Next Play Mentality Issue #8

Message from Coach Jason

We say it a lot.

“I told him that.”

“I told him not to do that.”

“I told him already.”

But what I’ve learned is this: telling is not the same as teaching.

Saying something loud or often doesn’t guarantee it was absorbed. Just because it left your mouth doesn’t mean it reached their mind — or even their heart.

Players remember what’s made real. What’s shown. What’s broken down.

That’s teaching. That’s coaching.

Coaching Principle

Don’t just repeat it. Teach it.

If you’re yelling the same thing every game, but haven’t created a rep, a film session, or a moment where they actually learn it — that’s on you. Not them.

Key Takeaway

🧠 Great coaching meets players where they learn.

Some have to hear it.

Some have to see it.

But most have to do it.

The best learning happens when you combine all three.

So don’t just say the lesson.

Show it.

Rep it.

Let them feel it.

That’s how you turn information into instinct.

Psychology Insight

🧠 The brain wires itself through active learning, not passive repetition.

When a player only hears instructions, they retain about 10%.

When they see it done well, retention jumps to around 30%.

But when they do it — when they experience success or failure with support — retention can hit 75% or more.

This is called experiential encoding — and it’s how real habits are formed.

That’s why “telling them” isn’t enough.

Real teaching invites action, feedback, and emotional engagement.

If you want players to perform under pressure,

you’ve got to teach in a way that sticks under pressure.

Coaching Blind Spot

Some teams collapse the moment they see a zone.

They’re solid against man…

but a simple 2-3 or 1-3-1 throws everything off.

Spacing disappears. The ball sticks. Nobody’s confident.

It’s easy to blame the players.

But if the same breakdown keeps showing up —

that’s a coaching issue.

And if you don’t know how to fix it? That’s okay.

What’s not okay is pretending it’ll fix itself.

Reach out.

Ask your assistant.

Call a coach you trust.

Break it down with someone who sees the game differently.

Because everyone’s watching.

They see the struggle.

And they see if you’re willing to do something about it.

Real Moment

At one of our early practices, my newly hired assistant saw a player going through the motions. No focus. Bad angles. Weak effort.

He said, “Man, I’ve told him over and over.”

And I replied,

“Yeah… but did you teach him?”

At our next practice, I made it my mission to show him what that actually looks like.

How to break it down.

How to communicate with clarity.

How to listen.

How to problem-solve in real time.

How to build confidence instead of just calling out mistakes.

That moment wasn’t just for the player. It was for my assistant — and for me.

Because if I expect him to model it, I have to live it.

In every room, every huddle, every rep — I have to be the example I want passed down.

Parent/Coach Connection

This isn’t just for coaches.

Parents do it too.

We tell our kids to “focus,” to “lead,” to “get tougher.”

But do we help them learn what that actually looks like in real moments?

A player’s growth accelerates when the adults in their life start coaching the process, not just the behavior.

Closing Message

Next time you hear yourself say:

“I told him…”

Pause.

Ask: Did I teach him?

Not just in words — but in actions, details, and patience.

That’s the next play.

Until then, keep embracing the next play.

— Coach Jason Garcia