If you’ve been around basketball you might have heard someone say something like, “he plays the game the ‘right way’” or he “gets it”. I think comments like these beg the question – how do you play the “right way”? Is there a “right way” of playing basketball?

I think what most people are getting at when they say phrases like this is that certain players play with a high level of understanding of the game. Players that know what a good shot is, players that know the importance of taking care of the ball, competing on defense, displaying mental and physical toughness, and have a feel for the game. In other words, I think playing the right way means playing the game with your brain, not just with your body.

When I was growing up in youth basketball, it felt like I didn’t have a teacher to validate me if I was playing the ‘right way’, and I would get intimidated by these comments thinking “do I play the ‘right way’?” All I knew was that I loved to practice basketball, play basketball, and watch basketball. Here are some ways, in my opinion, that you can start playing or coaching kids to play the right way:

#1. Understand What a High-Value Shot Is

Since Daryl Morey’s Rockets and Steph Curry’s rise to prominence it’s probably not new news that 3-point shots are valuable. But the allure and difficulty of the 3-point shot sometimes overshadow the importance of the 2-point shot – particularly close to the rim or in the paint. The phrase, “love layups, like threes” resonates with me because it emphasizes where we should prioritize our shot attempts – right near the basket! Obviously layup attempts have a higher percentage of going in, but the benefits of seeking out layups oftentimes result in other benefits, namely opposing team fouls. When we attack the basket, it puts pressure on the referees to make calls – either on the floor, or during a shot attempt. Next to layup attempts and spot up threes, free throws are a highly efficient way to score.

Obviously, not every shot from beyond the arc or in the paint are created equal. Ideally, we want uncontested, on-balance shots. At the youth level especially where three-point shooting isn’t yet part of their game, helping kids to understand the value of hunting for an uncontested shots.

#2. Take Care of the Basketball

Oftentimes coaches will say phrases like, ‘hit singles’ meaning make the simple play. It can be fun making the Instagram-worthy, highlight reel play, but playing the ‘right way’ in my opinion means having an understanding of preventing turnovers. Put simply, when your team turns the ball over, your team is not getting a shot attempt. When your team gets less shot attempts than the opponent, you put yourself at a big disadvantage. This is why turnovers are an essential component of the “Four Factors” of basketball.

#3. Be Willing to Sacrifice for Your Team

One of the most tangible things you can do to sacrifice for your team is to compete on defense. When I first started coaching I used to dislike teaching defense and the concept of taking charges. I liked when offensive players had the freedom to finish in the paint with a shot contest. Perhaps it goes back to getting burned as a player when opponents would (intelligently) take charges against me. But now I realize that taking a charge is one of the most influential things a player can do. It creates a turnover for the opponent, gives the opposing individual a foul charge, and ignites the bench with energy seeing a teammate put his body on the line.

Sacrifice could also look like cheering on your teammate while you’re on the bench. The way I like to think about it is, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” If you’re out on the floor, I’m sure you appreciate when your teammates and coaches encourage you and celebrate your good plays, and tell you “next play” when you make a mistake. That’s the way we ought to be as teammates. Loving them and encouraging them, just as you would like them to do to you.

#4. Sharing the Ball

Ball movement is essential to creating offensive advantages.