Trying to approve demeanor on the floor.

[ChrisSportsFan]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sven
[B]

Talking to the players just doesn't come naturally or easily to me. Besides "Nice hustle...nice work," what are some other comments you guys make to players to ease the tension?

Desperately seeking help,

Sven

In a blowout game, if the losing team takes a timeout and I'm administering when they come back, I might aske the thrower if they just set up their razzle-dazzle play.

Other things I sometimes say are; nice hustle, nice work, good choice (to a kid who could have fouled on a breakaway layup and didn't), shirt tails (followed up with a "you never know who's taking pictures here tonight").

Last night a kid had 6-7 blocks in the first half, he was the thrower to start the second half so I asked him if he was going for the tournament record. He laughed and asked how many does he need.

I think it has to be your personality in order to work, but just talking to the kids and coaches as if you were playing pickup ball without all the cussing and trash talk. Well, ok, so not exactly like pickup ball.