Alright, so, picture this: I’m coaching this high school basketball team, right? Good kids, got some talent, but lately, practice has been, let’s just say, a mess. It was like herding cats. They just weren’t focused. Drills were sloppy, lots of goofing around, you know the drill. It was driving me nuts!
Tried Yelling, Didn’t Work
First, I tried the old-school approach. You know, raising my voice, trying to get them to snap to attention. I yelled until I was blue in the face. It worked for about, oh, two minutes. Then it was back to the circus. Nope, that wasn’t gonna cut it. I realized I needed to try something completely different before this season went totally down the drain.
Switched it Up with Games
So, I decided to flip the script. Instead of the usual drills, I started throwing in these little competitive games during practice. I split the team into smaller groups.
- For example, we did these timed shooting competitions.
- Then we played “lightning” – a fast-paced full-court game.
- We even had relay races that incorporated dribbling and passing.
They Started Focusing
Guess what? It was like magic! Suddenly, they were all in. The competitive spirit kicked in. They were hustling, paying attention, actually trying to improve. It was a complete 180.
Actually Started Having Fun
And the best part? They were having fun! I mean, real fun. Not that fake, forced stuff. There were smiles, laughter, high-fives. It was like a weight had been lifted off the team. And you know what? I was having fun too. Who knew?
Made Practices Way Better
Now, our practices are a totally different story. We still work hard, don’t get me wrong, but there’s this energy, this focus, that just wasn’t there before. These games changed everything, the atmosphere is totally different, and it’s all for the better. It’s amazing what a little change-up can do. I’m telling you, sometimes you gotta think outside the box. Who would have thought that making practice more like a game would actually make them take it more seriously? It is kind of funny when you think about it that way.
Anyway, that’s my little story. Hope maybe it helps some other coach out there pulling their hair out.
