Perception

Perception is the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses; a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression.

One of a coach’s many responsibilities is having their players recognize and acknowledge what is happening and what they are doing - and adjust or change their tactics in playing the game.

The Basic Performance Modes - Coaching your Basketball Team.

There are two different performance modes in sport: the Practice Mode and the Game Mode. Each mode has unique and important characteristics. Understanding these modes allows us to appropriately turn them on for our players.

Practices take place in the sports classroom - the basketball court in this case. Players learn new skills and strategies. Playing modified games and activities enhance decision making and development of adaptable skills. Mistakes and errors are expected and dealt with. Team practices are enriching learning environments.

Games are played in the arena. Games feel different. Games contain elements that aren’t present in the practice mode – Uniforms - Parents - Opponents – Officials – Scoreboards - Lights. The pressure to perform enters the picture. We are here to help and guide our players through this experience of competing in games.

Switching between the modes is much like playing a modern-day video game. Our players will understand the difference. Operating effectively within each mode improves the learning and experience for our players.

Actualizing the Practice Mode The purpose of the practice mode is to have the players learn new skills and mechanics as they sharpen up the ones they have already learned.

We’re in the gymnasium of Carl Rogers Junior High School. It’s near the end of the Jaguars’ practice session.

Coach Combes: “Okay, we have been doing great with our passing and movement. I want us to work on one special play - when we really need to score. It will work best against a 2-1-2 zone defense but we can fiddle with it in other defenses. I’ve drawn up the play on my clipboard here. Let’s go over and then we’ll run it a couple of times.”

“Kim, (point guard) I want you to bring the ball down the center of the court - take your time, you have 20 seconds on the clock. Dawn (center), hang out near the goal. When Kim stops, you go up to the free throw line. Lena, (right forward) you break toward the hoop. Gretta, (right guard) you ought to be able to find some free space. Kim, get the ball to Dawn and you get it to Gretta and Gretta, you should have time and space to get a good shot off. It has to be done very quickly - Bang - Bang - Bang”

“Do you all see what you’ll be doing on this play? What the other guys are doing?” There’s a lot of head nodding and “I got it, Coach.” Dawn says, “Let’s call it our “Money Shot.” More nods and a lot of laughing.

Coach Combes claps her hands, and says, “Okay, let’s run that “Money Shot” a couple of times. Bang - Bang - Bang”

Practice Mode is for an individual player to improve on a skill to the point that she will be able to perform it when the time comes for the use of that skill. It simply doesn't make any sense to use a new tactic in Game Mode that your players haven't had some experiences in the Practice Mode. All of the Jaguars have had years of training in passing and shooting. Players need to be able to discover and work through elements of a new tactic. Understanding the ins and outs of a tactic or strategy - getting the whole picture - helps deal with it at some degree of “automatic.”

Actualizing the Game Mode You have to trust what you've been teaching your players in Practice Mode - no second guessing. You have debated between a zone defense and a man-to-man defense. You have decided to play man-to-man and zone defense has disappeared from your mind and actions.

The skills and strategies on display during Game Mode are developed and encoded during the discovery and creative stages of Practice Mode. No two shots or passes are exactly alike. Similar qualities - Yes. Exactly the same - No. Game Mode brings out ‘new’ scenarios.

Deliberate practice provides players an adaptable skill-set to apply in Game Mode. Players have developed their ‘game’. They trust it! Trust brings confidence. And confidence increases enjoyment and execution for players.

When you have learned a new skill in the Practice Mode, you must trust yourself and use it without fear in the Game Mode.

Carl Rogers Junior High School is playing crosstown rival Abraham Lincoln Junior High School. There are 25 seconds left on the clock. Lincoln has just scored a basket and gone one point ahead. Rogers’ Coach Combes has called her last time out. She is huddled with her team, clipboard in hand. Let’s listen in:

“Okay, we have enough time to get off a good shot.” Dawn pipes up and says, “Let’s do the “Money Shot”. There’s a chorus of ‘Yeahs’ accompanied by nods.

Coach Combs also nods - “Okay. Do you all remember your part?” She checks to see all of the heads are nodding.. “Chris (left forward), make sure you get into position in case there's a rebound. Let’s just take a few deep breaths and relax - we can do this. Bang - Bang - Bang.”

Good coaches use both a reinforcement model and an awareness model so that their players will learn their skills until they become “automatic” without “thinking.”