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| Don't Disparage The Bench |
Help the players develop - you may need them someday
By DeAngelo N. Wiser
Though a coach’s greatest resource in a game may be only a few feet away, the coach will often fail to capitalize on it. We refer to the “bench” — the substitutes sitting there waiting for a call.
Coaches who disparage their bench-warmers are not being smart. An intelligently prepared group of reserves will give a team depth and resourcefulness, particularly in critical situations.
Several key factors must be considered in the building of a strong bench:
• Use a skill rating form for evaluation. This will enable you to sit down with the players, assess their strengths and weaknesses and make sound decisions about whom to keep. Though experience and instinct will help guide your decisions, it’s always reassuring to have solid information such as test scores to go on. The main point is never to base your decisions on hope and emotions.
• Meet with the players to discern exactly what they think of the game and how far they expect to go in it. Have the players put their goals in writing. This can provide valuable insight into the players and how to develop them as students and athletes.
• Never fill a uniform just because you have one available. Make sure the player can make a contribution to the team. Sitting on the bench with little chance of getting in the game can be a disheartening experience. Coaches who give such players a uniform may not be doing them a favor.
• In the final analysis, ask yourself, “Is this a player I would use in a critical situation?” Though you may never be 100 percent sure, you should be at least 75 to 80 percent sure.
Key ingredients:
• Development. Since most young players eventually will start for you, you must work hard to develop their skills and give them more game responsibility as the season progresses. If possible, have an assistant coach work with them on fundamentals such as dribbling, receiving and passing during practice. It may also be a good idea to keep these players after practice for additional help if time permits.
• Simulation. Nothing works better than the simulation of game situations. Use the game clock in practice situations, work on substituting players into the starting lineups and make certain they are ready to assume real game roles.
• Anticipation. Talk with your bench players during the game to keep them actively involved and anticipating playing. As you walk up and down the bench, let them know your thoughts and what you expect. You may even seek their input in game situations.
• Timing. If you like to make sure that everyone plays, you may choose to substitute early in the game. If you wait until late in the contest, you may not find the right situation for marginal players.
• Purpose. Substitute with a specific purpose. As simple as this sounds, it’s often overlooked. Be specific about the task for the substitute, such as stopping a particular opponent or playing a particular role, either defensively or on the attack. If you expect a lot from your bench, make sure the subs know exactly what you want from them.
• Patience. Be patient with reserve players. Don’t explode or yell at them because of a mistake. After all, they haven’t played as much as the starters. Maintain a realistic and positive demeanor. Your gestures and body language can greatly influence the players’ attitudes on the field.
• Confidence. Since these are the players you’ll often have to go with at crunch time or after an injury, you should develop their confidence early in the season by praising their good play and hustle during practice and games.
• Consistency. Be consistent with them. Reward them for strong efforts in practice and games. They’ll respond with 110 percent effort. Remember, they want a chance to show you they deserve more playing time.
• Common sense. Never put in a newcomer with 30 seconds left in a contest that already has been decided. This can be embarrassing to the player.
• Communication. Seek out the players who didn’t get a chance to play and explain the situation. Allow them to vent their frustration, if it exists. This may head off a potential problem. On the positive side, make certain you praise their good play.
• Acknowledgement. Make a conscious effort to recognize reserve players at your banquet. Establish a reserve-player award or team player of the year award for them to work toward.
• Evaluate and learn. Always ask yourself, “Have I allowed this player to develop in a positive atmosphere? Have I done everything possible to ensure his or her success?”
Sit down with players at the end of the year to decide upon goals. If one of the goals of a player is to become a starter or play more, tell them what you believe they have to do to achieve that goal.
Have a plan, develop guidelines, set rules, have high expectations and don’t be afraid of experimenting. Most coaches will readily tell you it’s a luxury to have a strong bench. What they won’t always reveal is how hard they worked to build it.
Editor’s note: The author was the assistant girls’ basketball coach at Jessamine County High School in Nicholasville, Ky., at the time the article appeared in Coach and Athletic Director (August, 1995). This appeared in the November-December 2002 issue of Soccer Journal.
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