Teaching Through the Fog: Helping Players Understand When They Don’t Yet See the Whole Picture

w a, we often forget what it felt like to not know. To be the kid who didn’t understand the rotation, who couldn’t read the defense, or who didn’t grasp why a certain drill even mattered.

We’ve seen the game from every angle—through reps, through mistakes, through years of experience. But our players? Many of them are still trying to find the light switch.

This blog is about what it means to coach through the fog—those early stages of development where vision is cloudy, understanding is limited, and frustration can easily take over.And more importantly, how we can lead with clarity, patience, and empathy when our players don’t yet see the whole picture.

The Learning Gap Is Real

There’s a moment in every player’s journey where they’re doing what you ask—but they don’t really know why. They run the plays, go through the drills, and try to check every box. But without context, it’s all disconnected. It feels like busywork. That’s the fog.

And if you’ve embraced the 10x Theory, you already know this:

What takes a coach one explanation to understand might take a player ten—or a hundred—to fully grasp.

Coaching Through the Fog Means Slowing Down

Here’s the trap: when we get frustrated by a player not “getting it,” we tend to move faster or talk louder. But those aren’t the tools that clear the fog. They just stir it up.

Instead, slow down.Break things down.Repeat key concepts.Use analogies, visual cues, film breakdowns, walk-throughs—whatever it takes to meet the player where they are.

This isn’t coddling. It’s coaching.

From Blind Spots to Breakthroughs

Most young athletes can’t see what they’re doing wrong until someone shows them. That’s your job—to see the blind spots before they do, and gently guide them through.

🔹 That defensive rotation that always breaks down?Show them the moment it collapses on film.

🔹 That pass they keep forcing?Pause the play. Ask them what they saw—then show what was really there.

These moments don’t just correct behavior. They build awareness—and awareness is what clears the fog.

Language That Lifts, Not Labels

In the fog, players are vulnerable. They know something’s off, but they might not know what—or how to fix it.

So be careful with your language.

🛑 Don’t say: “Why can’t you get this?”✅ Try: “Let’s take another look at this together.”

🛑 Don’t say: “We already went over this!”✅ Try: “This part is tricky—it takes time to master.”

Your tone can either create shame or unlock growth. And in the fog, players need encouragement more than ever.

Connect the Dots

When a player doesn’t see the big picture, they need help connecting the dots.

If you’re teaching help-side defense, explain how it fits into the team’s overall strategy.If you’re running conditioning drills, explain how it impacts game-time performance in the 4th quarter.If you’re drilling fundamentals, remind them that the little things become the big things.

Context gives meaning. And meaning drives motivation.

Final Thoughts

Coaching through the fog isn’t easy. It requires humility, patience, and the ability to put yourself back in the shoes of someone who doesn’t know what you know.

But when you guide players through the fog—when you help them see—you’re not just developing their skills.You’re shaping their confidence.You’re building their basketball IQ.And you’re creating players who don’t just follow the game… they understand it.

And that’s when the breakthroughs begin.

👀 Coming Next Week:

“Embracing the Grind: Teaching Players to Love the Process, Not Just the Outcome”A mindset-first approach to developing players who are resilient, motivated, and ready to work.