Basketball on the Edge – Are You Listening To This?

If you want to impress your basketball coach, become a better listener. When you actually hear, process, and then act on what your coach says, you’ll quickly move towards becoming a player that any coach would love! Here are 10 tips for becoming a better listener whenever your coach (or anyone else) is talking.

1. Give the coach your full attention and don’t let your mind wander.

It’s easy to think about school, your next meal, or what you and your friends are doing after practice, but the best athletes have the ability to tune that stuff out the moment they hit the court. When you give someone your complete attention your understanding of what they said goes way up.

2. Make eye contact, looking down or away sends the wrong message.

Speaking as a coach, there is nothing more frustrating than when I look at my team or an individual player while I am talking and they are staring at the floor or gazing off into the distance. Maybe they’re listening or maybe not, but the message is being sent when there is no eye contact is clear. The player or team isn’t engaged in the listening process.

3. Block out distractions.

Tune out the background noise, don’t watch your teammate untie their shoes, ignore the blister on your foot. Discipline yourself to ignore these minor distractions and your comprehension will increase.

4. Focus on the meaning of what the coach is saying.

What coaching point are they trying to make? How can you apply it immediately? How can you apply it long-term? Can you cut through the clutter and figure out what is most important to focus on?

5. Send positive vibes with your body language.

Stand up straight, take up plenty of space (a confident pose), wear a facial expression that is appropriate for the moment (serious, happy, smiling, etc.). Don’t slouch, fold your arms, roll your eyes, frown, or blankly stare at your coach. Understand the message you want to convey with your body language and then do your best to make it happen.

6. Wait for the coach to finish speaking before asking questions.

As a coach and parent there are few things as annoying as someone interrupting to ask a question before the directions are finished. Once the coach is done talking you should have an opportunity to ask a well thought out question that may clarify what the coach said.

7. Don’t start planning what you’re going to say before the coach is done talking.

If you are working through your response while the coach is talking, chances are you’ll miss some, if not most, of what’s being said.

8. Ask good questions.

Good questions are how we learn. You should never be afraid to ask your coach a question.

9. Engage in the conversation.

When a coach asks a question make sure you respond. Do this consistently on the practice floor, during timeouts, in the locker room, and anywhere else player-coach conversations take place.

10. Acknowledge the coach.

At least a nod of the head or a simple yes after the coach gives you instructions is all it takes to let the coach know you heard them and understood. A blank stare from a player leaves a coach wondering if their message got through and makes you seem less coachable.

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