Use External and Feel-Based Cues

In this solo episode of the podcast, Coleman Ayers breaks down three extremely common things coaches say that often work against the outcomes they’re trying to create. While phrases like “move the ball,” “snap your wrist,” or “you’ve got to want it more” are well-intentioned and widely used at every level of basketball, Coleman explains how these cues can actually limit learning, decision-making, and performance when used without context.

Using insights from coaching experience, motor learning research, and player development, the episode explores how coaches can communicate more effectively. Coleman discusses why ball movement is actually a byproduct of advantage creation, why internal mechanical cues can disrupt skill execution, and why intensity is better shaped through environment and competition than motivational speeches. The conversation ultimately highlights a larger coaching principle: the words coaches choose matter, and thoughtful communication can dramatically improve how players learn and perform. 

00:00 – Introduction and overview of three common coaching phrases that can unintentionally hinder player development

01:30 – Why “move the ball” is often a directionless cue and why ball movement is actually a byproduct of creating and maintaining advantages

03:30 – Teaching players to create advantages with the pass and understanding the real purpose of ball movement

05:10 – Why players sometimes don’t move the ball: misunderstanding the concept rather than selfishness

05:50 – The problem with internal cues like “snap your wrist” or “bend your knees” during shooting

06:20 – Research on internal vs. external focus and why internal cues create rigid, less accurate movement

07:50 – Why complex movements like jump shots cannot be consciously controlled joint by joint

08:40 – Alternative coaching cues: external focus (ball flight, backspin, target) and why they improve performance

10:45 – Feel-based cues that help players self-organize movement and improve shooting fluidity

11:55 – The third coaching phrase: telling players they need to “want it more” or “go harder”

12:30 – Why motivational cues only work in rare situations and often fail to address the real issue

13:10 – Understanding players’ motivations, backgrounds, and individual triggers

14:20 – Why long motivational speeches usually lose players’ attention

15:10 – The key idea: environment and game design create intensity better than words

16:00 – Using competition, small-sided games, and constraints to naturally increase effort

17:00 – Balancing fun and seriousness to maintain engagement and effort

17:50 – Final thoughts on intentional communication and coaching language

Coaching Resources

Website: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/
BAM Book: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/blueprint-book

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and share it with another coach who is constantly looking to improve their communication and player development strategies. Small changes in how we coach can create big changes in how athletes learn and perform.