In teaching our players, I tried to concentrate on the process rather than the result. I think it’s the best way to teach.
Building a team takes patience and planning. We went through the process step by step, no shortcuts. We repeated drills until good habits were established. We stressed sound fundamentals. We drove home the point that basketball is a team game and the team members need to depend on one another. We talked about the soundness of putting the team first. We taught the players not to dwell on the consequences of failure. We valued each possession. We went to great lengths to reward unselfish behavior, and we profusely praised those acts that we wanted to see repeated.
A person isn’t going to wake up one morning and suddenly become confident. It’s not that easy. Words aren’t going to do the trick. Confidence must be earned. It takes time, work, and dedication.
Confidence can be as fragile as an eggshell. Coaches can’t talk players into being confident, although praising players when praise is deserved can help them become more confident. Bet they can do the reverse if they tear players down with criticism. Then self-confidence may never bloom.
Basketball is not a game of perfection. Mistakes are part of it.
Thorough preparation does wonder for anyone’s confidence.
Hard work that results in success equals confidence. That’s the only formula I have. I know of no other way.
From, "The Carolina Way: Leadership Lessons From A Life In Coaching"
