Substitutions
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Substitutions
When you become aware of your players' strengths, you can look to make sure that you have a balanced group on the court at all times. You can have a good mix of players who can secure possessions (defenders and/or rebounders) and a player who can get the ball down the floor safely (a ball-handler and/or scorer). Leaving less-skilled players on the floor with nobody to help them will not help your team or those players that you have in the game.
Give players feedback before and after subbing. Again, use the sandwich technique; a constructive criticism wrapped between two positive feedback statements, is good for this (as an example: "Nice effort, Danielle, try and work on keeping your head up, because you can see your teammates and where the defense is coming from, and that makes it easier to pass. When you did that, you threw some great passes! Well done, have a rest and a drink now").
A player who gets that kind of treatment from the head coach or assistant upon coming to the bench will be excited about getting back in and giving his best effort.
Comments
4/25/2009 8:54:06 AMKennith leverette said:
This is my first time coaching youth basketball. My players ages are between 12-14 and I am looking for tips on how much playing time to give my players without their parents getting upset?
4/25/2009 3:23:31 PM
Brian said:
I was coaching a YMCA 13-15 division, and of course there were kids more talented than the others, but they all deserved an equal chance on the court. I would usually start and finish with the most talented 5, because at this age, winning and losing is also a part of the learning experience, so there is nothing wrong with trying to win games. Throughout the middle part of the game I would plug and match different kids into the lineup, but would always try to keep at least one of the more talented kids on the court, so that the kids off the bench were in a position to succeed also. It's impossible to please everybody, but just communicate to both your players and their parents, let them know that creating a fun, learning environment for your players is your #1 priority.
3/20/2010 11:01:53 PM
janjan reyes said:
Our team's goal is to won the championship, but I am coaching now a 12-15 years old kids, some are more tall and talented than the others and I am looking for yours.tips on how to balance them inside the court. Thank you.
3/22/2010 8:14:37 AM
Brian said:
I would have my big guys(usually two on the court at any one time), working block to block, occasionally flashing to the free throw line, while my perimeter players run a motion type offense out top, occasionally back door cutting to keep them honest.
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