Bench time: a positive experience.How to use the time to the greatest advantage of the individual and team Everyone on a basketball basketball, game played generally indoors by two opposing teams of five players each. Basketball was conceived in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a physical education instructor at the YMCA college in Springfield, Mass. team wants to be out on the floor every minute of every game, but only five of them can be on the floor at any one time. The rest of the players have to expect to spend time on the bench. Some players will sulk, others will just sit and watch. The real team players will use it as a learning experience, an opportunity to pick up a lot of information that can help their game and enable them to be productive when they do get into a game. In short, they do not view bench-sitting as a negative experience. They use it positively and constructively con·struc·tive adj. 1. Serving to improve or advance; helpful: constructive criticism. 2. Of or relating to construction; structural. 3. to watch, pull for their team, and prepare to make the most out of every opportunity they get to play. How to make the most out of the time spent on the bench: 1. Concentrate on getting the feel of the game. If you have listened to your coach's pre-game directions, you should have a good idea of your team's game plan and what the opponents may try to do. Team characteristics to observe: * What are your opponents trying to do vs your defense? * What kind of pace are they setting? * What is working for them and what is giving them trouble? * What is your team doing offensively? * What plays are they running? * If your team is running a motion type of offense, what two- or three-man plays are working? * Can you see any other ways of taking advantage of a weakness in the opponents' defense or offense? 2. Observe your opponents as individuals. Try to profile each player, with special emphasis on the players you may have to guard or who play in your area of zone defense. * Does the player have a good outside shot? * Does she have a good jump shot? * Does she like to drive? * Can she go both right and left? * Can she "finish?" * Is she quick, slow, big, or small? * Does she demand your undivided UNDIVIDED. That which is held by the same title by two or more persons, whether their rights are equal, as to value or quantity, or unequal. 2. Tenants in common, joint-tenants, and partners, hold an undivided right in their respective properties, until attention, or does she allow you to give your teammates a lot of help? 3. Closely watch the player who may be defending against you. Assess her size and quickness. * Does she battle for position? * Can you drive on her? * Does she play soft, giving up the outside shot? * Does she gamble a lot defensively? * Does she box out? 4. During most games, constant adjustments will have to be made. Be aware of them. Observe what is happening and listen to the interaction between your coach and teammates. What is your coach emphasizing in terms of what has to be done? What corrections are being made? You can gain a lot of knowledge by listening to the corrections of other players. If you are unclear about something, question your coach, assistant coach, or teammates on the bench. 5. When entering a game, always try to give your team a lift. Being fresher than the players on the floor, you can use your hustle hus·tle v. hus·tled, hus·tling, hus·tles v.tr. 1. To jostle or shove roughly. 2. To convey in a hurried or rough manner: hustled the prisoner into a van. to spark spark, in electricity: see arc. (language) SPARK - An annotated subset of Ada supported by tools supplied by Praxis Critical Systems (originally by PVL). http://sparkada.com. your team. If you are in the game for just a minute, make it stand out because of your hustle. Don't don't 1. Contraction of do not. 2. Nonstandard Contraction of does not. n. A statement of what should not be done: a list of the dos and don'ts. get hung up on the thought that you are in there just as a breather. (Make your time quality time.) Players who do a good job while playing just a minute or two will often gain the coach's and team's confidence, and this can lead to increased playing time. Know your role and do it well. If you've you've Contraction of you have. you've you have you've have been in the game and are now on the bench, let your teammates know what you experienced so that the next time around everyone will know how to react. 6. When sitting on the bench, show enthusiasm by rooting for your team. When anyone on the floor is replaced, always acknowledge her efforts by slapping slapping, n massage technique that uses the flat palms of the hands percussively; a form of tapotement. See also tapotement. hands or making a positive comment. Talk to the player, get her perspective on the opposing op·pose v. op·posed, op·pos·ing, op·pos·es v.tr. 1. To be in contention or conflict with: oppose the enemy force. 2. team and individual players. Encourage and assure your teammates. Calm them down whenever they are anxious or tense tense [O.Fr., from Lat.,=time], in the grammar of many languages, a category of time distinctions expressed by any conjugated form of a verb. In Latin inflection the tense of a verb is indicated by a suffix that also indicates the verb's voice, mood, person, and . Maintain your focus and keep your teammates focused on what has to be done to win the game. 7. If you are a player who rarely gets into the game or only when the issue is no longer in doubt, you should stay alive on the bench. By working hard in practice and keeping your team together, you will be making a vital contribution to your team - which will make you feel good about yourself and add to your enjoyment The exercise of a right; the possession and fruition of a right or privilege. Comfort, consolation, contentment, ease, happiness, pleasure, and satisfaction. Such includes the beneficial use, interest, and purpose to which property may be put, and implies right to profits and income of the game. Remember, whether you play little or a lot, you are an important member of the team and you have to be prepared to contribute whenever called upon in any situation. Your preparedness pre·par·ed·ness n. The state of being prepared, especially military readiness for combat. Noun 1. preparedness - the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action); "putting them and contributions from the bench will have a big impact upon your team's success. Bench Checklist DO'S... 1. Get a feel for the game. 2. Be a student of the game, learn while watching. 3. Watch and listen for adjustments by your coach and teammates. 4. Make your playing time "quality time" by adding energy and spark whenever entering the game. 5. Encourage teammates, show enthusiasm, and make a team commitment. 6. Be prepared to contribute to your team in any way. DON'TS... 1. Mope or watch the game superficially su·per·fi·cial adj. 1. Of, affecting, or being on or near the surface: a superficial wound. 2. Concerned with or comprehending only what is apparent or obvious; shallow. 3. . 2. Fail to analyze an·a·lyze v. 1. To examine methodically by separating into parts and studying their interrelations. 2. To separate a chemical substance into its constituent elements to determine their nature or proportions. 3. and learn from actual game experience. 3. Be unaware of changes as the game progresses. 4. Worry about your playing time and forget to do your best. 5. Show disappointment and ruin a chance to add to your team's mental strength and success. 6. Be less than fully prepared to play because you have not observed the proper bench conduct. |
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