A model to get you and your teams talking and communicating effectively on the court.
Communication is the lifeblood of any team or organization. Success cannot happen without constant and clear communication. To illustrate this point, Phil Jackson once had his Chicago Bulls team practice in complete silence to demonstrate, amongst other things, the importance of communication. Coach K took us behind the scenes during the 2018 pre-season docuseries on ESPN+ "Earn Everything," and we saw where everyone, is required to get the communication going early and often. Chants of "Let's Go Duke" can be heard the moment players step on to the floor to practice, and it is expected of the team's senior leaders to model the way and get guys talking.
Achieving this level of communication can be a difficult task, especially if young players aren't taught to communicate on the court early in their careers. Silence becomes part of their game, and we have to work to bring it out of them. PGC Basketball has developed many models, philosophies, and ideas for coaches at all levels, and their "NITE Model" for communication is one of the best.
Here's how you can integrate this with your teams and below is a slide from PGC Basketball on how you as a coach can incorporate it into your repertoire and model the NITE behavior.
N - NAMES
Anytime we communicate with another person we should always include their name. Not only does it confirm whose attention we are trying to get, but it also gives affirmation to the other person that what we are about to say is meaningful. Receivers of our communication are much more likely to listen if they hear their name associated within the context of the message.
I - INFORMATION
Words and actions should always carry meaning. It is still easy to convey information over a long period, but it takes a particular skill to communicate relevant information with as few words as possible. Whether it's a timeout or during play on the floor, there is limited time to teach. We need to work on simplifying our words so that we can give the necessary information in the allotted amount of time. This information should be direct and to the point, allowing the receiver to process the information.
T - TONE OF VOICE
The way we say something is just as important as the actual words themselves. A monotone or lackadaisical voice conveys negativity and a lack of trust. Our tone of voice should be enthusiastic and energetic, which allows the person you are talking to establish trust, confidence and a sense of urgency in the situation. Positive words will encourage a positive tone of voice. Always keep your attitude upbeat and optimistic, even when adversity is present.
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