Team Disparity

[bbcoach7]

and I'm not just sucking up to a moderator either.

Having been on both sides of very lopsided scores as a coach, I really like this:

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Officiate the game, not the scoreboard.

At 1-15, it's likely this team has "tossed in the towel." They might compete hard for a little while, but as soon as it looks like it's the same old thing again, they will usually stop competing hard. Of course there are exceptions, but that's what it's like on the girls side.

When I know we are playing a very weak team, I want to put them away early because I don't want them to get it in their heads that they have a chance to win and keep playing real hard. Not because they might beat us, but because the chance of injury is much higher when the opponent thinks they have a chance to win and the only way they can beat you is by playing harder than you. Next thing you know they are running through you, diving into your legs for loose balls, fighting and scrapping for everything. They still are going to lose, but now it's ugly time.

Our varsity team played against and beat the same opponent 4 times this season (1 non league and 3 tournaments). The first game was very competetive. And it was an ugly game, technicals called on players, one ejection, ejected player gave the stands the middle finger from locker room doorway. The girls said they played dirty- holding, stomach punches, hip checks on airbourne players, all sorts of crap. Each successive time they played, the score was more lopsided. By the end of the 4th game, they were helping each other up & you'd of thought they grew up together in the same school district. Sitting in the stands together watching the boys play, hugging each other when it was time to leave. Girls! I'm pretty sure boys don't respond like that. Boys would keep slugging it out and they would report that they hate those SOB's.

When I've been on the wrong side of lopsided scores, I personally hated it, hated it, hated it, when it appeared as if calls aren't being made so we can just puleeeeze get this mess over with. The reason is because I'm trying to teach them how to play the game and if the rules are being sort of skimmed over, or over looked, it makes it more difficult to teach and robs me of precious time when the clock stops on the whistle and I can use those seconds to communicate. Sometimes when the call isn't made, the teaching moment is lost. Other times it can be re-constructed later.

Our last game (3 more) of the season is against a league opponent who we beat 59-11 a week ago. We didn't run, we didn't press, I made us run offense (I'd never make them count passes before they can try to score, that BS is more humiliating than the lopsided score). We could have just spread out and dribbled past them to the basket. I've been trying to figure out a creative way to make the last game more challenging and still get something of value out of it. Like I said, I won't make them count passes. That's bush league in my opinion, and it messes up flow and rythym on offense. Today I had them run our motion offense with no dribble allowed except in the paint for about 10 minutes. I like making them go no dribble in practice because it forces the player with the ball to get their eyes up and really see the court, and it forces those without the ball to learn how to get open. When we go no dribble on them in the game (after getting a good lead), it will just look like we really pass the ball well, the score will probably not get so lopsided, and my kids will be better players than if we just counted passes, or ran it up.

Just thought I'd toss in my coaches point of view on this topic.

[just another ref]

This thread comes at a good time. GV game I have tonight, last meeting was
44-2. That's right. Visitors have lost their last 5 by a combined 251-40.

[just another ref]

Our game lived up to its billing. Home team did a great job of holding things down. The coach divided her starters and player everybody pretty much equally. Home had numerous steals with a chance to run out but didn't push it.
No pressure in the backcourt. Visitors had only 5 players, and looked like they had never met each other before tonight. They spread the court with nobody in the post. I believe they had 0 offensive board, maybe even no touches in the paint all night. They mainly made a couple of passes, then either turned it over or fired a 3. Final score: Home 39 Visitors 3

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by bbcoach7

I've been trying to figure out a creative way to make the last game more challenging and still get something of value out of it. Like I said, I won't make them count passes. That's bush league in my opinion, and it messes up flow and rythym on offense.

In addition to reffing basketball, I coach a different sport (soccer) and have generally been fairly successful.

We've often found ourselves up on teams and not being one to want to run up the score, I take measures that both limit scoring and benefit my players. I flip the positions around...defenders (many who never have a score all season) move forward into attacking positions. The forwards (who usually get most of the scores) are moved back to defense....hard to score from there. It does two things....it gives each player a chance to work on a skill set they don't use as often and it gives players who don't normally get the chance, an opportunity to score. Our rate of scoring drops (keeping it from getting out of hand) while we still rarely allow scores on us.

For basketball, you can do basically the same thing....make your bigs play on the perimiter and have the guards in the post. Your 5 or 4 brings the ball down the court and runs the offense. The 1 & 2, post up on the blocks or some such inside play. The 1 & 2 will learn how the post player wants to receive the ball and will usually be playing against bigger players, the post players will learn what it takes to get it inside and will learn better ball handling skills.

[bbcoach7]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

In addition to reffing basketball, I coach a different sport (soccer) and have generally been fairly successful.

For basketball, you can do basically the same thing....make your bigs play on the perimiter and have the guards in the post. Your 5 or 4 brings the ball down the court and runs the offense. The 1 & 2, post up on the blocks or some such inside play. The 1 & 2 will learn how the post player wants to receive the ball and will usually be playing against bigger players, the post players will learn what it takes to get it inside and will learn better ball handling skills.

I've had them flip positions before, and that will keep the score closer, but it doesn't really help them develop as players much because I'd never use them in those roles against a strong opponent.

Instead I took away the dribble once we were in the 1/2 court. We practiced it a little Monday. Then last night with a big lead we ran our motion (even though they were in a 2-3 zone with no dribble allowed except in the paint. We did it on the last 2 possessions of the game. First time- 6 passes & a 8'-10' shot. 2nd time (last possession of game) we made 14 passes (I checked the video) and finished with a lay-up down the middle of the lane against a 2-3 zone. We must have almost ran out the shot clock.

Those last 2 possessions were beautiful basketball to watch. Taking away the dribble like that forces the player with the ball to really see the floor, as she can't just catch & take off with the dribble. And the players without the ball are forced to work to get open. They can't be lazy and make the dribbler create the passing angle.

I'm going to run this a lot more next year, especially in practice.