--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My communication with A'ja was always…" description: "\"My communication with A'ja was always less about basketball. I tried to be a place where she could let her guard down and just be.\" — Dawn Staley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/dawn-staley-4962_basketball_my-communication-with-a-ja-was-always-le_2215896.png" --- # My communication with A'ja was always less about… ![“My communication with A'ja was always less about basketball. I tried to be a place where she could let her guard down and just be.” quote by Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/dawn-staley-4962_basketball_my-communication-with-a-ja-was-always-le_2215896.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/dawn-staley-4962_basketball_my-communication-with-a-ja-was-always-le_2215896.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c0/dawn-staley-4962_basketball_my-communication-with-a-ja-was-always-le_2215896.png) > “My communication with A'ja was always less about basketball. I tried to be a place where she could let her guard down and just be.” [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Coaching is about creating a safe space for genuine connection beyond sport. **In simple terms:** Build trust beyond the game. Key Takeaway Prioritize emotional safety. Themes coaching trust communication mentorship Mood empathetic supportive Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - one‑on‑one talks - player development sessions Key Concepts psychological safety leadership relationship building Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance performance goals with emotional support? - What signals show a player feels safe? A Different Perspective Focusing only on sport may miss broader personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ## Related quotes > [I've always appreciated basketball. I never tried to disrespect the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-kemp/i-ve-always-appreciated-basketball-i-never-tried-to-disrespect-the/) [Shawn Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-kemp/) > [My dad never pushed me to play basketball. I tried it, and I was pretty rag-tag for a long time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-nance-jr/my-dad-never-pushed-me-to-play-basketball-i-tried-it-and-i-was-pretty/) [Larry Nance, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-nance-jr/) > [The love of basketball, the time and effort I've put into it - I'd be doing a disservice to myself if I didn't see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/the-love-of-basketball-the-time-and-effort-i-ve-put-into-it-i-d-be/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [When one person breaks your heart, it's hard to let your guard down for the next person. Good luck!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-one-person-breaks-your-heart-it-s-hard-to-let-your-guard-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's life, You know . Dreams come true, just to get ripped away the millisecond you begin to let down your guard and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-daniel-plunkett/that-s-life-you-know-dreams-come-true-just-to-get-ripped-away-the/) Jacob Daniel Plunkett > [“That was the dangerous thing about dreams-how quicly you became tangled in it all. People naturally let their guard down when they slept.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-bracken/that-was-the-dangerous-thing-about-dreams-how-quicly-you-became/) [Alexandra Bracken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-bracken/) > [Once you let your guard down there's nothing to shield you from what might happen next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-you-let-your-guard-down-there-s-nothing-to-shield-you-from-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman - stay alert and focused on your surroundings. Travel with friends. Know where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/it-doesn-t-matter-if-you-re-a-man-or-a-woman-stay-alert-and-focused/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Let us always guard our tongue; not that it should always be silent, but that it should speak at the proper time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/let-us-always-guard-our-tongue-not-that-it-should-always-be-silent/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [You won't build relationships unless you let your guard down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ferrazzi/you-won-t-build-relationships-unless-you-let-your-guard-down/) [Keith Ferrazzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ferrazzi/) > [Be a person who knows to let it guard down your own pride,down to earth and be humble to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy/be-a-person-who-knows-to-let-it-guard-down-your-own-pride-down-to/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy/) > [It's okay to let your guard down and let someone get close to actually care about you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-okay-to-let-your-guard-down-and-let-someone-get-close-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I should have known better. I shouldn’t have let my guard down. That’s been a big rule of mine for the last year or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loni-flowers/i-should-have-known-better-i-shouldn-t-have-let-my-guard-down-that-s/) [Loni Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loni-flowers/) > [She taught me that it's ok to let down your guard and allow your players to get to know you. They don't care how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/she-taught-me-that-it-s-ok-to-let-down-your-guard-and-allow-your/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [Breathe easy, relax, and let down your guard, because your future is safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/breathe-easy-relax-and-let-down-your-guard-because-your-future-is-safe/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Dawn Staley > [I'm not the one to back down and I don't give up, and believe me, I'm not perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-m-not-the-one-to-back-down-and-i-don-t-give-up-and-believe-me-i-m/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [Aside from their talent, a prerequisite of us actually recruiting a young lady is their relationship with their parents because if they respect their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/aside-from-their-talent-a-prerequisite-of-us-actually-recruiting-a/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [When I was growing up in the projects in Philadelphia in the 1970s and 80s, Cadillac was the car to have. But I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/when-i-was-growing-up-in-the-projects-in-philadelphia-in-the-1970s/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I like the challenge of getting players to rise to certain levels, but that's the easy part. The biggest challenge is to get them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-like-the-challenge-of-getting-players-to-rise-to-certain-levels-but/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I don't coach to win awards, I really don't. I'm very, very satisfied with just being there for my players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-don-t-coach-to-win-awards-i-really-don-t-i-m-very-very-satisfied/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I grew up in the projects in North Philly. And when you grow up in the projects in North Philly, no one thinks you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-grew-up-in-the-projects-in-north-philly-and-when-you-grow-up-in-the/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I'm not one that really has a huge social life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-m-not-one-that-really-has-a-huge-social-life/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [A lot of people notice when you succeed, but they don't see what it takes to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/a-lot-of-people-notice-when-you-succeed-but-they-don-t-see-what-it/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I think I'm very consistent with who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-think-i-m-very-consistent-with-who-i-am/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [I grew up in a disciplined household, and I have never been afraid of working hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/i-grew-up-in-a-disciplined-household-and-i-have-never-been-afraid-of/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [If there were ever a secret to being a great coach, that's it: the connection. I need to have a personal relationship with each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/if-there-were-ever-a-secret-to-being-a-great-coach-that-s-it-the/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [It's my nature just to teach, help and simplify basketball, that's my mentality. To not make the game so hard. It's really an easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/it-s-my-nature-just-to-teach-help-and-simplify-basketball-that-s-my/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [Some of my earliest lessons in perseverance were being turned away from the basketball court by the guys in the neighborhood when all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/some-of-my-earliest-lessons-in-perseverance-were-being-turned-away/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [It's not often you see great players just improve year after year after year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/it-s-not-often-you-see-great-players-just-improve-year-after-year/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) > [Coaching - teaching the game - came relatively easy. I connected extremely well with the players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-staley/coaching-teaching-the-game-came-relatively-easy-i-connected-extremely/) [Dawn Staley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) [Explore all 104 Dawn Staley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-staley/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My communication with A'ja was always less about basketball. 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