One of the most significant components to team success, in the locker room, on the practice floor/field, and during game action is for players to be vocal with each other. So why can players be on social media for hours or talk non-stop before, during (on the bench), and after practice about irrelevant to the game things, but when you ask them to communicate on the court/field, they become silent?

When better communication is vital, whether calling for a pass, talking on defense, or giving encouragement and praise to each other, how does a coach or coaching staff get their players to open up more with their teammates? We all know that playing on teams with excellent communication skills helps impact that game on both sides, significantly impacting how to handle each situation.

One of the first ways to help your players communicate is to make sure that you and your coaching staff display a good example and reflect on how you communicate with them.

Types of Communication

· Different tones and types of language (slang, complex instructions, etc.)

· How you communicate with each individual differently

· Your body language

· What do you speak to your players about before, during, and after practices and games

All of these factors can impact how players perceive how they are supposed to act. Getting out on the court/field, practicing with your team now and then, and displaying the type of communication you are looking for is a great way to pave the way for young players to improve their communication ability.

Before addressing how coaches can assist players in improving their communication skills, it is essential to consider why some individuals struggle.

Why do Some Athletes Struggle?

· They lack confidence

· They don’t know what to say

· They fear being made fun of by their peers

· They are worried that their answer is not worthy of being said

· Sometimes, saying nothing at all is better than saying the wrong thing

While you cannot force a player to talk more, demanding so may do more harm than good as they may become more stressed and tighten up, impacting their game performance. There are several strategies you can implement to help players open channels of communication with each other.

Strategies that Can Help

Ownership:

By giving the players more ownership and responsibilities during games and in the locker room, they will have the opportunity to problem-solve or emphasize what is working positively. Rather than walking into the locker room at halftime and commanding the room, let the players own their actions. In addition to allowing your players to own the locker room from time to time, allow them to determine the offensive and defensive plays you are running. This will not only allow the players to communicate with each other but also prove their understanding of the flow of the game and what may or may not be working.

Their Time:

Practice time can be at a premium. As a coach, you have a lengthy list of things to go over in preparation for the next game; allowing 5-8 minutes of free time at the start of practice or extending water breaks allows players, especially young ones, to enjoy talking to communicate better. Not all of your players will be friends away from the game, so giving them a chance to be social while in the setting of the court/field will help them open up with each other throughout the season.

Partner Up:

As you would with players who are more and less talented, every team has their silent types who struggle to communicate; they also have their outgoing leaders. Pairing or grouping quieter players with stronger and more verbal players may help the ones who find talking challenging to open up more.

Q & A:

Have you ever asked players a question and received little to no feedback? Chances are, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Asking players closed-ended questions will likely result in simple one-word answers. At the same time, you also don’t want to ask complex questions your players don’t know the answers to. Simple open-ended questions will challenge your players to think and have to articulate their answers. “How do we get better shot opportunities?” or “What can we do better to get open passes?” are great questions that allow players to give their opinions. However, it is vital as a coach that you openly accept your player’s answers to these questions; otherwise, they may feel rejected and shut down.

Keep It Simple:

For players who hardly talk, expecting them to give some in-depth locker room speech or mass communication on the bench is far-fetched. However, by giving players a couple of basic key two or three-word phrases to work on, you may find they will become more confident.

Better Player / Better Team:

Reinforce to your players that the more that they communicate with each other, the better that they will be individually and as a team. For those players who are looking to play at the next level or are motivated by winning games and championships, explaining to them that communication is just as important a component to have as their offensive and defensive skills. Simply saying a few words could be the difference between a win and a loss.

Praise and Reinforcement:

Just as you would congratulate a player for making a great offensive or defensive play, do the same with players who communicate. Let them know that by calling out to a teammate, they impacted scoring or stopping a goal. At the same time, also acknowledge the players on the bench who are constantly helping to keep the team energy by motivating their teammates.

Body Language:

Communication isn’t always about verbal action, as body language also plays a big part in sports. Whether it’s a high five or fist bump after a good play or clapping hands, eye contact, head nod, foot stomp, or tapping of equipment, while it may be small, it is a simple yet effective way for shy and more introverted players to interact with their teammates.

Just as scoring, passing, ball/stick handling, and defense are learned skills, so is communication. As coaches, we ask our players to improve their offensive and defensive abilities, and when they struggle with drills or fail to execute them properly, they are addressed. The same standard should be set for players’ communication. Implementing some of these strategies into your practice will help your players and team become that much better.