🏆 7 Steps to Coaching With Impact

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LINKS FOR COACHES

• 🆇 ICYMI → Shaka Smart Coaching GOLD [LINK]

• 🎥 VIDEO → Kobe: Habits and Excellence [LINK]

• 🎙️ PODCAST → Guy Malloy, Australian Basketball Coach [LINK]

💭 ONE THOUGHT
7 Steps to Coaching With Impact

COACHES: Your words can build confidence—or destroy it. Your energy can inspire—or deflate. Coaching isn’t just about X’s and O’s. It’s about how you lead.

Positive coaching isn’t about sugarcoating the truth or avoiding tough conversations.

It’s about creating an environment where players can thrive, grow, and perform at their best.
It shifts the focus from short-term wins to long-term growth—on and off the court.

When done right, positive coaching:

✅ Builds confidence in players.
✅ Creates a resilient, healthy mindset.
✅ Strengthens trust within a team.
✅ Promotes a ‘joy in the journey’ approach.

So, what does positive coaching look like in practice?

Here are 7 Steps to Coach With Impact:

1. Effort > Outcome

Great coaches focus on what players can control: effort and attitude. Positive coaching emphasizes rewarding hustle, grit, and commitment over just the scoreboard.

• Ask Yourself: Are you celebrating effort in practice and games?

• Example: Highlight a player’s hustle on defense or their leadership on the bench—not just the game-winning shot.

2. Bring Positive Energy

Positive energy is contagious. A coach’s tone sets the vibe for the team. When you model enthusiasm and positivity, players are more likely to mirror it.

• Tip: Start each practice with high energy, a smile, and an encouraging tone.

• Example: Use a positive mantra, such as “Next play, best play!” to keep your energy up after mistakes.

3. Focus on Relationships

Coaching is a people business. Players won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Build trust through genuine connections.

• Action Step: Spend one-on-one time with your players to learn their goals and motivations.

• Example: Have weekly “check-ins” where players can share their highs and lows.

4. Focus on the Process

The process is where growth happens. Teach your players to love the grind because that’s where champions are made.

• Mindset Shift: Instead of focusing on winning the game, focus on winning the next play, next rep, or next drill.

• Example: Celebrate small wins, like a player mastering a new skill or improving their focus during practice.

5. Create a Positive Culture

Culture is built every day, not just in preseason meetings. Positive coaches invest consistently in their culture, knowing that it pays dividends over time.

• Tip: Define your team values and revisit them regularly.

• Example: Start each week with a “Culture Moment” to reinforce values like respect, effort, or teamwork.

6. Have a Healthy Approach to Failure

Failure isn’t fatal; it’s feedback. Teach your players to see mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.

• Phrase to Use: “What can we learn from this?” instead of “Why did this happen?”

• Example: After a loss, focus on growth areas instead of placing blame.

7. Give Clear and Honest Feedback

Positive coaching doesn’t mean avoiding tough conversations. It means delivering honest feedback in a constructive way.

• Tip: Use the “Criticism Sandwich” method—start with a positive, address the issue, and finish with encouragement.

• Example: “Your effort in practice has been great. Let’s work on boxing out better on rebounds—I know you can do it.”

The Bottom Line

Positive coaching is about growth, relationships, and creating an environment where players want to succeed - not just for the team but for themselves.

By following these seven steps, you’ll not only become a better coach but also leave a lasting impact on your players’ lives.

Positive coaching is contagious - start spreading it today!

Reflective Question: What is one step you can take this week to become a more positive coach?

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