How This 1-Minute Drill Can Transform Your Locker Room

Negativity fills the gaps when there is a lack of communication. To cultivate a championship culture, built on trust and accountability, coaches need to connect with players one-on-one. Great teams begin with clear communication.

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Where Do I Stand?

Every athlete wants to know where they stand. As a student-athlete I constantly craved more feedback and input from my coaches.

What did they see as my strengths? What needed improvement? How did I need to do to move up or get more playing time?

This may be even more important in today’s culture of immediacy. Athletes want continuous feedback, not just on how they executed a particular drill but evaluative feedback from those who matter most – their coaches.

Unfortunately, many coaches struggle with closing the feedback loop with players. Most coaches I’ve talked to want to do this better. But, it’s a challenge. They’ve got a lot on their plates…a lot that demands attention.

When athletes don’t know where they stand, their minds drift into uncertainty, speculation, and mind reading – not a championship mindset.

1-Minute Drill for Clear Communication

With 6 National Championship banners hung in the rafters, Penn State women’s volleyball clearly knows a thing or two about communication.

Specifically, Coach Russ Rose has implemented a communication tool every coach should adopt and adapt to foster clear communication with their athletes.

He calls it the 1-Minute Drill.

Rose schedules one-on-one meetings with each player at various points throughout the season. In these meetings he tells players:

  1. What they are doing well
  2. What they need to work on
  3. What they need to focus on during the next segment of training

Lastly he invites them to ask questions. Meeting adjourned.

It may only last 3-5 minutes. In that short time Coach Rose provides direct feedback, re-establishes expectations, eliminates uncertainty, builds trust and protects their team culture. One player meeting at a time.

This simple 1-Minute Drill can transform any locker room.

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Use the 1-Minute Drill to Transform Your Locker Room

Don’t leave your athletes in the dark. Remember, gaps in communication get filled with negativity. Instead, build a team environment of trust and safety by providing clear feedback, praising the process, and building relationships with the people (i.e. players) you’re leading.

Question: What are other strategies to maintain clear communication with your athletes?

I’d love to hear from you in the comments below, or on Facebook or Twitter.

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Category: Leadership
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