Thanks to my man Mike Geary, women’s assistant basketball coach at the University of Detroit for his discussion this morning on body language-it inspired this blog entry.
It’s not hard to pick out basketball players with bad attitudes. It usually is a reflection of their body language.
Basketball players who play the right way have great body language.
Throwing their arms up in the air, slumping shoulders, sitting at the end of the bench with a towel over your head, making faces when things don’t go your way, having that “come on man, I didn’t touch him” look on your face after being called for the foul…just a few examples of poor body language.
Where and when does this behavior start?
How come you rarely see any technical fouls handed out in college basketball? Come to think of it, I can’t recall when I last saw an official whistle a college player for a tech because he was arguing with the ref or arguing with another player. But, as soon as players enter the NBA, they’re assessed technical fouls often?
I understand players have been complaining for many years in the game of basketball. When a call goes against them or they disagree with something, all hell breaks loose.
Where does this type of behavior start?
Do coaches at the youth level do anything when a 13 year-old basketball player complains or whines during the game?
Are our high school coaches making sure kids don’t pout during games while they sit at the end of the bench…in clear view for everyone to see?
One of my players was complaining in the huddle during a game so I took him out of the game. The same player was causing a disturbance in the locker room at half-time of a game we trailed by 20 points. I sat him on the bench to begin the second half.
It’s our job as coaches and parents to stomp out this childish behavior
Why do athletes get away with this?
Pouting and whining need to be eliminated from basketball.
-Coach Finamore
Hoops135@hotmail.com
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachFinamore
I’m confused. Is being passionate whining. People should not be taught to follow in line coach finamore. I know as a coach trying to move up the ladder you must follow in line and I respect that, but does a young guy need to be a zombie and show no emotion. I agree about body language, but on te flip side, do we expect young people to know how to act like they’re happy when they are not?
Jack,
You can display passionate ways without whining. I would never want anyone to follow in line to no one. Players have to be themselves. You can have energy, play hard and show passion with positive body language.
Thanks for your comments.
Great write-up, Coach. In “The Street Stops Here,” Coach Bob Hurley is seen repeatedly calling players out and disciplining them for exhibiting poor body language.
Pouting and making faces are childish behaviors that foster a negative sentiment in a group. Players should be accountable for intentionally demonstrating poor body language.
And there’s a clear difference between passion and whining.
Thank you PRC. Great to see you. Hope things are well in NYC. Big game tonight in Boston.
RPC, passion vs whining is clear to who? you? Coming from a middle class background, I can’t empathize with the emotions of a teenager who has come from different circumstances as I, such as an inner city setting. You call it pouting, I call it caring
Jack,
Caring is not pouting; pouting is baby-ish. Pouting is unacceptable.
I’ll say this and then leave the topic alone. I’ll use Jack Nicholson as an example because I read he just asked out Jessica Simpson(balls on that guy!)..It took Jack 70 years to act like he’s happy when he’s not, it took years of professional acting classes, on top of that years of mirror work to get the look right, and he’s an actor by profession! You guys want kids, who are passionate about basketball(which i have experience) to act like they aren’t crushed by whats happening. You guys say don’t pout, it’s babyish..plllease!
Jack,
I appreciate your comments. I respect them too. Thanks for stopping. Enjoy the weekend.