People always ask me, "What makes a good basketball player?" Well, there are many things..... like attitude, work ethic, skill, and "knowing your role". I want to talk about the last one because it's one that coaches often overlook way too much.
If all your players are clear what their role is and they execute THEIR role.... you can have a championship team and not just a champion-type player. I've seen loaded teams with champions who never win the championship. Why? They don't know their role. Either they're lacking in confidence. Confused because they haven't been taught their role. Or they're all just trying to do everything and be everything and ultimately.... that's not teamwork. Furthermore, if everyone knows their role, a true team effort is attainable. A team "effort" is necessary before team "work" and then team pride and then team championship.
I have coached two posts that are prime examples of knowing their roles. Whit T. was a quiet post. Other posts in the state were definitely bigger and stronger. She looked more like a model and her smile showed her sweetness. At the beginning of the season she would not demand the ball. She was too unselfish and she was too quiet. I made her a captain and that was a huge role on the team. She HAD to come out of her shell. She HAD to be a leader. My captains are very hands on. I had meetings with them. Then I taught them to run the floor. Whit's money position was trailer at the foul shot line. She had a great outside shot. She also finished inside the paint. I watched her confidence and leadership grow throughout the season. She began to know her role. Just as importantly, her teammates knew her role.
At districts I heard her take control in the huddle. She was pushing her team. Wow! I had to smile. At state we had to face the number one, undefeated team for the state in our first round.... and they had a big girl... and she was big. We ran them. We also put Shannon (our other secret weapon) on the point guard. We pressed, we ran, we finished, and Whitney was in the house. She was in the house and knowing her role the whole state tournament, but the championship game was her shining moment. She controlled the floor. She demanded the ball. She lead her team to a state championship. She fulfilled her role. She was named player of the year for the state and went on to play college ball. She was a role model to my other younger post... Jac.
Jac was a toothpick of a post, so knowing her role was an evolving process as she evolved as a player. She didn't have to be told to demand the ball. I loved that she always wanted the ball. She could seal her girl so low that it didn't matter if they had 50 pounds on her (and often they did). She perfected the turn around baseline fade shot. She ran the floor beautifully. At 5'10 and a beanpole she had to run and beat them. And she did. She went on to be player of the year for the state two years later and led her team to another state championship.
Both these girls also knew their role in practice. But I can tell you that "their role" still had to be defined, reviewed, and respected. You can't just assume a player knows their role. You also can't assume that a team will respect a player's role. All of that takes design and work. The ultimate end goal is that the team "flow" as I call it. You can tell when a team has flow. They transition with a few passes and act like it's the every day norm when they score. They are unselfish and rely on every member of the team. One thing that is always EVERY players role is to score, dribble, and pass. I demand that every player shoots the ball. Every player must have the ability to be a threat. Otherwise, breaking down the team is pretty easy.
I will talk about a few more players tomorrow in my series on "know your role". :D
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