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Getting More Playing Time -by Coach Brian Schofield http://www.hoopskills.com

We get emails from time to time from players

asking about how they can get more playing time.

It's a question that a lot of players have, - even

good players ask themselves this usually at one

point of their playing career. Unfortunately there

really isn't a simple "one size fits all" answer for

this question.

All coaches are different and each player's

situation might be unique. With all that aside, we

do want players to know that there are lots of

practical solutions to overcoming not getting the

amount of playing time and to know that whatever your circumstance is there is

light at the end of the tunnel.

As a young man my parents one day left me 1,900 miles away from home. I was

supposed to be meeting some friends but there was a mix-up in communication

and I ended up stranded all by myself. When I talked to my dad the next day I was

very rude and said "dad, now you're just going to have to pay for the flight home."

He laughed and said "you aren't worth the flight home right now, I have a

greyhound ticket for you and you'll get on that bus tomorrow at 10 a.m. if you

know what is good for you."

I got on the bus that next morning and I have never been so miserable in my life or

more scared than I was during those 31 hours of travel. I was in some shady places

at some very gloomy hours and honestly sat near someone with a fish bowl and

live fish. When I got home my father hugged me and expressed his love and made

sure that I learned a lesson. I learned a valuable lesson that week that I apply to

every aspect of my life-accountability.

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I can play a great victim in this story and get people to feel sorry for me all the

time. I get comments like "what type of parents would leave their kid". I tell them

the type of parents that loved me and wanted me to learn.

What I'm saying is that as a ball player you have to be accountable for yourself and

not allow any outside excuses. I've heard them all and I've written about some of

them already. "The coach hates my family." "The coach already had his team

picked out." "The coach has his favorites." I've heard them all but what I am

hearing is this... I wasn't good enough to play. It is what it is. Coaches will play the

best players.

Can coaches be political at times? Sure, but let's realize that their jobs are based

on winning programs and nobody is going to truly sit if they are that good. It just

doesn't happen very often at all. When you hear your parents or those around you

talking about how you are so much better than someone else just realize that this

is something you control. Always believe the best players will play and be one of

the best players.

How does this tie into playing time? It's all about Communication. Let's talk with

the coach and find out what you can do to play. Don't guess about it or say you

don't know what the coach is looking for. Go ask. Next, players that play work hard

in practice. If you want to get in games then work hard in practice. Do drills full-

speed. Volunteer when your coach asks for volunteers.

One thing that I ask players a lot is what they do well. If you are a shooter then

don't do something you aren't good at yet by trying to play post. If you are a ball-

handler but only an average shooter don't shoot each time you get it. It isn't bad to

specialize in certain areas.

We can't always be the best players in every area of the game, but for our teams

we can be the best shooter, the best passer or rebounder. The list goes on. It is

about doing what you do well and doing it over and over again. Don't try to do too

much.

I'm a very big University of Illinois fan and have been my entire life. Years ago they

had a player named Lucas Johnson and this guy was amazing. He was a decent

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athlete, decent shooter, decent defender, etc... you get the point. Not great at

anything except the intangibles.

He was tough, he went after each loose ball, he took charges and the coach had a

tough time sitting him down. Lucas understood his role and did it very well. You

can do the same when you communicate with your coach and find out what is

expected and do it. You'll always play if you meet or exceed expectations and know

what those are.

Any player can come up with excuses all day why they aren't getting playing time.

It's those players that continue to sit on the bench and wonder what they could

have been. If you really want to play, stop the excuses, be honest with yourself and

go talk to your coach in a non-confrontational manner. Change your attitude and

go to work, the playing time will soon follow.