Sports enjoy a large percentage of television viewing in our house. I fit my shows in between time slots, but the games are on, and every once in a while they draw me in. Two cases in point during the last month: NBA and NHL playoffs: comebacks in the fourth quarter and third period, which leads to overtime. Crowds going wild—lots of fodder for commentaters.

Last night, I retired to the bedroom for exercises, devotions, and a crossword before sleep after the first quarter of the Game between the Knicks and the Spurs. 27 point lead … ho hum. I was awakened much later by loud exclamations and vocal replays from the other room. My husband and son-in-law watched in different rooms, but had to get together afterward to wind down. And this morning, my husband put on his “coaching hat” and told me his theories, tying them in to Iowa State Women’s basketball’s season this year.

I do know about coaching: have done it myself at the high school level, am married to a man who coached (basketball, volleyball, softball, baseball) at college and high school levels, have children who coach and have been coached. Over the years, I have found that coaches can be divided into two general camps which I call SYSTEM and TALENT POOL.

SYSTEM coaches believe in a game plan, a system, which will bring success. Players have very specific roles to play and their responsibility is to learn and fulfill those roles. Player buy-in is essential for them for both individual and team achievement. Participants who can and will adopt the game plan are often those who prefer the stability of its defined systems and roles which bring built-in goals and patterns.

TALENT POOL coaches adapt their systems according to the strengths and weaknesses of the players they have each year. Roles are adapted as the game plan changes. This happens as team personnel develop their skills and as players come and go. The coach’s strategy is to best utilize current skill levels and game face to meet the competition’s challenges. Roles are more fluid and shifts are made with skill development and as new talent emerges or joins the team.

This is true at all levels. This morning we talked about the professionals we were watching last night, and how the coach’s approach has to be different, but it is still vital. And about how much of sports depends on players’ mindset and goal-setting.

What intrigues me is player response. How do individuals fit into a coach’s way of doing things? Are different personality types drawn to either the SYSTEM or TALENT POOL camp? What would a rugged individualist choose? A people pleaser? How about a there-is-no-I-in-TEAM player or an out-of-the-box thinker? Would their reaction be different if they came from an autocratic background or grew up with few constraints? basketball this year.

Not my usual blog, but sports do have a way of capturing my attention now and then. Enjoy your day.