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6 Winning Strategies Guaranteed to Improve Your Coaching Skills


Are you sure you're doing everything you can to be the best
coach possible? Absolutely sure?  

I've been a coach and I've had a lot of coaches. You know
what I've found? Some coaches put all the pieces together
and some just don't invest time developing the coaching
skills that make a difference.

I can't turn you into a coaching superstar overnight but I
can get you started with these six powerful communication
skills. I'll break them into two groups: Verbal and
Non-verbal.  

Three verbal communication skills you must master:

1) Consistency

Don't send your players mixed messages by telling your team
something today and then two days from now completely
contradicting yourself. Your players must be able to trust
the words that come out of your mouth.  

Also, keep your tone consistent with what your words are
intending to get across. I had a coach once who, when one of
us messed up, would say, "That was great" in a dripping wet
sarcastic tone. Talk about sending us a negative message and
beating team morale into the ground!  

2) Honesty

Be honest with your team and always in a positive way. Your
team knows when mistakes are made so don't try to ignore
them. If you try to gloss over them, you'll lose your team's
respect. Just be sure to correct mistakes in a positive way
that helps a player see what was done correctly but also
feel good about fixing the mistake.  

When pointing out a mistake, first say what was good, then
say "and if you follow through properly, you'll get the
proper spin on the ball", rather than "but if you follow
through properly, you'll get the proper spin on the ball".  

3) Be Concise

Don't speak to your team unclearly. Think through what you
want to get across ahead of time and deliver your thoughts
in a clear, concise manner. Come right out and say it. Don't
go off on tangents and bore your players with unnecessary
talk. Get to the point and then get the troops moving.  

Three non-verbal communication skills you must master:

4) Facial Expressions

Be aware of how closely your team pays attention to what
your face is "saying". Don't be a phony by trying to hide
what you really feel with a fake smile or a serious blank
stare.

Realize, also, that just a simple smile can do wonders for a
struggling player or a player unsure of what they're doing.
Show them that you're behind them, glad to be with them and
there to help.  

Don't overdo this, though. Your players will pick up on
that. Be genuine in your coaching efforts.  

5) Body Language

If you're standing on the sideline in a way that shows you
are happy to be there and confident, how will your players
respond as opposed to you scowling around all hunched over
and looking angry? Remember to present body language that
represents enthusiasm, class and character.  

Body language can also be used in the form of physical
contact such as a pat, a handshake or an arm around the
shoulder. Stay ethical, of course, but physical contact can
show your players the many emotions you feel about them -
happiness, concern, affection, approval, etc.  

6) Listen

This one's huge! You need to pay attention to your players.
You've got to focus on really seeing and hearing your
players' verbal and non-verbal signals.  

If your players keep hearing you say, "What was that?" or
"Did you say something?", you're in trouble and you need to
work on your listening skills big time.  

Start practicing this coaching skill and watch how much more
you instantly start to learn about your team. You'll see a
player is upset over something even though he's trying hard
to hide it. You'll see how each player reacts to not only
you but to one another.  

Master these six coaching strategies and watch your coaching
skills skyrocket. Your players must know you care way before
they'll care about what you have to say. Remember this
because too many coaches don't.  


Matt & Dave run
http://www.basketball-plays-and-tips.com/6strategy and
enjoy teaching basketball players and coaches more about
the basketball plays, drills, fundamentals and tips that
result in individual and team success. For our free report,
"5 Keys to Discovering the Successful Coach Inside You",
plus two additional player/coach reports, send a blank email
to mailto:basketballtip@aweber.com .
Reprinted from ValuableContent.Com  
www.ValuableContent.com.
4 Steps to Sure-Fire Free Throws


NBA Finals, Game 7...Your team is down one point...One second left... A foul and
two free throws coming... Who do you want at the charity stripe?

Of course, we?d like to have a Reggie Miller or a Larry Bird or even better
Michael Jordan at the line to sink those crucial shots. Chances are, though,
they?re not on your team. So now what? It?s up to you!

So how do you build the skill and confidence needed to win the big games at the
charity stripe? 4 simple steps: Ritualize - Visualize - Optimize - Capitalize.

Free throws are an important part of your game. How many times have we seen
games come down to the final seconds and either be won or lost at the free throw
line? All the time! So learn these 4 timeless secrets and join the ranks of John
Stockton and become a Great free throw shooter.

1. Ritualize

Ritualize means you create a specific repeating pattern of behavior prior to
performance, a regular pre-task routine, which sharpens your focus,
concentration and attention.

Reggie Miller would step up to the line holding the ball on his hip with his
left hand and place his feet about 12-14 inches apart with his right foot
slightly forward. He then would raise his arm straight up towards the basket
with his hand bent as if he had just released the ball. Then he would take three
consecutive dribbles, sit back into a slight crouch and let if fly. Every free
throw was exactly the same.

Karl Malone could be seen mouthing something to himself (We have no idea what
he was saying) right before he shot the ball. Whatever ritual you develop for
yourself, know that it?s the most effective device for delivering yourself into the
mindset you must be in to sink every free throw.

"Repetition brings familiarity, and familiarity is the opposite of the unknown."
- Steven Levenkron

2. Visualize

Visualize means mentally rehearsing or "seeing" in your mind what you intend to
do before you do it. When you visualize perfect form and a flawless shot that
draws nothing but the bottom of the net, it becomes exponentially more likely to
happen.

You?ve heard the saying, "What you see is what you get", haven?t you? Focus on
the process and see perfection. You?ll find that visualization is a powerful
tool.

"I see a mental movie before I hit every shot." - Jack Nicklaus

3. Optimize

Optimize means allowing yourself to trust in yourself and your capabilities, to
have the self-confidence to pull the ripcord, knowing the parachute will open.
Simply put don?t hesitate! Delay does damage.

Nike said it best with their million dollar slogan: "Just Do It!" This is when
shooting free throws just becomes automatic.

"You must seek to have control and then act with abandon!" - Anonymous

4. Capitalize

Capitalize means celebrate your success as well as the success of your
teammates. Pat yourself on the back with each success at the line. When you make
your free throws savor the success, nourish it, grow it, use it - capitalize on it. Allow
it to build your confidence in other aspects of your game - defense, offense or
whatever. Let this positive energy ooze out all over you and your team.

"What I do best is share my enthusiasm." - Bill Gates

With these easy-to-follow principles you can become the elite free throw shooter
of your team. Actually, you can apply these principles to every part of your
game. Whatever you do, keep on shooting!

Matt & Dave run
http://www.basketball-plays-and-tips.com/freethrow
and enjoy teaching basketball players and coaches more about
the basketball plays, drills, fundamentals and tips that
result in individual and team success. For our free report,
"5 Keys to Discovering the Successful Coach Inside You",
plus two additional player/coach reports, send a
blank email to mailto:basketballtip@aweber.com .
Reprinted from ValuableContent.Com  
www.ValuableContent.com.
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