Game Situations: How to Act During Timeouts

When a time out is called it's usually because things are going against your team.  The opposition may be on a big run that you're trying to break and your team may be frustrated or even worst worried about the outcome of the game.  This is why your composure during these time out situations are so important.  It is also important that your team and assistants understand how important timeouts are and know what is expected from them when a time out is called.


Chances are that the other team has figured out how to play against your offense/defense and thus have gained momentum.  During a time out, it's your job as a coach to determine if you need to discuss adjustments to your offense, defense, transition game, or lineup.  Don't spend time during time out laying into your team.  You're wasting time that you need to be using talking about how to stem the tide that is rolling against you.  What you should be focusing on are the following points:
  1. Talk in a stern but calm voice.  Do not show signs of panic or frustration.  The team is a reflection of you.  If you show frustration chances are they will play with frustration.  Speak to them calm and confident and they will do exactly what you tell them.  Remember that if you yell most players won't be able to hear past the noise.  But if you speak calm and confident they will hear every word you say.
  2. Take the time in practice to go over some go to plays both on offense and defense that you can use to change things up during a time out.  Your players will feel much more comfortable if you tell them to run a play which you have practiced before now that things are going against them.
  3. Make sure you consult with your assistants and find out what they are seeing before you talk to your team.  Time outs are usually no longer than 1 minute so you don't have much time but take a few seconds and talk to your assistants.
  4. Make sure that you instruct your team to hustle over to the bench during time outs.  Explain to them that a time out is very short in length and we can use every second to discuss adjustments that need to be made.
  5. Make sure that all of your players huddle around you and are paying attention to what you are telling your team during a time out.  It is important that every one on your team both on the bench and in the game are on the same page.
  6. Practicing time out situations is a good idea.  This way you can explain to your team what you expect of them and thus will not need to waste valuable time during a game situation setting things up the way you want.

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