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Winning When it Matters Most: Developing Clutch Players
I fell in love with basketball in the mid 80's. It was the perfect time.
Over the last 40 years I have seen so many of the games greats. Jordan, Bird, Lebron, Kobe, Magic, Tim Duncan, Steph are a few that come to mind.
Over and over again they delivered in the clutch on the way to multiple championships.
The media will tell you that the clutch gene seperated them from the other really good players.
That undersells the work that great clutch players have done. Being clutch is not innate. It is a skill that coaches and athletes can train.
The important question is how?
Here are characteristics that help athletes perform in the clutch and strategies that coaches can use to help create athletes who are at their best when it matters the most.
- Embracing these situations as challenges.
This is a great tip for all of us as humans, not just athletes.
We are all capable of doing hard things.
Often, athletes see close games as a threat—a threat to their identity as athletes, their team, or even future opportunities. None of that leads to great performance in the clutch. Coaches need to help athletes reframe anything hard as a challenge or an opportunity.
For example: "Coming back from 10 down with two minutes is difficult but imagine how we will feel if we can still win this game"
Focusing on the negative in hard situtaions only increases the threat level for athletes so it's imperative that coaches don't make a hard situation seem more dire.
2. A clear goal and a narrow focus.
In clutch situations athletes need to have a fixed clear idea of what they need to do.
Athletes often enter games worried about a wide variety of outcomes. Will we win? Will I play well? I want to score 20 points. I hope my parents think I played well (this is far too common). Where are we eating after the game?
Their minds are frequently distracted regardless of what level they are at.
Clutch performers are able to narrow their focus and block out all other distractions except the task at hand.
Coaches can aid this by setting clear goals that help athletes know exactly what needs to be done. "We need three stops in a row" or "make sure we secure the defensive rebound to finish the possession".
Focus on what the athletes need to accomplish, not what they need to prevent. The human brain struggles with the word "don't". For example: "We want to run the shooter off the line and make him a driver" is more effective then "don't let Klay shoot a three". It tells the athlete exactly what they need to do. Not a result they need to avoid.
3. Short bursts of incredible energy
To be their best in the clutch athletes often need to push past the physical barriers that they believe exist.
The Flu Game is a perfect example of an athlete pushing past a barrier that would have derailed many athletes.
Coaches need to encourage their athletes to push past what they believe is their limit. It helps athletes if they know how long they will have to work at a high energy rate.
I find it helpful to let my players know when I am planning to take a timeout so they know when their next rest is coming.
4. The perception that athletes have some control.
Athletes need to understand that Clutch performance is a choice.
They need to know that they are the only ones responsible for choosing how they will perform in the clutch. They control if they will empty the tank and increase effort, they control if they implement the tactical adjustments their coach has provided.
This allows athletes to exercise their free will and becomes a powerful force.
Athletes who feel that their free will is recognized and protected by a coach are way more likely to choose to do what it takes to win. They are also more likely to play freely, without fearing the consequences of not executing in the clutch.
5. Previous Success in the Clutch.
There is no substitute for being able to draw on past successes in the clutch. Athletes who know that they have hit game-winners or teams that know they can do hard things have an inherent advantage in the clutch.
I had a team that loved to come back from big deficits. We won 10 games that season after trailing by more than 15 points. They carried themselves with a totally different attitude. They loved the challenge. I could always tell when they had flipped the switch and the game was about to change. It was like we had the big lead.
They had experience in these situations that they could draw on. It also became part of their identity as a team and as individuals.
Clutch performance can be a defining element of a successful season or a driving factor behind that falls short of expectations. Coaches need to learn what their athletes need to help them perform their best in the clutch.
I think this meme sums it up perfectly. To perform better in the clutch requires athletes to dial it up a notch. The key as a coach is to make sure that athletes know that it requires them to make the choice to flip this switch.
None of this guarantees that your athletes are able to come through in the clutch. However, focusing on these five strategies will create conditions that will make it more likely that athletes will be at their best when it matters the most.
How can I help you on your coaching journey?
Let's work together.
I would love to help you or your team build a competitive advantage. Here are a few ways I can help:
- Join our community
- Consult with your team or coaching staff
- Teach mental skills to your team via Zoom
- Work 1 on 1 with coaches
- Work 1 on 1 with athletes
Shoot me an email I love to talk coaching and see how I can help you.
Coaching is hard, let's make it easier.
Send me an email at jasonpayne@evolutionmpc.com
Thanks for reading and have a great week.
