Teaching during game play is a tricky thing to do for coaches. I have been on all three sides of this part of the game (player, Head Coach and Assistant Coach). As a player, I constantly craved the feedback even if it meant that I was going to get hit in the face by a flying piece of gum (actually happened....don't think I missed a box out since). As a HC, I've struggled early in my career to find the right time for the feedback as my primary focus was to coach to win the game. As an Assistant coach, it was always a question of "how much can I say and when can I say it". However tricky, it is absolutely essential for maximizing the rate of player development. Game play feedback is the most powerful moment for a player to learn. Why is that? Well, because unlike practices, the player will just about get an immediate opportunity to go and try to do what the coach wants him to do against an opponent that does not know what that thing is. In practices, everyone hears what the coach wants and so therefore, everyone tries to "cheat" the play or tactic. Here are my thoughts on how to make this "tricky" essential, less "tricky".
Call it what you want: teachable moment, verbal cues, feedback, talk or whatever. Bottom line is it needs to happen and it needs to be a part of how the team runs. The Head Coach is the primary person responsible for player development. If the player improves, so will the team. Tactics can only do so much with respect to improving a team. Your players need to understand inside and out those tactics and their nuances. So to get there, all hands need to be on deck. For the Head Coach, I would recommend that you have clearly identified standards toward this topic. Everyone knows how far they can go. That includes players when they talk to each other. But more importantly, the Assistant Coaches. The Assistant Coach can not ever be the loudest voice out there. But, if done well, he or she can be invaluable with respect to key aspects of the game. This is why I absolutely need them to chart something during the game. Whatever it is needs to be something that you are culturally trying to build in your program (is it clean offense, strong transition play, defensive stops, etc). That coach needs to have something that the HC does not have. Far too many times, I see Assistant Coaches sitting benches charting nothing at all. That bothers me deeply. When you have all coaches looking at the game, then you are not fully taking advantage of a very important part of player development.
An HC during game play needs to try, as much as they can, to individually pull players aside and give them quick feedback (10-15 seconds worth of information). Then get in the huddle and address the team. A real good HC will instruct an AC about what was said during that one on one, so that the AC can do the follow up part. Following up is a huge part of feedback. If there is no follow-up, the player will conclude that the information given was not all that important. Another great time for the HC to follow up is post game (when everyone is leaving the dressing room) or at the following day's practice.
As for the AC, the charting of whatever information needs to be shared regularly. Again, the players need to know that what you are looking for is important. Also, during game play, the AC needs to constantly be pacing the bench and talking to individuals. Things such as: "next time when you are out there, try to avoid what player X is doing" or as they come out of the game "hey player Y, did you notice that opponent player A really struggles with screens? Set more for your teammate next time you get out there". Yes the AC should be communicating to the HC about certain things happening in game play but the focus should be on whatever he or she is charting for the team. NOTHING annoys a HC more than obvious information "we are not finishing at the rim" or "they are scoring at will on us" or "player X sucks". Instead, hit the HC with information like "hey based on my charts here, we are really not doing a good job with insert aspect here". That way, the HC has good stuff to share that is data driven with his players.
Everyone needs to constantly be thinking player development if we truly want to see basketball improve. Game play player development via constant feedback is essential in this process.
