Find Your Role
One important aspect within sports that most young athletes never figure out during their time of play is finding their role within their team. If you play singles tennis, golf, or any other sport that only involves you then your role is to be the best at your specific sport. But if you play a sport that requires a team, then your role needs to be defined in order to be successful. Successful defined here is
of course your team winning but more importantly you having the ability to contribute for your team and play within the game.
Everyone wants to play, this is understood so let's break this down a little further, so we understand how to get playing time ...
In the game of basketball only 5 players can play at any one time for any one team. Normally the team is broken down into 2 guards, 2 posts, and 1 center, however we know that these numbers can be switched here and there. You as a basketball player must find your role on the team so that you can acquire the largest amount of playing time.
If you are the best scorer and shooter, then your role is to score points and therefore the coach will ensure you play -- shooting guard
If you are the best ball handler and have good passing ability then the coach will ensure you play -- point guard
If you have height, strength and can score with your back to the basket the coach will ensure you play -- post or center
Now what happens if you are the second or third best ball handler out of a team of 12 players. I would say congrats, you are 3rd best out of 12 individuals at something, that is very good. However, because we go back to the rule of only 5 can play, your time may be limited due to the fact that you are only the 3rd best. The 1st best will get the most playing time, the 2nd best will get to sub in to allow the 1st to rest and then their is you. Even if the other players can't dribble as well as you but their skills sets in rebounding, shooting, and defense are better than yours they will also get more playing time because the coach really only needs one good Point Guard (ball handler / dribbler).
Does this mean if you are the 3rd best dribbler you should give up practicing ball handling now and work on something else that can get you more playing time? ----- Absolutely not!!!!!
What it does mean is you need to look at your team, and if you are not a starter then you need to see where or what within your team you could contribute the most to. Remember ever team is different. One team may need rebounding, while some may need a player that can step up and score 10+ points a game to go with the main scorer. In some instances what may be missing on the court is simply leadership.
You have to figure out what skill set you can learn that will gain you the most playing time.
Here are some of the easiest ways to gain more playing time and to become an asset to your team:
Everyone wants to play, this is understood so let's break this down a little further, so we understand how to get playing time ...
In the game of basketball only 5 players can play at any one time for any one team. Normally the team is broken down into 2 guards, 2 posts, and 1 center, however we know that these numbers can be switched here and there. You as a basketball player must find your role on the team so that you can acquire the largest amount of playing time.
If you are the best scorer and shooter, then your role is to score points and therefore the coach will ensure you play -- shooting guard
If you are the best ball handler and have good passing ability then the coach will ensure you play -- point guard
If you have height, strength and can score with your back to the basket the coach will ensure you play -- post or center
Now what happens if you are the second or third best ball handler out of a team of 12 players. I would say congrats, you are 3rd best out of 12 individuals at something, that is very good. However, because we go back to the rule of only 5 can play, your time may be limited due to the fact that you are only the 3rd best. The 1st best will get the most playing time, the 2nd best will get to sub in to allow the 1st to rest and then their is you. Even if the other players can't dribble as well as you but their skills sets in rebounding, shooting, and defense are better than yours they will also get more playing time because the coach really only needs one good Point Guard (ball handler / dribbler).
Does this mean if you are the 3rd best dribbler you should give up practicing ball handling now and work on something else that can get you more playing time? ----- Absolutely not!!!!!
What it does mean is you need to look at your team, and if you are not a starter then you need to see where or what within your team you could contribute the most to. Remember ever team is different. One team may need rebounding, while some may need a player that can step up and score 10+ points a game to go with the main scorer. In some instances what may be missing on the court is simply leadership.
You have to figure out what skill set you can learn that will gain you the most playing time.
Here are some of the easiest ways to gain more playing time and to become an asset to your team:
- Defense: It is truly amazing how many individuals within the high school ranks cannot play proper defense. Proper defense does not mean you steal the ball and block the shot every time. Proper defense means you have the ability to utilize your body and footwork to control the movements of your opponent without fouling or using your hands. You don't allow your player forward movement with the ball within the 3pt arc and understand help defense (you helping others). You understand that defense is really about 'heart' and how much you want to stop your opponent from scoring. If you can become a shut down defender you will find yourself being utilized by your coach in each game even if your other skill sets are not as good. Your coach will understand that what you do not bring on the offensive side, you make up for on defense when you are able to stop the best player on the other team from scoring. Remember the coach also has 4 other players to count on for offense besides you.
- Rebounding: A player that can properly box out and rebound on both side of the court is a true commodity. Even if you don't have post up moves, even if you can't dribble or pass well you will still find substantial playing time if you can rebound extremely well. Remember, when you rebound on the defensive side, you simply pivot and outlet to someone else that will dribble and pass. And when you rebound on the offensive side you simply try to go straight back up and score. You don't need to dribble and do fancy moves, you are already under the basket and if you are quick enough you gained the rebound due to positioning meaning the defense is still probably out of position when you go back up for the score.
- Leadership: An aspect of the game sometimes forgotten. A leader on the floor is an important aspect to a winning team. A leader can settle a shaken group or charge them with motivation when needing a run to get back into a game. A leader will point out their own flaws and mistakes and accordingly point out their teammates mistakes and laziness on and off the court while holding themselves and everyone accountable for their actions. Players look to a leader when times are tough. The leader doesn't necessarily have to be the one taking the last shot, but they are the one before the shot that looks the shooter in the eyes and in a confident and controlled way says "You can do this!"
- Do-It-All: The do it all player is someone that does everything well but nothing great. They aren't the best ball handler but are maybe the 3rd or 4th. They rebound well, run the floor, can catch and pass the ball and play good defense. Again they don't do anything spectacular but they don't make mistakes. While this player may not be a starter they will get plenty of minutes from the coach because the coach knows that when a starter needs rest he can trust his Do-It-All player to go in and while not doing anything amazing they won't do anything terrible.
SIDE NOTE
Regardless of how much time you spend playing within each game, you should be happy with being apart of the team. Remember happy and content are two different things. Happy is being apart of the team, sharing in the success regardless of how much you actually play and continually supporting your teammates, win or lose. Content however is completely different. You should in fact never be content with your ability and play. If you are a starter, you should continually want to get better. If you are not a starter you should continually want to get better to become a starter. And you are neither of those then you should continually be improving just to get some playing time.
With that said, let's go back to being happy!
If your playing time is limited, know that you are still contributing to your team. Maybe your role regardless of how much you like it is to train your players every day in practice and make them better when game time comes. By you playing as hard as you can in practice and helping them get better, your team becomes better. While that may not seem like the greatest thing for a player that wants playing time, the simple fact is that everyone can't be the star even though many continually believe they should be or are.
Maybe your role is a supportive one. On a team of 12, maybe you are number 12 limiting your playing time. Well, your role may be to be the first one standing when subs come in and out, the first want cheering when someone does something good and the first one starting the "defense" chant when the team needs a big stop.
The point is, if you made the team be happy, find your role and do it to the best of your ability but never be content with your current ability or progress and continually get better.
With that said, let's go back to being happy!
If your playing time is limited, know that you are still contributing to your team. Maybe your role regardless of how much you like it is to train your players every day in practice and make them better when game time comes. By you playing as hard as you can in practice and helping them get better, your team becomes better. While that may not seem like the greatest thing for a player that wants playing time, the simple fact is that everyone can't be the star even though many continually believe they should be or are.
Maybe your role is a supportive one. On a team of 12, maybe you are number 12 limiting your playing time. Well, your role may be to be the first one standing when subs come in and out, the first want cheering when someone does something good and the first one starting the "defense" chant when the team needs a big stop.
The point is, if you made the team be happy, find your role and do it to the best of your ability but never be content with your current ability or progress and continually get better.