COACHING REFLECTIONS
We lost by 20. I was still rapt with the boys.
We lost by about 20 points in a domestic game.
I walked away absolutely rapt with the boys.
To understand why, you need to know a little about this team.
It’s my son’s domestic team. There are eight boys with quite different skill levels. Three had played together before. The other five came into a team where most of them had never played alongside each other.
They had to learn about each other while learning the game. What each teammate could do. Where they liked to receive the ball. When they needed help.
We haven’t won a game all season.
But the development has been immense. Looking back at where they started and seeing the trust they’ve built in each other has been awesome.
This game gave me another chance to see it.
The boys showed patience on offence. They moved the ball around. They gave themselves time to find an opportunity instead of rushing something or forcing a shot.
Those are things we’ve been working towards. Seeing them happen in a game meant something.
There were moments in the first half where I wanted them to be more aggressive. Patience is good. Learning when to take the opportunity in front of you is part of it too.
In the second half they started finding that balance.
That’s a big step for young players. They’re learning to recognise when to keep the ball moving and when it’s their turn to attack.
THE THINGS I WAS WATCHING
Defensively we were a bit hesitant early.
At half-time we spoke about helping each other. What does being in a help position actually mean? How do we make it harder for the opposition to get an easy layup?
To their credit the boys responded.
They did a much better job of helping and making the opposition take outside shots. There was still plenty to work on. There always is. But I could see them trying to apply what we’d discussed.
That’s what had me excited.
You spend time explaining something at training. You revisit it. You wonder how much is getting through.
Then you see a player recognise it during a game and do something about it.
As a coach those moments mean a lot.
REMEMBER WHERE THEY STARTED
It’s easy to get caught up in how far a team still has to go.
I always remind myself and the parents to look back at where these boys started.
The passing. The patience. Their understanding of how to help a teammate. There was real improvement in those areas.
They’re growing more comfortable playing together. They’re learning to trust a teammate with the ball and trust that someone will be there to help them.
That takes time, especially with a new group.
Every one of them gave me something to be pleased about.
I want the boys to recognise that progress themselves. To understand what they did well and have something they can take into the next training session or game.
That gives us somewhere to build from.
WHAT I WANT THEM TO TAKE AWAY
Of course I want them to compete. I want them to have a crack and give themselves a chance to win.
I also want them to feel that their effort to learn is being noticed.
When they try something we’ve practised, I want to acknowledge it. When they respond to a conversation at half-time, I want them to know I saw it.
We’re still chasing that first win.
In the meantime these boys are learning to play together and believe in each other. I’m proud of how far they’ve come.
LOVE THE GAME. BELIEVE IN THE KID.