Season's Over, Now What? : Re-imagining post-season development

Season has ended.

Wins and losses are no longer being tallied. Players are tired, their eyes are on summer. Rosters are shifting or being totally re-manufactured.

And yet… this awkward in-between is one of the most powerful windows for growth and recalibration.

Let’s be real, Gen Z isn’t showing up for cookie-cutter workouts and motivational speeches in April and May.  What if post-season wasn’t about running it back with X’s and O’s but about anchoring your program in trust, reflection, and purpose?  What if post-season was the reset your program actually needs?

Less grind.

More growth.

Less burnout.

More connection.

Post-season doesn’t have to be heavy.  It can be intentional and playful. Powerful and restorative. There’s even space for it to be coach-directed and player-led.

For Gen Z, joy and connection are foundational.  When acknowledged, buy-in increases, walls come down, and effort goes up.

EQ for Post-Season Growth:

To truly leverage post-season, make space for emotional intelligence and social development. Center self-awareness, reflection, and relationship management in various settings.

Here are some examples:

1:1 Vision Setting Meetings

• Co-create developmental plans. Involve them in their process!

• Examine stats and playing time. Then, go beyond them. Ask reflective questions like, “What did you learn about yourself this season?”

• Offer different meeting formats. Introverted players may offer greater information through Google forms or an audio reflection.

Off-Court Leadership Counsels

• Build leadership and decision-making abilities through mock scenarios or group challenges.

• Involve alumni or other community members for mentorship.

Team Debrief Circles

• Facilitate open conversations about team dynamics and culture.

• Model and normalize radical honesty for collective processing and growth.

Team Dinners or Creative Nights

• Create spaces for JOY! (Game nights, paint & vibe, karaoke)

• Foster bonding that reminds athletes of life beyond competition.

X’s and O’s

Post-season is not the time to perfect plays and talk team basketball to Gen-Z athletes. Layer emotional development into skill work and individual growth. Deepen reflection, empower players and reinforce culture through on-court skill development.

Here are some ways to incorporate EQ into on-court skill development:

Film Review in the “Feedback Lab”

• Incorporate alternative tools like voice note reflections and journa

  
  
  
  

  ling.

• Ask them questions such as “How would YOU coach you in this moment?” Have them coach their reactions.

“Player’s Choice” Days

• Athletes build the practice plan or a section of it.

• Have athletes coach each other. Have them lead the warm-up, introduce drills, and/or name the emphasis of the drills.

Competition Days

• Replicate FIBA 3v3 and have a tournament.

• Create a 1v1 tournament and stretch it out over 3-4 days. Mimic your conference tournament format.

  
  

Let post-season be a bridge; a chance to listen, build, and anchor your program in what truly matters. Players will only get better if they want to; that want is rooted in joy, trust and connection.  Let post-season be the space where your team remembers why they love the game.

Coaches, we’re in a new era.  The future of coaching is shifting and is calling you to shift with it. Lean in or miss a major opportunity for development!