How To Improve Teamwork and Attitudes of Basketball Players

Nothing provides a better foundation for a championship basketball team than players who embrace the value of teamwork. A team can only achieve important goals when composed of players willing to sacrifice and play unselfishly to help the rest of their team succeed.

Team unity is crucial to developing any successful team. Players must learn how to communicate with each other, work together and blend specific skills for the good of a team. Many players can stand out in scoring, rebounding, defense and other key categories. A true team player uses their skills to fill whatever role their team requires. They care more about team success than individual stats or honors.

Building a foundation of teamwork starts with constructing the right attitudes among players on the team. What can a basketball coach do to build a healthy attitude among players? The simple answer is building unity on and off the court.

Practice makes perfect

Practices are an excellent tool for building teamwork. As a coach, you can set aside time to do drills structured to draw out the strengths of each player while improving upon their weaknesses. Craft drills to work on fundamentals, but create others that are fun and let your players bond as teammates.

If you use practice time to your advantage as a coach, it will do two things. First, it will help players understand how to execute plays and defend in game-time situations. This will help them operate on the right instinct during tense moments late in the shot clock or game clock. Second, it will help players build trust with their teammates. When players become familiar with how their teammates play, they will have more confidence in them in a game.

Build unity away from the court

Creating an atmosphere of teamwork isn't limited to what a team does on the court. Engaging in team building exercises outside of the gym or arena can be a great strategy for strengthening chemistry within a team.

Winning teams are built through friendship. When players feel like true friends on and off the court, they will trust each other and be willing to sacrifice for each other. Going on hikes, watching movies, going to dinner and doing other fun activities allow players to have fun and build friendships off the court. It fosters positive attitudes that carry over to later practices and games.

Leadership matters

Teamwork begins and ends with leadership. A coach must put a plan in place and stick to it. Create a culture where hard work and discipline are rewarded. Make the game fun for your players, but also build an environment where selfishness is not tolerated. Let your players feel like they are equally important to you, and they will soon model your attitude.