Galen Harkness • January 30, 2024
Coaching: Unlocking the Potential in Every Player and Team
Coaching is an art form that transcends the boundaries of mere instruction and strategy
Coaching is an art form that transcends the boundaries of mere instruction and strategy. It is a journey of guiding, inspiring, and molding athletes, whether at the collegiate, high school, middle school, or youth level. Each player and team is unique, bringing a diverse set of skills, personalities, and backgrounds to the table. As coaches, our mission is to harness this diversity and channel it towards a singular goal: excellence in competition and character.
The Essence of Effective Coaching
At its core, coaching is about getting the best out of our teams and players. This requires a balance between building confidence and instilling discipline, rewarding both team play and individual effort. Effective coaching isn't just about winning games; it's about developing well-rounded athletes who excel both on and off the field.
Key Principles for Successful Coaching
1. Competitiveness: Encourage your players to compete with passion and intensity. This doesn't mean winning at all costs but fostering a healthy competitive spirit that drives improvement.
2. Teamwork: Emphasize the importance of sharing the ball and playing as a unified team. Success in sports often hinges on the ability of players to work together towards a common goal.
3. Coachability: Foster an environment where athletes are open to feedback and willing to learn. A coachable player is like clay in the hands of a skilled potter, ready to be shaped into something extraordinary.
4. Defense: Instill a strong defensive mindset in your team. Defense is often the unsung hero of sports, a critical component of any winning strategy.
5. Personal Growth: Strive to be the best coach you can be. This means continuously learning, adapting, and seeking new ways to motivate and improve your players and team.
Building the Foundation: Accountability, Trust, and Connection
A successful team is built on the foundation of accountability, trust, and connection. These elements foster a sense of belonging and commitment among players, leading to greater team cohesion and performance.
1. Accountability: Hold players responsible for their actions and performance. This teaches them the value of responsibility and the importance of contributing to the team.
2. Trust: Develop a mutual trust between you and your players. Trust is the glue that binds a team together, allowing players to take risks and play with confidence.
3. Connection: Create strong connections with and among your players. A connected team is a resilient team, capable of facing adversity together.
Bringing Out the Best in Teams and Athletes
To bring out the best in your teams and athletes, encourage them to play together, take risks, be aggressive, play with confidence, and handle adversity. These qualities are essential for both individual and team success. Remember, your role as a coach extends beyond the physical aspects of the game. You are also a mentor, a guide, and a role model.
Final Thoughts
Coaching is a rewarding yet challenging journey. It requires a delicate balance of discipline and encouragement, strategy and empathy. As coaches, we must constantly reflect on our methods and seek ways to improve. Remember, the ultimate goal of coaching is not just to win games, but to develop players who are confident, resilient, and team-oriented. Embrace this journey with an open heart and mind, and watch as your players and teams reach heights they never thought possible.
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As coaches, let's take this opportunity to reflect on our practices and continually strive to elevate our coaching skills. Remember, the impact you have on your players extends far beyond the game. It's about shaping lives, building character, and creating lasting memories. Let's make every coaching moment count.
EYG helps players improve and reach their goals. When ready here are 3 ways EYG can help.
1. Training
- Private or small group memberships are available for players that want to put in extra work.
2. Camps
- these are great ways to get introduced to EYG and improve individually as a basketball player
3. Newsletter
- keeps you up to date on upcoming EYG events.
At EYG Basketball, we train players to play smarter and finish stronger. If you’re under 6'4", you can’t rely on size alone at the rim—you need solutions. Two of the most important: jumping up and jumping out. Why This Matters The game gives you different looks at the rim. Great players know how to read the help defense and choose the right finish. These two options help you avoid blocked shots, keep defenders guessing, and finish through or around contact. What’s the Difference? Jumping Up Happens closer to the rim Follows a bump, shot fake, or pump fake Uses power, balance, and verticality Creates space by initiating contact with the inside shoulder Effective when you’ve already earned position Jumping Out Happens earlier, before the shot blocker fully rotates Uses speed and quickness off one foot Avoids contact by getting the ball on the glass fast Useful when you don’t have time or space to absorb contact In the video examples, you’ll see both finishes. Watch how the offensive player creates space, reads the defenders, and chooses the finish that fits the moment. How to Train These Finishes Jumping Up Work on shot fakes, shoulder bumps, and strong two-foot finishes Focus on balance and lift Practice against contact or padded defenders Jumping Out Practice one-foot takeoffs Use floaters, scoop layups, and high glass finishes Rep it with a rotating help defender to train timing What to Watch For How the offensive player creates space Where the help defense is The timing and angle of the finish Whether it’s a contact finish or an avoidance finish Final Thought from EYG We don’t teach generic moves. We teach game decisions. Knowing when to jump up or jump out is the difference between getting blocked and getting buckets. If you want to finish like a high-level guard, this skill set is non-negotiable.
Places for Basketball Players to Look—and Why 🎥 Clips of the Week What’s Happening: Three game clips show players making passes that lead to scores by: Looking In – Inside the paint to find cutters Kicking Out – To perimeter shooters Passing Up – The floor in transition Why It Matters: Great decision-makers scan all three zones—In, Out, & Up—to find the best option. This habit leads to smarter decisions, better shots, and more team success. Who Can Learn From It: Guards, wings, and any player who handles the ball. Learning to scan in these three directions keeps pressure on defenses and opens up opportunities. https://youtu.be/Ec1RWcIYnqw?si=NfmzLwPkWZ-KuanX Don’t just see the game. Scan it. 🛠️ How to Apply This Players: As you dribble or catch, train your eyes to scan: In – Cutters and post mismatches Out – Perimeter shooters and spacing Up – Rim and teammates in transition Build the habit. Clip it. Study it. Rep it. 👋 Final Note This one decision-making pattern—In, Out & Up—can shift how you play. It’s not flashy. It’s just smart basketball. Thanks for being here. Let’s keep learning. Let’s Play Smarter. Elevate Your Game.
Summer is the season where real growth happens. Summer is the season where real growth happens. For serious high school basketball players, this isn’t the time to coast. It’s the time to separate yourself. If you want to take your game to the next level, take a page from WNBA star Caitlin Clark’s offseason playbook. Here’s what she focused on—and how you can apply it this summer: 1. Get Stronger to Play Stronger The game only gets more physical at higher levels. Caitlin Clark used her offseason to build strength so she could handle contact, maintain her balance, and stay efficient even when tired. You can do the same: Bodyweight strength work like pushups, squats, lunges, and planks builds a powerful base. Core strength helps you finish through contact and protect the ball under pressure. Strong legs = better defense, more explosiveness, and more consistency in your shot. This summer, commit to strength training 2–3 days per week. 2. Recovery Is Part of Training Recovery is not just for pros—it’s what allows you to train hard again the next day. Clark’s offseason wasn’t just about grinding—it was about taking care of her body with sleep, nutrition, hydration, stretching, and downtime. What does recovery look like for you? Go to bed early. Drink water throughout the day. Take time to stretch, roll out, and cool down. Don’t train yourself into the ground—train to be consistent. Recovery helps you show up every day with energy and focus. 3. Work on Game-Specific Skills Clark didn’t just shoot 1,000 shots a day. She trained the shots she actually takes in games: pull-ups, deep threes, quick releases, contact finishes, tight handle under pressure. This is where most players fall short—they train skills in perfect settings instead of game situations. This summer: Add contact to finishing drills. Practice handling under pressure, not just cones. Get game-speed reps on your shot. Compete in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 as much as you can. Your training should look like the game you want to play. 4. Put It All Together Clark’s offseason success wasn’t magic—it was a smart, consistent plan. She got stronger. She recovered with purpose. She trained her game with intensity. You can do the same. Strength builds your body. Recovery protects it. Skill work sharpens your game. This summer, train with a purpose—not just sweat, but skill. Final Thought: The offseason is where players are made. The ones who train smart, recover well, and stay consistent will come back in the fall stronger, sharper, and more confident. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to keep showing up and doing the work. Whenever you're ready, here are 3 ways EYG Basketball can help you this summer: Committed Skills Academy – Weekly high-level skills training for players who want consistent work on ball-handling, finishing, shooting, and playmaking. Summer Camps – Fun, challenging, and competitive camps in Superior, Northglenn, and Longmont. 1v1 to 3v3 play every day. Training Memberships – Serious about your game? Memberships are for players who want more. Train 2–3 times per week with a structured plan and coaching. Check out all our summer training options at www.eygbball.com