Every basketball player wants more minutes. You dream of hearing your name called more often, staying in the game longer, and making plays that matter. But here’s the truth: playing time isn’t just about talent. It’s about trust.
If you want to get more minutes, you have to earn your coach’s trust—both on and off the court. Many players get frustrated, thinking they deserve more playing time, but they don’t realize that coaches aren’t just looking at talent. They’re looking at dependability, decision-making, attitude, and consistency.
So, how do you gain your coach’s trust and secure a bigger role on your team? Let’s break it down. And as always, we’ll tie it back to how the Athletic Balance Basketball Journal can help you track your progress and turn yourself into the kind of player coaches want to keep on the floor.
Step 1: Be Coachable (Stop Thinking You Know Everything)
The players who get the most minutes aren’t just the most talented—they’re the most coachable.
What Does Being Coachable Mean?
✅ Taking constructive criticism without attitude ✅ Applying feedback immediately in practice and games ✅ Showing up prepared and willing to learn ✅ Asking smart questions to understand the game better
What Coaches Notice:
- Do you listen when they give you instructions, or do you brush it off?
- Do you improve on the mistakes they correct, or do you keep repeating them?
- Do you hustle, stay engaged, and work hard in every drill?
Journal Action: Use the Weekly Reflection Section in your journal to write down feedback from your coach. Track whether you’ve improved in those areas over time.
Step 2: Play Winning Basketball (Not Just Flashy Basketball)
Every team has players who can hit crazy shots or break ankles in isolation—but not all of them play when the game is on the line. That’s because coaches trust players who make winning plays.
Winning Plays That Get You More Minutes:
🔥 Lockdown defense on the opposing team’s best player 🔥 Hustle plays—diving for loose balls, rebounding, making extra passes 🔥 Making smart decisions in transition 🔥 Taking high-quality shots instead of forcing bad ones 🔥 Communicating and leading on the court
Journal Action: Track your game stats beyond just points. Write down how many rebounds, assists, deflections, and hustle plays you made in each game. If you can show your coach you contribute in multiple ways, your minutes will increase.
Step 3: Become the Hardest Worker on the Team
Coaches trust players who put in the work—not just during practice, but outside of it. If you’re the hardest worker on your team, you’ll force your coach to play you more.
How to Prove You’re the Hardest Worker:
- Be the first one in, last one out of practice
- Put in extra shooting reps after practice
- Take care of your body with proper nutrition and rest
- Do the conditioning drills at full intensity
- Work on the weaknesses in your game—not just the fun stuff
Journal Action: Use the Goal-Setting Section to outline specific work habits. Write down exactly how many shots you want to take each day, what skills you need to improve, and what extra effort you’re putting in.
Step 4: Bring Elite Focus & Energy
If you want to stay on the court, you need to show energy, enthusiasm, and focus every single possession. Coaches notice body language more than you think. If you sulk, jog back on defense, or roll your eyes, you’re sending the message that you can’t be trusted in key moments.
Energy & Focus Checklist:
✔️ Sprint back on defense EVERY time ✔️ Be the loudest communicator on the floor ✔️ Support your teammates, even when you’re on the bench ✔️ Keep a locked-in mindset, even during blowouts or tough losses
Journal Action: Rate yourself each week on body language, energy, and focus. Are you bringing it every day, or do you have moments where you check out? Hold yourself accountable.
Step 5: Master Your Role (Whatever It Is)
One of the biggest mistakes players make is only focusing on what they want to do, instead of what their team needs them to do.
If your role right now is defense and rebounding, master it. If your role is being a spark off the bench, do it at 100%. If you dominate in your role, your responsibilities (and minutes) will increase.
How to Own Your Role:
- Embrace what the team needs—not just what you like to do
- Excel at one thing first (defense, rebounding, playmaking, etc.)
- Stay patient—when your opportunity comes, be ready
Journal Action: Write down what your coach expects from you. Focus on mastering that role first before worrying about expanding your game.
Final Thoughts: Earn Your Coach’s Trust, Earn Your Minutes
Playing time isn’t about politics, favorites, or luck. It’s about trust. If you want to play more minutes, you have to show your coach that you’re reliable, smart, tough, and committed.
The best way to do that? Track your progress. Set goals. Stay accountable.
🏀 Start tracking your path to more playing time with the Athletic Balance Basketball Journal and build the habits that make you indispensable to your coach.