When to give it up...

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

I'm at the point where my schedule is all over the place . For example last night I do a Boys Jv followed by the Girls Varsity. It was strange for me to have to make a shift that quick.

Feel like giving me ,,say 3 things ,that would help me make the transition a little smoother ?

Mostly, it is the point at which contact creates and advantage. It comes a lot sooner in most girls games.

To manage that, I mentally prepare for the specific game by telling myself(while traveling to the game/during pregame/during the game) and pregaming with my partner that those more marginal bumps need to be called (or not) depending on the type of game it is.


A minor handcheck on the dribbler as they come across the FT line and curl down the lane doesn't even phase most boys...they often beat the defender that is handchecking them, cut down the lane, and make a layup, a short undefended jumper, or get fouled while attempting the shot. It is my experience that most boys coaches/players would rather have this shot than the earlier foul (and the ball OOB). They prefer the advantage they had with the player going down the open lane. Calling the foul takes it away from them.

However, in a girls game, the same handcheck more often leads to a different outcome. Less often does the dribbler have enough strength to play through the contact and take advantage of having the defender in a bad position. When they're able to make the turn down the lane, they either don't have enough left to make the shot or they slow down enough that the other defenders prevent them from getting the open shot.

It is a matter of recognizing that the same contact is a foul one game but not another depending the skill, strength, and speed of the specific teams involved...and the difference between a most boys games and most girls games tends to be more substantial than the difference within the same gender.