Are you using them? How are you showing your athlete’s improvement and results?

Steve Nash is my favorite NBA player, not just because he is a two-time MVP, eight-time All-Star, and seven-time All-NBA selection. It is because he led the league in touches (High fives, chest bumps, and pats on the butt). I came across a study by UC Berkeley that explored the impact of touch in the NBA. During the 2009-10 season, Steve Nash gave an average of 239 high fives to his teammates per game, which helped take the Phoenix Suns to the Western Conference Finals. That's an astounding number—19,598 high fives in a single season (not counting practices). Touch is incredibly powerful. One simple gesture like a high five can create trust and cooperation and increase selflessness. Athletes who engage in more physical touch tend to perform better. Some big takeaways that I will be implementing when I coach will be: - Celebrate Small Wins: Use high fives to celebrate big achievements and small successes and efforts. - Encourage Camaraderie: Encourage athletes to give each other high fives to build a sense of camaraderie and support. - Provide Positive Reinforcement: Integrate high fives to provide continuous positive reinforcement. Let's start giving more high-fives and watch our athletes thrive! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is the study for the coaches interested in the science behind this study (like myself). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30980218/ The study measured the psychological states and changes of individuals. The findings were that high fives decreased cortisol levels (a stress hormone) compared to low fives. Lower cortisol can mean reduced stress and better performance. Check out that article and the video to learn more!