| Coaches and athletes alike are well aware of the | | | | have done an outstanding job of extending a |
| individual differences that exist in skill levels on any | | | | traditional sports fallacy that the team that |
| given team. Some players are better athletes | | | | appears to ‘want it the most’ and comes |
| than others, while other players are better | | | | out of the locker room the most fired up and |
| defensively, better rebounders, or have better | | | | ‘psyched to the gills’ will get the win. |
| individual offensive skills or passing ability than | | | | Some coaches even count their fiery emotionally |
| others. Because of these differences, smart | | | | laden pre-game speech abilities among their most |
| coaches build offenses and defenses and assign | | | | useful skill sets. Yet, experience teaches us that |
| roles based on the respective skill levels of the | | | | while high intensity is critical for most parts of the |
| athletes currently in their program. Yet, for as | | | | game of basketball (rebounding and defense as an |
| many differences as there are in physical traits | | | | example), lower intensity is needed for certain |
| within any given team, there are an equal number | | | | types of offensive execution and fine motor skills |
| of extremely important mental trait differences | | | | coordination (try shooting a high percentage from |
| among the players. Unlike the differences in | | | | the foul line or shooting a jump shot while |
| physical traits and skill among players that are | | | | ‘jacked up’ with maximum intensity…. |
| typically well understood and effectively utilized, | | | | your percentage will look like a minor league |
| the differences in mental traits among players are | | | | baseball batting average). This is not to say that |
| not nearly as well understood or utilized. When | | | | there is not a time and place for the emotionally |
| athletes and coaches do not pay attention to | | | | charged percussion of a great pre-game speech. |
| these mental trait differences, the team is often | | | | But the great coaches and athletes understand |
| robbed of some of its potential. The result is a | | | | that basketball is like a great symphony, made up |
| team which lacks consistency, often | | | | of so much more than raw percussion. Varied |
| underperforms, and finishes the season with a | | | | volume control makes for great symphonic music |
| win-loss column that does not reflect its true | | | | that balances emotional percussion with the timing |
| potential and ability. Nowhere is this lack of | | | | and skillful execution and concert of the string, |
| attention to mental trait differences more | | | | wind and brass sections. A team that understands |
| apparent than in the coaches’ pre-game | | | | how to consistently execute a beautifully run flex |
| speech and in each athlete’s own pre-game | | | | offense that results in an open, soft, and perfect |
| preparation. | | | | 12ft jump shot, and then quickly gets into an |
| Part 1 of this two part series on pre-game | | | | aggressive full court run and jump defense that |
| preparation will focus on the pre-game speech, | | | | consistently results in opponent turnovers, |
| while part 2 (to be published in the next WBCA | | | | understands how to make this music. |
| Journal) will discuss how to maximize an | | | | Athletes and coaches should know their own |
| athlete’s own pre-game preparation. | | | | optimal arousal levels and stay at the level that |
| The difference between intensity and emotional | | | | brings out their very best performance. This |
| arousal | | | | means that pre-game speeches should sometimes |
| Some athletes perform extremely well when | | | | focus almost entirely on game strategy, while |
| they are on an emotional high, while others are at | | | | emotionally laden messages should be delivered on |
| their best with relatively low emotions. On an | | | | an as needed and more individual basis. Most |
| emotional arousal scale of 1-10 (with a 1 equal to | | | | athletes know how to get themselves |
| an almost comatose pre-game state and a 10 | | | | ‘up’ for a game. Take some time to sit |
| equal to the athlete that regularly high fives | | | | back and watch your players at work during your |
| teammates so hard their hands sting for 10 | | | | next pre-game. Some players will sit silently, some |
| minutes!) and a performance scale of 1-10 (with a | | | | will talk, some will find distraction and deflect their |
| 1 equal to a lifetime worst performance and a 10 | | | | nervousness with humor, while others love to let |
| equal to a lifetime best performance), I have | | | | their mp3 players shape their game face. A fiery |
| played with athletes who needed to have an | | | | pre-game speech is just what some of your |
| emotional arousal level around 2-4 (very low) in | | | | players want and need, while that same speech |
| order to consistently perform at an 8-10 level | | | | will just as effectively pull some of your other |
| (very high). I have also played with athletes who | | | | players right out of their game and into a poor |
| needed to have an emotional arousal level around | | | | performance (though of course most would |
| an 8-10 in order to consistently perform at an | | | | never dare admit that to you!). |
| 8-10 level. One of the biggest mistakes that | | | | The truly great coaches and athletes understand |
| inexperienced coaches and players make is | | | | that the purpose of a great pre-game session is |
| believing that the entire team should be at the | | | | to bring an optimal level of composure, |
| same emotional arousal level. Note that emotional | | | | concentration, confidence and commitment for |
| arousal level has NOTHING to do with intensity. | | | | each individual onto the game floor. These mental |
| Athletes do not always have to be ‘jacked | | | | skills & toughness traits are called the 4 |
| up,’ ‘hyped’ or highly emotionally | | | | C’s of Peak Performance, and each athlete |
| aroused to perform at 100% intensity. Yet many | | | | will need to arrive at this optimal state of mind |
| coaches and athletes remove themselves and | | | | through a slightly different route during the |
| many of their players from their optimal arousal | | | | pre-game. The coaches that use the pre-game |
| level, and onto a knife edge of heightened | | | | session and speech to accomplish this will start |
| emotions, poor shooting percentages, defensive | | | | the game with a distinct advantage over their |
| errors, and mistakes under pressure. | | | | opponent. |
| Unfortunately, Hollywood caliber sports movies | | | | |