Time is one of the most important aspects in all of coaching. Coaches never feel they have enough time and hours each week are spent exploring ways to squeeze every minute out of every aspect of practice and preparation.
In basketball circles, time is often regarded even more important, as the game has so many time elements. 24 second shot clock, 3 seconds in the key, 8 seconds in the back court, 1 minute time-out, 5 seconds to get it inbounds - every aspect of the sport has a time constraint.
“Mastering the clock” is important, but one vital aspect of time management is often forgotten or not given the “time” it deserves - the RESET.
For coaches determined to squeeze out every second of efficiency into practice and preparation, taking time to provide time is a crucial element. Collingwood premiership coach Craig McRae speaks about “playing the minutes, not the occasion” and his Magpies rode a wave of “moments” en route to an elusive flag.
But it was the time for RESET that McRae factored into training and preparation that was perhaps most impactful. At his training, when players have breaks between drills or match simulation, they step off the playing arena, across the “white line”.
The coaches don’t follow them with additional information and “coaching”, they allow the players to RESET, spend some time for themselves and with their team-mates. There is no coach demanding they get back on the ground five seconds into the break or demanding them to “stay focused”. It is a chance for a brief RESET, just like quarter time or half-time of a game.
Respected high performance consultant Michael Poulton said “most players think coaches coach too much” and often in practice, the coach’s voice is constant and becomes almost background noise for the players.
The drink break or any sort of RESET is not only time for the players, but also for the coaches to relax, breath and ensure they are operating with efficient clarity, not adding to “coaching too much”.
The great Sydney Kings and Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian says “clarity is the new clever”. It is hard for players or coaches to have clarity if there is not a chance to add an element of RESET into the intense environment of training or even games.
Some ideas for the RESET in practice -
Make drink breaks “coach free” - allow players time, its not the time for more coaching
Allow players to leave the playing surface in these breaks - walk across the “white line”, reset and step back ready to go
Be patient - players having 3 or 4 minutes to get a drink and return mentally fresh won’t negatively impact your session, in fact the opposite
Encourage joy/fun in these breaks
Give it “time and space” - don’t be in a hurry to get players back constantly
For coaches, the power of the RESET is every bit as important. Managing arousal levels helps with clarity of thought. Finding small windows to “switch off” for a couple of minutes in practice or pre-game can be so valuable once the pressure builds.
Modern coaching is an environment of more - more meetings, more practices, more staff, more media, more ways to communicate. Without the ability to build in some time for RESET, even in the madness of the season, the life of the coach is akin to driving a F1 car across the Nullarbor!
Super Bowl champion Andy Reid said it best - “tired is the enemy, not the goal”. Coaches are more aware of the need for better life balance, the importance of sleep, nutrition and exercise.
But what about the small RESETS in the busy practice week?With individual skill development, training, team meetings, staff meetings, video and other commitments, what strategies have you got built into to RESET?
A 2018 study published in Health Promotion Perspectives showed that just 10 minutes of walking increases focus and creativity. Next time the phone rings and you just know it is at least 10-15 minutes, take it walking in nature, regardless of how “busy” you are.
In the practice setting, factor in your own RESET strategies. When the players go for their drink, have yours! Avoid filling any “down time” with endless coach speak, walk outside the white lines so you can be “ready” when the players are.
“Take the time to be good when the time comes”. Give thought to how you can build the RESET into your coaching.