progressing. You and your coach will be able to share your perspectives with each other and make sure you are on the same page. This is a great way to look at your goals and see if they are being met or not. Maybe new goals need to be set, or your areas in need of improvement have changed. Open communication improves the chances that you’ll get the most out of coaching that you possibly can.

Your coach can be the best resource in your quest to become a better basketball player. Use these tips and you’ll be on your way to a great player-coach relationship that helps you maximize your development as a player!