Coach-Athlete Communication

Recently my attention was drawn to a series of Nike commercials. The series features Kobe Bryant (Basketball star) as 'success coach' to many other industry experts.  There are 8 in total at about 50seconds each, so if you have time, head over here to watch them at YouTube. The reason for my blogging about these videos is that whilst the commercials are intended more as a joke and to generate market interest, I think that they raise/elude to a couple of genuine issues faced in coaching.

The 7th video in the series (Nike: #Kobe System: Level 6 Beastion) features Kanye West (a successful recording artist, infamous for his ego), Bryant is trying to inspire and get 'more' from West.

West: How much more do you want from me?
Bryant: More.
West: How much more successful do you want me to be?
Bryant: More successful....
West: But I'm the best.
Bryant: But are you a different animal and the same beast?
West: What [does that] mean Kobe Bryant? 
Bryant: You're welcome.
West: [What is he] talking about?

The scene then ends abruptly, with the whole audience going along with it and inspired by Bryant's 'wisdom', but West being left clearly confused.

The thing that jumped out at me from this is the necessity to ensure that your athlete/s actually understand the information that you are providing them. Whilst as a coach you may come up with some great words of wisdom and instruction, if the athletes aren't taking it in then it is wasted. Athletes seem to have this fear at times of asking questions when they don't understand the information provided by a coach. They'll nod along saying 'yes, mhmm, yes' but be left clearly confused about what's going on. I think it's essential that we encourage our athletes to ask as many questions as possible, especially in learning new tactics/skills. We also need to know our athletes and be able to tell when they are taking information in and when they are just saying/doing what they think we want to hear/see. The key issue here being communication.

"The success of any coach, at perhaps every level of competition, is determined
by his/her ability to effectively communicate with athletes in a mutually supporting
manner. Coaches may be knowledgeable and highly organized, but without open
communication skills, these attributes may never be reflected in the performance
of their athletes." 

Brent Steuerwald - Communicating With Athletes and Their Readiness to Change

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) draws from this article and a similar article by Linda Petlichkoff (Speak Up or Sit Out: Encouraging Players to Ask for Help) and offers 10 tips for improving coach-athlete and team communication. I strongly suggest that coaches should read and have an understanding of the content within these articles.

Just for the record, my interpretation of Bryant's line "But are you a different animal and the same beast?" may be in relation to the need for athletes to possess many different attributes all at once, calling on which ever is needed in the situation. For instance, whilst a footballer (soccer player) may have superb skill and agility to run rings around opponents, does that same player possess the ability to be a pillar of strength when on the ball or in challenges.

How do you interpret the message and how would you try to communicate this same idea to your athletes?