As a basketball mental development expert, I am sure by now you must have grasped that Beyond Talent is a series of posts I am developing, a comprehensive exploration of the vital aspects that contribute to a player’s as well as coaches success on and off the court. One key component I wanted to delve into is Energy Generating Behaviors (EGBs).
These seemingly small actions have a profound impact on team dynamics, performance, and overall success. In this series, we’ll examine the importance of EGBs and how to effectively integrate them into your basketball system, fostering a culture of positivity, support, and unity. Get ready to unlock your team’s potential as we dive into the world of EGBs and the many other factors that truly elevate a player’s performance beyond their innate talent.
This past NCAA season (2022-2023), The Marquette men’s basketball team has integrated EGBs as a new motto for the whole season. Sophomore guard Stevie Mitchell explains that EGBs are about “having fun, first and foremost,” and that embracing them helps the team “lose ourselves in the fight.” Junior forward Oso Ighodaro emphasizes the significance of EGBs, stating that they are one of the team’s most significant strengths and that their energy gives them a competitive advantage.
The Marquette players strive to bring energy to their games by practicing it consistently. Mitchell cites sophomore guard Kam Jones as the teammate who generates the most energy in practice, always having fun, celebrating teammates, and reveling in his accomplishments.
According to sophomore forward David Joplin, EGBs are crucial to the team’s success, especially on the defensive end. The team thrives when they create energy, flying around on both ends of the court and feeding off each other’s enthusiasm. Junior forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper also highlights the importance of EGBs for team chemistry, explaining that they help the players come together, forget past mistakes, and stay focused on the present moment.
Mitchell believes that embracing EGBs on the court helps the team grow closer, encouraging one another and demonstrating genuine care for their teammates. Building relationships through energy on the court was an essential part of Mitchell’s transition to Marquette.
The Maryland Terps and Marquette men’s basketball teams serve as prime examples of the transformative power of EGBs. As a basketball mental development expert, I encourage players, assistant coaches, and head coaches to adopt Energy Generating Behaviors and experience their positive impact on team success, chemistry, and enjoyment of the game.
In my experience, negative energy is a roadblock to success, which is why I never tolerate it. Instead, I focus on instilling a culture of positivity, support, and teamwork within our team. I believe this culture is essential for a successful program, and I frequently discuss this topic on Twitter.
So, how can you, as a player, assistant coach, or head coach, become an ENERGY GIVER?
Here are some suggestions:
- Actively communicate during practice and games
- Lead your team in high fives and fist bumps
- Encourage your teammates
- Bring positive energy to practice and games
- Be the first to arrive at practice and the last to leave
- Maintain eye contact when someone speaks, especially the coach
- Remember, we become what we emphasize, and what gets measured gets done. I’ve found that tracking EGBs is vital because they play a significant role in winning games.
The EGB movement traces back to Steve Nash and the “touches” study conducted by the University of California, Berkeley, during the 2006 NBA season. Nash’s consistent high-fiving, fist-bumping, and back-slapping of his teammates were labeled as “touches,” and his team experienced success as a result. UC Berkeley’s study confirmed that teams with the most touches during the season were indeed the most successful.
Now, in 2023, EGBs are recognized as key statistics in the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Positive energy is contagious, and it directly influences the outcome of games. So, what are some examples of Energy Generating Behaviors that you can incorporate into your basketball routine? Here’s a list:
1.Talking on defense
2.Recovering loose balls
3.Touches (high-fives, fist bumps, etc.)
4.Defensive deflections
5.Steals
6.Offensive and defensive rebounds
7.Blocked shots
8.Contesting shots
9.Defensive stops
10.Defensive assists
11.Drawing charges
12.Cheering for teammates from the bench
13.Huddling together
14.Pointing to teammates
15.Recognizing and assisting
16.Setting up plays
17.Ball reversals
18.Making extra passes
To harness the power of EGBs in your team or sport, consider these questions:
- How can you adapt these behaviors for your team?
- What other EGBs could be beneficial for your team?
- How can you measure or track these stats during a game?
- How do these behaviors correlate with your team’s success?
By focusing on Energy Generating Behaviors, players, assistant coaches, and head coaches alike can foster a positive atmosphere that boosts performance and ultimately leads to winning. As a basketball mental development expert, I urge you to embrace these behaviors and watch your team’s success soar.
5 Ways you can incorporate EGB’s into your own system:
- Emphasize Communication: Encourage players to communicate constantly, both on and off the court. Active communication during practices and games, such as calling out plays, defensive assignments, and providing encouragement, helps build a positive team atmosphere and generates energy.
- Celebrate Effort and Teamwork: Foster a culture of recognition for effort and teamwork by celebrating hustle plays, defensive stops, and selfless acts. Praise players who dive for loose balls, take charges, or make the extra pass. Encourage teammates to high-five, fist bump, or pat each other on the back for these energy-generating moments.
- Encourage Bench Involvement: Make sure that players on the bench are actively engaged in the game by cheering on their teammates, offering words of encouragement, and providing constructive feedback. This helps create a supportive atmosphere and maintains high energy levels throughout the entire team.
- Establish EGB Competitions: Track and measure EGBs during practices and games, creating friendly competitions among players to accumulate the most EGBs. This encourages players to focus on the little things that contribute to the team’s success and promotes a culture of effort and energy.
- Integrate EGBs into Practices: Design practice drills and activities that emphasize EGBs, such as communication, effort, and teamwork. By making EGBs a regular part of practice, players will naturally incorporate them into their in-game behaviors, building a strong foundation for a high-energy, successful basketball system.
By focusing on Energy Generating Behaviors, players, assistant coaches, and head coaches alike can foster a positive atmosphere that boosts performance and ultimately leads to winning. As a basketball mental development expert, I urge you to embrace these behaviors and watch your team’s success soar.
I hope all the above prove to be useful to you all!
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