SKOOL OF THOUGHT
We got the call right. But it took us three trips to the monitor to get there…
First trip: checked the foul.
Second trip: realized we didn't confirm the shooter.
Third trip: had to verify the time when it happened.
Each time we walked back, we looked less certain. The coaches got louder. The crew got more tense. And the whole time, we knew the right answer—we just kept missing pieces because we were rushing through our huddle.
The Pattern We All Know
It's not just monitor review.
It's clock malfunctions where we assume everyone saw the same thing.
It's complicated plays where we jump to the call before confirming what each crew member actually saw.
It's any atypical situation where we feel the pressure of everyone watching and waiting.
We huddle quickly, make a decision, start to walk away—then realize we missed something.
Now we look uncertain even though we were just being thorough... eventually.
"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast" comes from Navy SEAL training. In chaotic, high-stakes situations, the teams that survive aren't the ones moving fastest—they're the ones who slow down their communication to make sure everyone's on the same page.
When things get urgent, slowing down your process is what keeps you from making mistakes.
The Real Problem
We know the steps. We know the protocol. But we skip steps in the huddle because we feel pressure to decide quickly.
I've been the guy who nods in the huddle without actually processing what my partner said because I was already thinking about what to tell the coach. Then we break and I realize, “wait, did we confirm the shooter? Did we verify if the foul was before or after the shot?”
The irony? That rushed huddle is what makes us take longer overall and look clunky doing it.
What Changes When We Slow Down
In our crew huddles—especially for monitor review, clock issues, or layered plays—slowing down looks like:
Repeat back what you heard: "So you're saying the contact was on the floor, not in the act?"
Ask the clarifying question even if it feels obvious: "Are we sure about the shooter?"
Say the decision out loud to each other before breaking: "We're staying with a common foul on Blue 23, two shots for White 10, 2:14 on the clock."
Make eye contact to confirm everyone's aligned
It feels slower in the moment. But it gets you off the monitor faster, keeps you from looking uncertain, and builds trust with your crew.
The Question
What step does your crew skip most often when you're rushing through an atypical situation?
Is it confirming what everyone saw? Assigning who reports what? Verifying all the details before breaking the huddle?
That's the step worth slowing down for.
P.S. Next time you're at the monitor or handling a complicated situation, try this: before you break the huddle, pause for two seconds and ask your crew,
"Are we missing anything?"
Those two seconds might save you a second trip. 🏀
