Less is More

Had a conversation with a fellow teacher/coach. He made a comment that trapped my attention. He said when he creates a powerpoint presentation he no longer writes sentences or brief paragraphs to communicate with but rather he simple uses a phrase then uses that phrase to teach his audience from.

It made me think about how phrases or jingles stick in our memory. Now granted some of them are repeated so often that we cannot forget them even if we wish to! You know things like ... "You deserve a break today!" " Have it your way! " "Obey your thirst!" The list can of course go on and on but the point is you remember them.

"I don't have any game but at least I am color coordinated!"

I started thinking about some of the coaching "jingles" I used and couldn't help but wonder if my players remembered any of them? Such as:

a) "Never Up Never In" ... Often my reaction to a shot with improper arc.

b) "Slip the Switch" ... How the screener should react to switching defense.

c) "Guard a Yard!" ... How much space we wanted our defenders to cover laterally.

d) "Rim Run" ... Front pivot and run straight to the front of the rim.

e) "Seal the Baseline" .... Sink to the level of the ball on defense

f) "Travel on the Air Time of the Ball!" ... Defenders are to adjust their positions on defense while the ball is in the air.

g) "Pig in the Post!" .... Create space and don't give it up when posting up.

h) "Catch & Face!" ... Face up to the rim upon reception of the ball.

i) "Sureness" ... Pass & catch with two hands.

j) "Hit & Git" .... Make contact on block out then pursue the ball!

k) "See the Numbers" ... Knowing when to pass the ball inside.

l) "Fake a Pass to Make a Pass" .... Fake low to pass high. Fake high to pass low.

l) "Gooseneck" ... What your shooting arm and hand look like after you release the shot.

m) "Help Across Not Up" .... Prevent dribble penetration between perimeter players so the backline of your defense does not have to step up to stop the ball and leave the basket area open.

n) "Wall Up" ... When guarding someone close to the basket, move in tight make contact and put both arms straight up like a wall. Don't jump just make it uncomfortable for the offense to move.

0) "Flip Your Hips" ... Phrase we use when a post player is positioning for a lob pass

p) "Be quick but don't hurry!"

Q) "Sometimes less is more!"

R) "No Middle"

S) "Drive the Closeout"

T) "Pause for Poise."

U) "1 and Done"

V) "Rip & Face"

W) "Ball-You-Man"

X) "Dead Front"

Y) "Flat Triangle"

Z) "Improve The Passing Angle."

Your team has its own language. How well do they know what your terms mean?