Communication with Technology in Professional Football

Communication in professional football is becoming more and more technologically advanced. Coaches are now able to communicate directly with their players by speaking into a microphone which is relayed through an earpiece in the players helmet. Just last year the NFL came out with new helmets for the players that receive communications, they mark the helmets with a green dot on the back to distinguish which ones receive communications from the coaches. This new technology has made communication in professional football more convenient and much more effective.

Using Non-Verbal Communication in Sports

Non-verbal communication is used regularly during sporting events. Many times the communication takes place between players but often times it is the non-verbal input from the coach on the sideline that will dictate the course of play in a game. In this post I will look into all of the hand signal and body gestures that are used in three of Americas most popular sport's: football, baseball, and basketball. In all three sports coaches pass information onto the playing field without speaking; this is important because the other team should not be able to find out your game plan.

FOOTBALL
In football all the plays are call from the sideline. Both the offense and the defense rely on the coaching staff to tell them what play to run. It would be impossible for players to run to the sideline and talk to the coach then run back on the field and tell the team what the coach wants done. So what football teams do is they use body gestures and hand signals to communicate to the players on the field. There is an offensive captain and a defensive captain, so through some body gestures a coach can tell one guy what play to run and that player tells ten other players what to do on the next play and this all happens in less than 30 seconds.
During a football game, the coaching staff call almost every play in the game. Meaning that non-verbal communication is used prior to the start of every play. With the variety of plays a team has, the coach on the sideline may look quite animated sending a play to the team. A football coach will use hand signals, body gestures, wipes, touches, just about anything to let the team know which play to execute.

BASEBALL
Some say the most boring part of watching baseball is the time between one pitch and the next. It seems like everyone just stands around waiting for a strikeout or a fly ball. What these people do not know is what is how much is happening during those thirty seconds that they can't hear and are not sharp enough to see. All over the field players are communicating with each other and with their coaches and nobody is saying a word.
One simple form of non-verbal baseball communication that the average fan does not see takes place every time a runner makes it to first base. The second baseman and the shortstop have to decide who will cover second base if the runner on first attempts to steal second base. To keep the opposing team from finding out who will cover, they do not just yell back and forth to each other. Most teams use the "open mouth closed mouth" system. When the shortstop shows the second baseman an open mouth the second baseman replies with a closed mouth meaning he will cover the base and vice verse.

The follow things all happen in those 30 seconds between almost every pitch and are all communicated through a series of hand signals:

1 - The pitcher and catcher are deciding what pitch to throw
2 - The shortstop and second baseman are choosing who will cover second base
3 - The manager is telling the third base coach what the offense is going to do
4 - The third base coach passes the information onto the hitter and any base runners
5 - A bench coach is changing the positioning of the outfielders and infielders


BASKETBALL
Basketball is a fast paced sport in which many decisions are made on the move. Whether to shoot the ball or pass it, who to pass the ball to, or who to defend. These questions are all answered by the players themselves on the court during the action. However, the coach does have control over some of the decisions that are made on the court. With a quick hand signal a coach can tell all five players on the floor what form of defense he wants to use. On the offensive side of the ball a coach can inform the team what offensive play to run by a hand signal to the point guard. The point guard then uses another signal to tell the other four players on the court what the play is.
The time-out is often used in basketball games by coaches to slow down the tempo of a game or to use strategic play calling. Other than the coach, it is crucial for the team leader to be able to send information to the rest of the team. He can instruct the team to set up a surprise defensive press to force turnovers, or using hand signals he can call for an ally-oop, or even something as simple as the pick and roll play. Your hands, your eyes, and your head motions are all important in each of these sports. Non-verbal communication is key to success and team chemistry leading to more wins and great sports experiences.

Communication Managers; Every Team Needs One!

A new idea has hit people in the sports community lately, having a team communication manager. Some teams in all of the professional sports areas are starting to hire new "communication mangaers" and i think its a great idea. They are essentially the person that will represent the team and communicate to all outside people through a common ground. Some of the responisbilities of a communication manager would be tickets, marketing, corporate sales, and media relations.

This communication manager position is a very important one, and for many reasons. A team can work together and make a single decision about important issues which then will be translated to the communication manager, who can tell the public or whoever the issue pertains to. With the use of a communication manager there will be several problems eliminated, for example if a team faces a tough loss then instead of the players dealing with the media and telling several different versions of a story, the communication manager can tell one clear and concise story which will hopefully eliminate false rumors spreading about a team or players.

This is a great opportunity for a team in any sport, there are always issues that need to be discussed and with a manager of communication you can ensure everything will be stated exactly how you would want it to be.

Constructive Criticism

Mr. Coach Klein giving his player, Bobby, some useful coaching advice.

Communication is Key!

Cartoons by Andertoons

Non-verbal Communication in Baseball

Not many people know how important non-verbal communication is in baseball or how much it's used. I always here my friends say "I don't like watching baseball, it's so boring. The pitcher throws the ball and then everyone just stands around for thirty seconds waiting for the next pitch." But then again some of them have never played baseball and don't really know too much about the game. For that twenty to thirty seconds between pitches there is a lot going on that most people don't notice. For example, the pitcher and catcher have to decide on a pitch to throw with a series of hand signals and head shakes. Also, if there is a runner is on base the pitcher has to keep looking over his shoulder to check if he thinks the runner is going to steal, while the runner is making body movements towards the next base trying to make the pitcher think he's going to steal. The runner is always trying to do this because if he gets the pitcher's attention then hes doing his job throwing the pitcher off his game and getting into his head. Basically the following non-verbal actions occur in between each pitch:

• The pitcher and catcher are deciding what pitch to throw.
• The shortstop and second baseman are choosing who will cover second base.
• The manager is telling the third base coach what the offense is going to do.
• The third base coach relays the information to the hitter and any base runners.
• A bench coach is changing the positioning of the outfielders and infielders.

All of these actions are performed every inning of every game and are a big factor in the outcome of any game.

Media Relations Tips for Athletes

Cause You Don't Wanna Be Like This Guy



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYXfU_hw5Lc&feature=player_embedded

Here is a video with some tips, and information on how to get money towards your athletics.

Public Relations

Players need to conduct themselves in a way that is respectable. After all, these athletes are role models to many young people around the world. To stay in the good side of the public eye, players should be aware of how they maintain their image with the team, coaches and the rest of public.

Tools Players can use:

News – How writers, reporters, competitors perceive you and your personality will be in the news. People everywhere see or hear the news, and believe what they are told.

Speeches – When making an announcement, write a speech with a lot of thought. You want to sound articulate, and dress professionally. Talk about positive things, and don’t forget to say thank you.

Mobile Marketing – This is the way you promote yourself as an athlete. Going from city to city giving a demonstration, holding a camp, displaying a new product, or trying out for a new team. All of these things need to be done with respect and class.

Special Events – Make an appearance on a talk show, attend another sports event, go to award shows, or unveil a new product. These events can be used as good public relations if you conduct yourself in the right manner.

Public Service Activities – These are things like donating to a charity, cancer research, visiting a hospital, helping kids read, and other public serving activities. If a player does this regularly, he will be seen in a different way than a player who does it rarely or not at all.

As I said, Athletes are role models. So if they want to act like one, they must practice good public relations and stay out of trouble as much as possible.

Coach to Coach Connections

An important aspect in the sports management field that is often overlooked by many people is the relationships opposing coaches have with one another. This can be a very useful tool in achieving goals throughout your career. By having close connections to coaches of other teams that can lead you vital information about opponents and give you a one up against other teams. The way to become connected is very easy to do and with a few simple steps you can have close connections with opposing coaches in your field as well.

1) Respect
The main aspect you need to remember with communicating with opposing coaches is to always be respectful of the coach and their team. Never put down a coach for the way he or she handles their team. Putting down their coaching techniques would cause the coach to dislike you and not want to help you in the future.

2) Compliment
A secondary aspect to being respectful would be complimentary to the other coach. Compliment their techniques used in handling their teams and the way they approach the game. Try finding similarities between the way the both of you conduct yourselves with teams. This similarity will ultimately lead to a close connection that can be used in the future as a reference or as vital information against an upcoming team.

3) Friendliness
Being friendly with other coaches will lead you to having a positive outlook with the other coaches. This positive outlook allows you to associate yourself with all the opposing coaches and it makes the other coaches want to know you as well. Thus by simply being a friendly, nice person you can achieve your goal of associating yourself with the other coaches in your field.

4) Direct Connections
Once all the other steps have been achieved you can begin to recieve and give out your person phone number or email address to directly connect yourself to the other coaches. Having a way to directly contact other coaches gives you additional support when coming up with strategies for different teams and possibly information other coaches knew about a certain team that you did not.

In summation, by achieving these four simple steps you can connect yourself to the peers in your field which is an important strategy for achieving your goals. Knowing all the coaches you play against will better your chances against their teams and other coaches teams because of all the insider information you will have. Hence, your job will become easier and you will become a winner in no time at all.

Dealing With Conflict

It is very important to a team to consider everyone when making a decision. Whether it be the practice times and routines or where a dinner will be held; it is crucial to make sure everyone can have their own input on the situation. However when a group of people work together there will most likely be a conflict. Sometimes it will be a minor issue but regardless of the severity of the issue, it must be worked out through to a conclusion or a compromise that all team members can accept, even thought everyone may not entirely agree there needs to be common ground on every issue.

Mutual respect among team members is necessary, but too much difference can bring upon new challenges and that can ultimately reduce the team as a whole. It is important to focus on the problem and how to solve it rather than on the person that is upset.

These are some good ideas on how to manage conflict among a team:

1. Avoid taking a win or lose stand: this will give one person the power at anothers expense. This approach is not constructive because there will always be a loser. Most conflicts wont start out this way but if a team member faces a personal defeat, then reaching a compromise is almost always impossible.
2. Avoid accusations, threats , or degrading comments. Instead try to emphasize common interests and mutual goals of the team.
3. Support your position with facts: Show how your position is consistent with accepted standards and pointing out the ways that your view could benefit the teams ultimate goal. Also point out errors in the other view, but make sure to talk about their position not the person.
4. Use bargaining strategies to arrive at an exchange of concessions until a compromise is reached. Both parties can win through a compromise, even if your going to settle for less your not losing altogether as you would in a win or lose situation. a successful compromise satisfies each persons minimum needs.

Communication Between Teammates

Communication between teammates is an essential part in the team's success. Whenever there is a lack of communication on any sports team it shows in their performance. Usually a lack of communication is due to some of the players not getting along and overall it hurts the entire team.

According to Allaboutfastpitch.com communication reduces individual errors on the field "It's hard to make a mistake when u are constantly encouraging and supporting your teammates. Less worry means less anxiety. Less anxiety means your body can relax and perform at an optimal level." Also, effective communication means less mental errors "Increased communication helps players stay focused on the game. More focus means less mental errors. Plus with communication, if someone does have a mental lapse, everyone is talking and letting them know where the play should be which helps keep a mental lapse from turning into a mental error or any other kind of error." And finally communication promotes team building "When teammates are communicating with each other it increases the sense of a common goal and teamwork. Your team will perform better as individuals and as a unit with improved communication."

Without communication among teammates we would not have as many great athletes as we have today. For example, look at Tiger Woods, many people think golf is a one person sport but without the communication between Tiger and his caddie I guarentee you that he would not be as successful as he is today. Tiger's caddie knows every inch of every green and fairway in any tournament Tiger plays in. Without his caddie's knowledge of the course and all the elements involved with making a golf shot, Tiger's accomplishments would be half to two thirds of what he has today. All in all, communication between teammates is always key in the success of any team.

Tips: How players should communicate with the media

Attire: One of the most important things an athlete can do for a press conference is to dress like a professional. You want to be as presentable as you can, because ultimately you are representing your team.

Responses: These need to be thought about before taking the microphone. Responses should be safe, and direct to avoid any media conflicts.

Answers: Each question should have an answer in a timely manner. Do not rush yourself and do not take too much time in responding to one question.

Be Prepared: Do not answer any questions that you are not prepared for. Players do this all the time when asked a tough question about contracts or referee calls, the best thing to do is just sidestep the question with another response. You want to refrain from giving too much away as a sports athlete, you don't want to give too much away about your team, just keep it simple and respond to the questions that you are prepared for.

Be Positive: Focus on the good things, and the success of yourself and your team. Example: If a teammate is leaving the organization: tell the media that he was a great teammate, but whatever happens is for the better of both the player and the team. Be sure to let them know that there are plenty of possible prospects looking to fill the position.

Relationship: Keeping your media relationship on a respectful level is important. These reporters, columnists, and sports radio hosts can make or break you. Depending on what they report, your popularity can change in an instant because ultimately they have control of the public eye.

Eye Contact: Be direct with your responses and make sure you are not looking down or away. Who ever is asking the question will have their eyes on you, so be respectful and return the look. This displays confidence and will make the media believe you are not a liar.

Weakness: At times these conferences can be emotional depending on the purpose of it, but if the media sees weakness for any other reason they'll try to bring that out of you every chance they get.

These are all very important aspects involving the image of yourself and more importantly your organization. These basic tips can help a player on avoid negatives of media and maintain a positive view of yourself as well as the organization you are representing.

Talking With the Media

Their are many different approaches coaches can take to communicate with the media but to get the optimal results you must follow a series of steps. These steps are very simple and may come natural to many coaches when talking to the press.

1) Be Courteous and Respectful

Many coaches forget to keep their cool while on the stand from the press which in the end hurts their careers and images. So the best way to behave is in a respectful manner saying "Thank you" and being very courteous to the representatives (they are, after all, just trying to do their jobs). Never sware because that creates a bad atmosphere with the press and you should always keep a positive image with the press. It will get you exposure to the nation which could ultimately boost your career goals.

2) Take Responsibility For Your Actions

If your team has just lost a big game, do not go out and start pointing fingers at others. At the end of the line, you are the one who should take responsibility for how your team played. Blaming a player would disrupt your locker room that could possibly lead to a mutiny from your players. This is one of the main reasons that you should take the blame.

3) Be  Cautious of Your Responses

Often times coaches leak locker room information or say damaging responses about their players which the media will blow into a very large ordeal. These responses damage not only your image, but those of your team as well. Thus, always think before you respond to questions and be wary of what you say. Also as a side note, be humorous with the media because that will improve your standing with them and lead to a positive outlook with all of your responses.

In summation, by following these three simple steps when conducting communication with the media will drastically improve your image and standing with other coaches, sportscasters, etc. After all, what coach wouldn't like having the approval of all of his peers in the workplace.