John Wooden's Teaching

In a study of John Wooden's teaching the researchers noted that there were no lectures and no extended harangues. None. Not one in all they months they observed. Although frequent and often in rapid-fire order, his comments were so distinct that the researchers were able to code and count each one as a separate event.

Most of Coach Wooden's statements in practice were short corrections or statements of how to play basketball. In fact, 75% of everything he said carried information intended for learning.

Of the 2,500 comments the researchers recorded most were just plain information about how to play basketball. Information about the proper way to do something in a particular context. They didn't observe praising or criticizing that much.

Coach Wooden focused on delivering information players could use to remedy errors and correctly perform what he had previously explained and demonstrated.

It was information that promoted change.

Players learned to expect correction for every error, at the time it occurred, no exception. Perfection was the goal and perfection could not be reached unless every error was addressed and rectified.