Body Language
As a team leader, body language is on of the most important things to be aware of. In a research study done by UCLA professor Albert Mehrabian found the 55/38/7 “rule” of communication. He found that only 7% of meaning is derived from words themselves, about 38% based on tone of voice, and 55% from the speakers body language.
So what does this tell us as basketball players? You really don’t have to say anything to say a lot. Thus it is important to make sure what you are “not saying” says the right thing. There are really two categories of on court body language, positive and negative. Here is an example of a situation where positive and negative body language makes a difference…
Negative: Your team is down by two with 23 seconds left. You have the ball because you are the leader and the go to guy when your team needs a bucket. As you catch at the top of the key, your defender stabs at the ball allowing you to slice to the basket. Your defender recovers and not only that but help comes from your right. Being the unselfish player you are you kick to your open teammate in the corner (reminiscent of Jordan to Kerr), they set their feet and get a good look but shoot a little short. The ball bounces to your defender, you try to steal the ball but foul. You throw your hands up and wave them in disgust, you then proceed to glair at your teammate as he walks towards the other hoop with his head down. The other team is in the 1 and 1 bonus, but you luck out, they miss their first, your possession. Your coach decides to run down the clock and wait for the last shot (two to tie, three to win). You have decided that because you are the leader your not passing this time, your gonna make it happen…With 7 seconds left you begin to break your defender down at the top of the key decide to try a step back three for the win…but your defender plays it perfectly as if he knew that was your next move. You are caught in the air and are forced to give it up to…the teammate who missed the last three. He catches and panics, swings the ball back to you and you are forced to take a fade away 25 footer with time expiring….game over.
Positive: Your team is down by two with 23 seconds left. You have the ball because you are the leader and the go to guy when your team needs a bucket. As you catch at the top of the key, your defender stabs at the ball allowing you to slice to the basket. Your defender recovers and not only that but help comes from your right. Being the unselfish player you are you kick to your open teammate in the corner (reminiscent of Jordan to Kerr), they set their feet and get a good look but shoot a little short. The ball bounces to your defender, you try to steal the ball but foul. You throw your hands up and wave them in disgust, you then proceed to glair at your teammate as he walks towards the other hoop with his head down (killing his confidence). The other team is in the 1 and 1 bonus, but you luck out, they miss their first, your possession. Your coach decides to run down the clock and wait for the last shot (two to tie, three to win). You have decided that because you are the leader your not passing this time, your gonna make it happen…With 7 seconds left you begin to break your defender down at the top of the key decide to try a step back three for the win…but your defender plays it perfectly as if he knew that was your next move. You are caught in the air and are forced to give it up to…the teammate who missed the last three. He catches, gathers (confidently), and as cool as the other side of the pillow waxes a contested 3….game over.
Now this is a very extreme scenario…will he make the second shot 100% of the time if you react with positive body language? No, but the chances are much more likely. Shooters always shoot better with confidence, and if you take that from then it can come back to haunt you.
Be a Positive leader, that is really the only type.
– Coach Collin