--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not what you tell your players that…" description: "\"It's not what you tell your players that counts. It's what they here.\" — Red Auerbach" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/red-auerbach-14429_basketball_it-s-not-what-you-tell-your-players-that_2619574.jpg" --- # It's not what you tell your players that counts. It's what… ![“It's not what you tell your players that counts. It's what they here.” quote by Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/red-auerbach-14429_basketball_it-s-not-what-you-tell-your-players-that_2619574.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/red-auerbach-14429_basketball_it-s-not-what-you-tell-your-players-that_2619574.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/red-auerbach-14429_basketball_it-s-not-what-you-tell-your-players-that_2619574.jpg) > “It's not what you tell your players that counts. It's what they here.” [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Coaching impact depends on what players hear, not just what coaches say. **In simple terms:** Listening matters more than speaking. Key Takeaway Focus on clear, consistent communication. Themes leadership communication team dynamics Mood motivational direct Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - sports coaching - corporate training - education - family discussions Key Concepts active listening feedback loops Questions to Reflect On - How can you verify that your message was understood? - What channels ensure your words are heard? A Different Perspective Players may misinterpret messages despite clarity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Basketball coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball-coaching/) [Coaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coaching/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/players/) ## Related quotes > [It's not what you tell your players that counts. 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I didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-gundy/to-be-successful-in-anything-you-have-to-have-a-passion-for-it-and/) [Jeff Van Gundy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-gundy/) > [Good sound habits are more important than rules - use concepts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/good-sound-habits-are-more-important-than-rules-use-concepts/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [Praise your kids. Inspire and motivate your players with praise. Ten years from now it won't matter what your record was. Will your kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-harrick/praise-your-kids-inspire-and-motivate-your-players-with-praise-ten/) Jim Harrick > [In evaluating the way in which ball possessions are gained during the course of a game, we find that 60 to 80 percent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-miller/in-evaluating-the-way-in-which-ball-possessions-are-gained-during-the/) Ralph Miller > [Every day you teach attitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-meyer/every-day-you-teach-attitude/) [Don Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-meyer/) > [The only thing I pay attention to with free throws is what a guy does in the final four minutes of a game. 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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/) ## More by Red Auerbach > [And I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/and-i-have-been-very-blessed-having-coached-some-of-the-greatest-that/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [The best way to forget ones self is to look at the world with attention and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/the-best-way-to-forget-ones-self-is-to-look-at-the-world-with/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [“Who could better motivate Bill Russell than Bill Russell?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/who-could-better-motivate-bill-russell-than-bill-russell/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [I've turned down a lot of trades where I might have gotten a better player, but I wasn't totally sure of the chemistry of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/i-ve-turned-down-a-lot-of-trades-where-i-might-have-gotten-a-better/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Many, many times, the kids with the less talent become the better athletes because they're more dedicated to achieving their full potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/many-many-times-the-kids-with-the-less-talent-become-the-better/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Just do what you do best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/just-do-what-you-do-best/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Take pride in what you do. The kind of pride I'm talking about is not the arrogant puffed-up kind; it's just the whole idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/take-pride-in-what-you-do-the-kind-of-pride-i-m-talking-about-is-not/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [Everyone is born with a certain potential. You may never achieve your full potential, but how close you come depends on how much you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/everyone-is-born-with-a-certain-potential-you-may-never-achieve-your/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [To a father, when a child dies, the future dies; to a child when a parent dies, the past dies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/to-a-father-when-a-child-dies-the-future-dies-to-a-child-when-a/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) > [You see, in sports you have so many things that aren't expected. There's so much uncertainty. 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It's what they hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-auerbach/it-s-not-what-you-tell-your-players-that-counts-it-s-what-they-hear/) [Red Auerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) [Explore all 46 Red Auerbach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-auerbach/) ## 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": "It's not what you tell your players that counts. 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