"For the norm to be everyone giving maximum effort at all times, it has to be a product of coaching. Practices have to be challenging in a way that lifts the team and its individuals to a to a standard level of effort that they didn't know they had. Players have to be pushed and held accountable."
Are you talking about Division 1 level basketball players or 7th graders? The latter, I'll give you. The former, BS. I don't give a crap if they don't know how to block out, fight through a screen, close out on shooter, double team, switch, or whatever (none of which is true because at some point since they picked up a basketball at age 5 they've been introduced to these concepts). And while effort can be encouraged or the lack thereof by a player can be pointed out, a player, at this level, should be ready to give maximum effort on both ends of the court for every game. They don't get a pass because their coaches can't coach. That's an excuse-ridden, loser mentality. "Well, we would have worked harder, but we weren't told to do so." Uh . . . No.
And it has nothing to do with whether they're getting paid or not. They are subject to the same criticism whether they get paid or not. I'm the one paying to watch them play or taking time out of my evening to watch them play. You want me to watch, then I expect my favorite team to give top effort every game. That's the deal. That's an expectation I have as a fan, completely independent of them getting paid. And when it appears to me they're not doing so, then I'm going to criticize their effort. Joe DiMaggio said it best when asked why he plays so hard, “Because there’s always some kid who may be seeing me for the first time. I owe him my best.” Coaches, coach like that. Players, play like that. Very simple.
