Last season, I was watching film to prepare for an upcoming game. Even though I was trying to focus on our opponent, my attention kept being drawn to their coach.

Why? Because he was constantly on the floor. Or slapping the floor. Or jumping up and down. Or screaming.

Now, don’t get me wrong. His team was good. It was evident he was a good coach.

And yet, I’d argue he was a good coach IN SPITE of his antics, not because of them.

I’d also suggest you’d be a more effective coach if you toned it down during games. Why? Read on to find out.

The Myth of the "Hollywood Coach"

Most sports movies portray coaches in the same way. Someone who is super intense. Someone who is always “coaching,” generally by yelling and gesturing throughout the game.

Someone who gives the most motivational speech at the most important time.

Is this reality?

Watch an NBA game. Do you see the coaches defensive sliding up and down the sideline? Do you see them screaming at players for mistakes? I don’t think so.

But, you might say, those guys are pros. What about my team of 5th graders? Don’t they need your constant instruction?

Simple answer - no!

Success is Made in Practice, Not on the Sidelines

The most important coaching you do is not in games. It’s in practice. The goal of practice is to prepare your team to play well in games.

If you run great practices, the games tend to take care of themselves.

How Your Sideline Presence Might Be Distracting Your Players

When the game is going on, where do you want your players’ attention? Hopefully on the game!

However, if you’re up, yelling and gesturing, your players’ attention will be divided. That will only prevent them from playing well.

Not only that, but how many people perform better with someone yelling at them during a task? Maybe at boot camp, but not in a basketball game.

By sitting watching, you allow them to play. Your behavior won’t distract them. Instead, they can devote all their focus to the play at hand.

You also will get the benefit of being a better game coach. When you’re behaving like a Hollywood coach, it’s hard to zoom out and see the trends of the game. It’s hard to notice if a player is struggling with confidence in a game.

A more dispassionate view lets you analyze and respond, not react

How to Lead During the Game Without Shouting

I’m not suggesting you do nothing during games. I’m suggesting you do better. Among your in-game tasks:

• Watching for changes in momentum

• Looking for personnel changes that can be advantageous

• Talking to players who come out of the game (rather than screaming at them on the floor)

• Considering changes in tactics

• Calling and managing timeouts

• Respectfully talking to the officials

• Motivating your team - some coaches think their players need their energy. I would say that’s only the case if you haven’t helped develop high standards and intrinsic motivation. That’s not to say you won’t ever have to motivate.  But if you’re always in the role of motivating, are you ever really motivating?

For all those things, will you do them better when calm or when amped up?

How to Silence Critics by Coaching Better, Not Louder

You might be coming around to my way of thinking. That said, you still might be worried about what the parents will think. Will they accuse you of “not coaching” because you aren’t up yelling the whole game?

Maybe. . . but consider this. First of all, it’s not about the parents. (As an aside, it’s not about you, either. I’d argue some coaches are so theatrical because they like the attention it draws to them. If that’s you, that’s a big issue.) It’s about the kids.

If sitting down and coaching calmly helps (and it will), those naysayers will soon come around.

Games are about the players. The best coaches know they have prepared their team well. As a result, they are more confident removing themselves from the game as much as possible.

Remember, the goal is that your team ultimately doesn’t “need” you. Train them to function independently of you. In doing so, they’ll have a leg up on all the other teams constantly looking over at their coach!

Comments Most Likes First   Oldest First   Newest First Jack says: 7/2/2025 at 11:58:08 AM Love this! John Wooden, one of the greatest coaches of all time always kept a calm demeanor and rarely even stood up during games. Don’t know the exact quote, but he said coaching/preparation takes place during practice. Like     login   register

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