This week’s edition of the Competitive Advantage newsletter is brought to you by Momentum Labs.

Book a 1:1 coaching session with a certified mental performance consultant (you can even request me!) to improve your consistency, confidence, and unlock your athlete's full potential.

​Book a discovery call here.​

The Power Of Understanding Your Players.

We were trailing by 10 in the third quarter to a close rival, and I was frustrated.

We had lost twice previously to this team, and this game was following the same script. Too many turnovers and not enough defensive rebounds.

I called a timeout and asked the referee a question. The conversation quickly escalated, and voices were raised. It had little to do with the missed call, but I was frustrated, and the ref was on the receiving end of that frustration.

I felt a hand on my back and turned, expecting to see my assistant coach. Instead, I saw my best player.

He calmly said, "Coach, this isn't who you are. We need you at your best."

I was speechless. He was right. I thanked him. Immediately, my frustration left. I returned to the team and adjusted our game plan with what remained of the timeout.

We didn't win the game, but we played better down the stretch.

After the game, I asked the player, who had played for me for three seasons, what made him come up to me during the timeout.

His response was really cool. "You talk all the time about knowing what it looks like when we are at our best and holding us accountable to that standard. I just did the same for you."

This is the type of moment that keeps me coming back to coaching. I keep learning from my athletes.

Do your athletes know what it looks like when you are at your best? Do you know what it looks like when your players are at their best, or their worst?

I am grateful that my athlete felt comfortable approaching me in that moment. I am also grateful that he was observant and knew that getting in an argument with a referee was me at my worst. He also knew that I would respond positively to his intervention.

Pretty cool for a high school senior. He's a great kid.

Knowing who your athletes are is vital to getting them to perform their best.

For example, this season, I have a player who dislikes basketball. Maybe even hates it. He's tall, athletic and a great natural defender. He plays because he loves our team and spending time with his teammates. Getting him to be his best meant tapping into his love for our team, not the game, the scoreboard or beating the player guarding him.

The other eleven players on the team all have different values, sources of motivation, and triggers that impact when they are at their best.

Our athletes do not need a one-size-fits-all approach to helping them be their best. They need personalized coaching tailored to their needs.

Dr. Kate Hays, a British sports psychologist, stresses the importance of having a basic personality profile for each player on the team. She compiled the profiles into one-page summaries, providing a snapshot of each team member. She suggests that everyone on the team should have access to the profiles. The 2022 English national women's soccer team posted them on the locker room wall at home and on the road.

These one-pagers were a constant with the team. Everyone was expected to know what made the others tick.

I came across this idea a little too late for our high school season, but every kid in our club will go through this process.

Here is the questionnaire I will use with them.

Players Operator Manual Questionnaire and one-pager template:

​Players Operator Manual (1).pdf​

I have also included my one pager:

​Payne 1 pager.pdf​

These handouts are adapted from the work of Dr. Kate Hays in her great book, How to Win.

What steps do you take to learn what your players need from you?

How can I help you on your coaching journey?

Let's work together.

I help coaches thrive.

I would love to help you or your team build a competitive advantage. Here are a few ways I can help:

• 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.