Communication is a critical component to building and sustaining a positive team culture. The way you communicate is equally important as to what is being said. To strengthen the rapport between players and coaches, or amongst the team members, communication must be done in a timely and consistent manner. The communication should also be done with great care and candor. There are ways to get your point across without making enemies in the process. Praise, acknowledgment, feedback, and accountability are all different forms of communication, all of which when communicated properly will foster positive team chemistry.
On the court, communication is also essential amongst team members for effective execution on both ends of the floor. From calling out the double team, to warning a teammate about a blind-side screen, communication develops trust and lends itself to a better brand of basketball. Demand and reward communication in practice, by insisting that talking is done loudly and with purpose. During a competitive drill in practice, award five extra points to the team that communicated the loudest and with greater consistency. As I often remind my team, silence might be golden in the library, but it will get our team beat on defense every time.