Assistant: Game Day Role

for more on assistant’s role during game, see Ask Coach E #3

Many coaches I have come across since I’ve been in the NBA have asked me about the role of the Assistant Coach at this level. I will cover this topic throughout the year; today’s post focuses on game day/game time roles.

First and foremost, understand that your game day role actually starts before game day. Your preparation responsibilities must be done to the best of your ability whether it be skill development (continually making sure your guys get all the individual work they need on a daily basis); scouting reports written up in detail; or simply strategy suggestions on what your team can do to win that game. Get your work done ahead of time where applicable, and get it done well.

Once game day rolls around you must make sure you execute your game day responsibilities and not worry about anything else. You must do everything you can think of to make sure you help your Head Coach and your team win the game. But you must make sure to stay in your role. Some Assistants look at game day as an opportunity to shine or to increase their visibility. Game day is about one thing: winning the game. That, and doing your job completely — not someone else’s job…….your job.

Here are some things I believe are important for assistants on game day:

• understand that you are not the show
• never talk when the head coach is talking – “one voice in the huddle”
• focus on what is going on in the game (it’s easy to get caught up in the emotion and lose site of the game)
• be prepared to offer suggestions in quick bullet points (not long sentences) during time outs or on the bench
• be ready to provide a few quick hit options for the Head Coach to consider & make his final decision
• know when to say nothing at all and let your Head Coach think if he’s thinking; you should know your Head Coach’s mannerisms so you know when to say nothing
• study the players’ focus during a time out huddle and repeat the instructions to a player that you think didn’t understand or didn’t hear it; you may even have to ask your Head Coach to repeat the instructions or diagram the play one more time
• keep bullet point notes in the first half so you can remember suggestions you have or things the Head Coach might have said on the bench that he may need to be reminded of at halftime
• keep bullet point notes for the entire game so that you have “real time” observations to use when you write up your post game notes
• remind your role players of their roles right after the huddle breaks; this could be a quick “go after every rebound, Jake —every rebound”
• be prepared to get a player “back to focus.” You may be the one who has to calm him down or even take the wrath of his emotion – do not let the head coach have to use his time or energy on this.
• prepare the second unit to be ready to play before you begin substituting; get them mentally into the game and keep them observing what the other team is doing
• provide encouragement to a player that may have just been chewed out; he probably deserved it but someone needs to get him re-focused on the game and not thinking about the criticism

Every team has its own set of game day roles and responsibilities. Although they may vary from team to team, the one thing that will not vary is that you must do your job completely. Do your job to the best of your ability that day. Assistants’ roles are like that of the referees — the best do a great job and are never noticed!

Categorized as Basketball Specific, Coaching Philosophy and Career Enhancement