After reading the article, I found Dan Pink’s blog and saw an interesting factoid from Jerry de Jaager and Jim Ericson’s See New Now:

“A study of the top fifty game-changing innovations over a hundred-year period showed that nearly 80 percent of those innovations were sparked by someone whose primary expertise was outside the field in which the innovation breakthrough took place.”

The factoid made me think about college education: the hardest part of an elite college is getting admitted.

Unfortunately for innovation, the rules of nearly every industry (coaching included) keep out outsiders.

Think of the most innovative coaches. Many come from different backgrounds. Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach was not a football player; St Louis Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan is the only Major League pitching coach who was not a pitcher; Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony’s off-season workout coach is a former lawyer, Idan Ravin; noted track coach and Velocity Sports Performance founder Loren Seagrave was an ice hockey player.

When we narrow our focus too much when hiring coaches, we potentially miss out on the next innovation.

By Brian McCormick
Director of Coaching, Playmakers Basketball Development League

“Failure to understand a player’s psyche is a flaw Ravin sees in the disciplinarian style of some coaches. Rather than empowering a player, they strip him of his authority. ‘At the end of the workout, I’ll give players the option to run,’ explains Ravin. ‘I’ll say, I think you’ve got more in you, but it’s your choice.’ They’ll always run if you present the option in a fair way. And then when they’re done, I’ll say, I’m impressed with you. I think you have half a tank of gas left. I think it’d be great if you did another one. And they’ll say, ‘Really?’ And they’ll do it. Players want to be part of the process.”

Now, Ravin works with NBA players, and coaching children differs. However, young players will often surprise you. Last week, with 15 minutes left in practice, I asked the team what they thought they needed to practice. Two girls said, “Running. We get too tired in the drills.”

Players run much harder when they choose the extra conditioning than if they view it as punishment.

The best coaches really understand their players and their psyches. Ballard’s article portrays Ravin’s ability to read and understand his players even though he has no significant playing experience. The ability to read and understand players is often more important than one’s knowledge or experience.

The old axiom is true: “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Empowering players and showing concern for players beyond their ability to help the coach win games shows the players that you care.

By Brian McCormick
Founder, 180 Shooter