Always Find the Open Man: Building Unselfish Habits in Players
Great teams don’t rely on one player to win possessions, they rely on trust. Every time the ball moves, defenders shift, openings appear, and confidence spreads. That’s why one of the most valuable lessons a coach can teach is simple: find the open man, and don’t force shots.
Players often force shots out of habit or emotion, the rush of competition, the desire to prove something, or the fear of missing their moment. The problem is that forced shots break rhythm and isolate teammates. Over time, they chip away at chemistry.
The key is helping players see that good offense comes from recognition, not reaction. Teach them to read defenses: how rotations move, when help comes, and where the next pass should go. Use film to highlight how a single extra pass often leads to easier points and higher efficiency.
In practice, build drills that reward the right decision instead of the final result. Praise the player who makes the pass that sets up the assist. Reinforce that value consistently, when the reward system matches the team’s identity, unselfishness becomes habit.
Communication plays a role too. Encourage players to talk through actions, “swing it,” “extra pass,” “cut through.” Language creates awareness, and awareness builds rhythm. When the ball and the voices move together, the team starts to think as one unit.
As a coach, model composure when players miss open looks after making the right read. The message should always be the same: trust the process, not the outcome. Players who feel safe making team-first decisions will continue to do so, even when the shots don’t fall.
Finding the open man isn’t about taking the spotlight away from anyone; it’s about making everyone better. The best teams know that good shots come from great decisions, and that great decisions come from trust.
When players learn to see the floor, share the ball, and let the game flow through connection, the team’s offense turns from forced to fluid.
The goal is simple: play together, think together, and let the open man tell the story of your team’s chemistry.
