I recently read a great article on Brian McCormick’s blog on the importance of introducing a new way of teaching the same skill/tactic to help players overcome a learning hurdle. http://learntocoachbasketball.com/changing-the-instruction-to-foster-understanding
It reminded me that as coaches there is only so much we can do and control to help our players improve. But we can do more than simply what we have always done (if that is not working). Past success does not guarantee future results; it is merely a smart starting point. So if your past teaching method is not getting the same positive responses it has previously it might be time to dig in and develop a new to teach it. The poet Edward Everett Hale summed it up well in his writing:
I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
As coaches we can’t control the outcome of players and teams efforts. But we can control our efforts in adopting teaching techniques that help players get past their hurdles. Don’t get satisfied with our normal efforts when players get stuck try something new today.
10:10 Sport 