By: Dan Gould and Cliff Mallett

Originally Published in: Sport Coaches' Handbook

Provided by: Human Kinetics

The coaching process has been increasingly recognized as a complex social and cognitive system. In this context, the quality of the coach-athlete relationship has been proposed as a critical success factor for effective coaching, and that relationship can be understood in terms of the 3+1Cs model.

• Closeness refers to affective ties between athlete and coach, such as mutual trust, respect, appreciation, and liking.
• Commitment of explicit dedication to the common goal
• Complementarity collaboration and mutual responses, such as ready support and overall friendliness
• Co-orientation interdependence, or the degree to which coaches and athletes seem to have a shared understanding

As these elements suggest, the quality of the coach-athlete relationship is determined in considerable part by the coach's ability to recognize and empathize with the emotions, feelings, needs, and desires of others (typically athletes, but also other stakeholders). This empathy enables the coach to understand and cater to athletes by providing athlete centered coaching. It is not, however, enough by itself. The quality of the coach-athlete relationship also depends on the ability of the coach and athlete to coordinate objectives and efforts. Thus empathy provides only the starting point for the coach and the athlete to create a shared understanding as the basis for their work together.

Based on this perspective of optimal empathy as shared understanding, coaches should engage in the following practices.

• Seek formal and informal opportunities to speak with athletes individually, both about sport and about other topics.
• Develop a culture in which everyone's opinions are shared through consistent opportunities for athletes' voices to be heard and valued nonjudgmentally
• Review and evaluate communication strategies to ensure that coaching messages are received in the manner intended
• Promote opportunities for social interaction between athletes and coaches
• Attend to both verbal and nonverbal cues

Fred Williams was previously a coach at Auburn University.

By: Marty Gross

Originally Published in: Transition Attack 5 Out Transition

The 5 out motion offense is an alternative approach to transition and primary offense for basketball teams at any level, but especially youth basketball. It's a position-less offense that relies on spacing the floor. There is a set of rules that assist players in reading the defense, reacting to the defense, and determining the smartest cut.

5 Out Strengths:

1. 5 Out Motion creates position-less players — All 5 players on the court are required to pass, cut, dribble, shoot, and screen. This is especially important in youth basketball but also is advantageous at higher levels.
2. Players learn how to play basketball in 5 Out Motion. This is an important benefit no matter the level. Players learn to read the defense, react to their teammates and defenders, and make decisions accordingly. This is important to the development of young players, but also more veteran players as well.
3. Every player is involved in 5 Out Motion. All players will be involved and must contribute to the team's offense. One or two players can't dominate the basketball.
4. 5 Out Motion requires great spacing. If players are all in the correct spots on the floor, your team will always have great spacing. Good spacing will create driving lanes which will put the defense in constant rotation or help.
5. 5 Out Motion is difficult for opposing teams to scout. There are many actions, but no sets. Opponents will have to prepare by defending various actions as opposed to set plays. Since the offensive players learn to read the defense and cut accordingly, it will be hard to defend.
6. Opponents will not be able to defend with a heavy shift to the lane. Defenders will be required to guard all areas of the floor. In addition, because of 5 Out spacing, opponents' post players will have to play away from the basket where they are less comfortable.
7. 5 Out Motion can be used as a delay game. This is especially good if your league doesn't have a shot clock and you want to hold the ball. 5 Out Motion will provide movement and keep the defense honest while giving the appearance of the offense trying to score.
8. 5 Out Motion is easy to teach. One of the best things about the 5 Out Motion is it can be taught systematically in progressions. Coaches can teach as many or few actions depending on their team's basketball IQ. In addition, these actions can be added gradually as the season goes on if necessary.

5 Out Weaknesses:

1. 5 Out Motion is not great if you have a dominant player or two. Everyone is involved including your weaker players.
2. In 5 Out Motion, if you have a dominant low post player, and this includes perimeter players, he will be playing away from the basket and therefore away from his strength.
3. If you play with a shot clock, players tend to play fast, get sped up, and force the action. This can result in misreading the defense and hurried or forced shots at the end of the shot clock result.
4. 5 Out Motion takes time for players to learn the actions and learn how to read and react to the defense. If errors are to be made, error on the side of aggression. Sometimes a player will read the defense incorrectly, but if the offensive player makes a hard, aggressive, scoring cut, he may just be open anyway.
5. In 5 Out Motion, players can get predictable in their cuts almost like robots, especially when they are first learning the movements or actions. When this happens, scoring opportunities are missed.