Category: Coach Vic's Instruction and Advice
Type: Philosophy
PLAYER'S RESPONSIBILITY
If you want to be a basketball player, then dedicate yourself to mastering the skills of the game; not only the technical skills related to playing offense and defense, but also the perceptual skills related to decision-making. Become the best ball handler, shooter, passer, one-on-one player, rebounder, defensive player and team player that you can be. Remember, the only significant difference between playing a perimeter position and the post position is that the former is farther from the basket than the latter. And, that, when you have the ball, what happens next depends, to a large extent, on you. You are the quarterback.
Being a complete player, you will be ready to play any position in a particular coach's system of play. For example, if you are the tallest player on your team in elementary school, you may play the post position. What happens in high school when there are a number of players taller than you? Can you play a perimeter position? If you are a 6 ft. forward in high school, can you be a 6 ft. point guard in college? Why not?
If you are occupying the point guard position, can you, when the player guarding you is significantly shorter, make him/her guard you in the post position? If, when you are playing the post position, you are guarded by someone bigger and stronger than you, can you occupy a perimeter position from which you can shoot or drive against the opponent who is bigger, but slower than you? If the player, who is playing the point guard position, is having trouble with the player guarding him/her, can you, because the player guarding you is soft on defense, play the point guard position. If, when you are playing the post position, you get a defensive rebound, can you, because there is no outlet pass, advance the ball with a dribble and play the point position? Why not?
Work hard and play smart to be the best that you can be!
Submitted by: Vic Pruden
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