Next Play Mentality

From Coach Jason

When you’re surrounded by teammates who want to see you win as much as they want to win themselves, the game changes.

We weren’t at some casual run.

This was a real tournament — teams from Houston, Louisiana, and all over — full of athletes who know how to play.

Our roster was mostly made up of Sebas’ friends — some I’ve trained before, some I haven’t. One practice. Playing up in a division. No deep playbook. No rehearsed sets.

But here’s what they had:

A natural pull toward each other — what psychologists call in‑group bias. They already liked being together. They wanted to see each other succeed. They weren’t afraid to celebrate each other’s plays, even if it meant less spotlight for themselves.

That connection showed up as prosocial behavior — moving the ball willingly, communicating without hesitation, covering for each other on defense. It wasn’t manufactured. It was real.

On the bench, I was fortunate to coach alongside a trusted friend who sees the game clearly and earns players’ respect. Like me, he studies the game constantly. That shared commitment gives players confidence that what they’re being asked to do will work. But even with that, it was the players’ buy‑in to each other that made us dangerous.

They carried that into the championship game. They went up by 10 against a more athletic team. We didn’t close it out — credit to them — but we left a mark. After the game, their coach told us how good we were, how much of a headache we caused, and how lucky he felt to sneak out with a win.

That wasn’t just talent. That was connection doing work that schemes alone can’t.

Here’s what they taught me this weekend:

1. Connection before chemistry.

Chemistry — the shared understanding of plays and schemes — takes time. Connection can happen almost instantly when players respect and enjoy each other. Psychologists call this interpersonal synchrony — when emotions and energy align, execution feels easier and faster.

2. Competence earns respect.

Players buy in when they believe in the voices leading them. And that belief grows when leaders have proven they study, prepare, and truly know the game.

3. Joy fuels effort.

When players genuinely enjoy the game and the people they’re with, their brains release dopamine — sharpening focus, boosting reaction time, and increasing persistence. You don’t have to beg for effort. They give it freely.

As coaches, we talk about teaching players — but sometimes, they teach us.

This group reminded me why I coach in the first place.

In Issue No. 11, the lesson is clear: when the people around you truly want each other to win, you’ve already built something special.

Until the next play,

Coach Jason Garcia