Coaching Adults: What Leading Teams Teaches You on the Youth Sports Court

The Court and the Conference Room

I coach youth basketball. If you’ve ever tried to get a group of 11-year-olds to run a play correctly, you already know what real leadership feels like.

You draw up the perfect plan — arrows everywhere, screens, cuts, passes — and then you watch as it all falls apart within five seconds of tipoff.

And yet, that chaos is full of leadership lessons. In fact, I’ve realized that coaching kids isn’t that different from leading teams of adults. The court just has shorter players, louder parents, and more orange slices.

1. Keep It Simple — Complexity Kills Execution

When you’re teaching kids, clarity is everything.
If I start explaining a three-step defensive rotation, I’ve already lost half the team — and one’s probably chasing a butterfly.

Adults aren’t all that different.

In business, we often overcomplicate plans, using jargon and layers of strategy that sound smart but don’t drive action. Whether you’re coaching or managing, the rule holds: if they can’t repeat it back, they can’t execute it.

Break it down. One focus per meeting, one core message per plan. Simple wins. Every time.

2. Teach the “Weave” — Not Because You’ll Use It, But Because It Builds Skills

My team runs the weave drill at every practice. We’ll never run it in a game. But that’s not the point.

It teaches spacing, passing, timing, and trust — the foundation for everything else we do.

The same goes for business.
You may never use every element of an operational plan or pre-launch process, but the practice of planning, preparing, and repeating is what builds muscle memory in a team.

The weave is just the reps.
Execution in the game is the result.

3. Be Patient — Not Everyone Sees the Whole Court

I can’t expect my 11-year-old point guard to see the floor like a college player. Some kids need time to understand why we’re doing what we’re doing.

Employees are the same way.

As leaders, we see the full playbook — the vision, the why, the strategy. But not everyone on the team does. Patience and consistent communication bridge that gap.

Your job as a leader isn’t just to call the play — it’s to teach what the play is building toward.

4. You Need Role Players as Much as You Need Stars

Every coach knows this: championships aren’t won by teams of only stars. They’re won by players who know their role and embrace it.

In business, we sometimes forget that. We chase “A players” and “high performers,” but the people who quietly get things done — the ones who don’t want the spotlight — are the glue.

Not everyone wants to be the point guard, and that’s okay.
We need the rebounders, the screen-setters, the defenders, and the people who simply love doing their job well.

Celebrate the role players. They’re the reason the stars can shine.

5. Communication Is Everything (and Everyone’s Responsibility)

In youth sports, communication isn’t just about the players — it’s about the parents.

If practice changes, someone’s got to tell them. If kids need mouthguards, someone’s got to say it. If the tournament gets moved, you’d better make that clear.

Running a business isn’t that different.

Set expectations early. Overcommunicate schedules, goals, and responsibilities. Give your team clarity about what matters this week — not just what matters this quarter.

The best coaches — and leaders — communicate with consistency, not just when there’s a crisis.

Final Whistle

Leading teams — whether on the court or in the office — is about repetition, patience, and clarity.

You teach the weave not because it’s flashy, but because it builds something deeper: trust, timing, and teamwork.

And when everyone understands the play, believes in their role, and communicates clearly — that’s when things start to flow.

So whether you’re leading a sales team or coaching 11-year-olds, remember: keep it simple, keep it consistent, and celebrate the small wins.

👉 JG Consulting helps growing businesses bring structure, teamwork, and operational rhythm to their organizations — so every player knows their role and how to win together.

Book a free consultation → jgcsolutions.com/contact