"Don't be a robot." - Coach John McArdle

Coach John McArdle was memorable for a lot of reasons.

But the line that’s stayed with me most as a coach is simple:

“Don’t be a robot.”

Because the truth is, the play is the play…

but the players make plays.

That idea is baked into what we teach at Next Play Basketball.

We don’t just “run plays.”

We Teach Kids How to Play

How to read what’s in front of them.

How to communicate on the court.

How to recognize an overplay and turn it into an easy opportunity.

How to flash weak-side at the right time.

How to get the ball to the right player in the right spot—so they can make the play.

Structure matters. Spacing matters. Good actions matter.

But if athletes don’t learn how to think, talk, and solve problems in real time, they’ll always be dependent on the next call from the sideline.

So credit to Coach McArdle—for teaching me early:

Don’t be a robot. Teach the game.

Spring Tryouts begin this Saturday.

https://www.nextplaybasketball.com/springaau