Coaches want their players to play with a sense of urgency. Playing with urgency means that players move with sense of purpose at all times, that players are walking around or reacting to situations after the fact.
In the basketball world, you have to move quickly and hustle. John Wooden once said “be quick but not in a hurry”. This is one way to say “don’t let me see you walking around but also don’t move so fast that you make bad decisions.” When you practice and prepare with urgency it slows the real game down for you
In basketball, he who reacts last loses (the only time I can think of when this isn’t true is when one player does something illegal to another and reacts second). The first one to make contact/hit for rebounds usually wins it. When a player cuts to the basket hard and fast allows for you to get an advantage. First to the floor for a loose ball normally gets to it first and gains the possession for their team. You gotta be ready to react with speed.
Here are 3 things to remember about urgency:
Urgency requires you to understand purpose and impact.
Urgency is connected to getting things done. When you with urgency and quality performance it’s noticeable.
You are making the most out of your opportunities. This builds self esteem and confidence
Great post, Coach Tatum! Urgency isn’t just physical—it’s mental readiness too. Staying present helps players anticipate plays and make faster, smarter decisions. Plus, urgency thrives on communication. Teams that move with purpose and stay connected control the game’s tempo. Appreciate the insights! 👏🏾🏀