Coach: I must say, I have high expectations for all the kids. I’ve found if I expect a lot, and show confidence in them, then kids can do an awful lot more than people expect.
Lots of people tell me I can’t teach PUSH-STOP-STEP (one of the changing directions moves in your books) but slowly and surely they are picking it up. I expect him to hustle and do praise him when he does. When he doesn’t, I just wonder what I can do in practice to encourage it. As you have stated in your books, “If you don’t see it in practice, don’t expect to see it in a game!”
My current problem, I’ve got a very talented, but lazy player, who can dribble beautifully, has good skills but just won’t hustle after the ball. In 1v1, other lesser skilled kids kill him because he won’t try his best. Any suggestions? He’s my last kid who I think isn’t playing up to his ability, and I would like to help him if I can.
Karl: There are no problems just opportunities for you to become a better coach.
Coach: I’ve got a very talented, but lazy player
Karl: Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
• If you think he is talented and lazy then he will respond accordingly.
• If you think he is talented and aggressive he will respond accordingly.
• In other words, change your perception of this boy and find things ‘to compliment.
You will find that once you focus on his strengths his weaknesses will appear to be less prominent. Act ‘as if’ he were a hustler -compliment him when you see him hustling – have his teammates give him positive responses when he hustles and in time -he will begin to hustle…!
Coach: He can dribble beautifully, has good skills but just won’t hustle after the ball.
Karl: How hard should a player hustle after the ball? Are there standard for hustling?
Maybe we should ask ourselves some of the following:
• Maybe, in his mind he is giving it the best effort he can?
• Maybe, he does not know what ‘hustle’ means?
• Maybe, he does not realize when he should hustle?
• Maybe, he has not been taught when to hustle?
• Maybe, he has not learned when to hustle?
• Maybe, he is learning other things besides ‘how to hustle?’
• Maybe, he is improving in other areas but the coach wants him to improve in just this one area?
• Maybe, he is more interested in learning other things than just ‘how to hustle
Coach: In 1v1, other lesser skilled kids kill him because he won’t try his best.
Karl: It may be hard to believe -but, I have not been able to tell if a child is not doing his best. I have always been of the opinion that a child is ALWAYS doing his/her best at all times. I have been of the opinion that all young players try their best to please everyone around them especially the coach. Maybe, his best, at this time is good enough for him and Someday it will improve enough where it is good enough for the coach?
Karl: It is up to this young child to play up to his ability and not play up to what the coach ‘thinks’ his potential may be…You can only help him by changing your opinion of this young boy. A change in your approach toward him will cause a change in him toward you – and maybe even in his playing on the field.
• Guide him be giving him examples of what you expect.
• Guide him by complimenting when he gets close to what you expect.
• Guide him by letting him know that he is still young and you love having him on your team
