Photo credit: John Martinez Pavliga

Here is the hard truth about playing time...

You need to stop blaming your coach.

If you're not playing as much as you'd like, you need to focus on one thing that you can control...

You simply need to focus on getting better!

The excuses that you're not playing are simply irrelevant...

It doesn't matter if politics are at play.

It doesn't matter if the coach is more familiar with other players.

Coming up with excuses may make you feel better, but it's not going to help you with your objective.

Coaches are a different breed...

Coaches are some of the most competitive people on the planet!

If you can clearly show that you will impact winning, the coach will go out of their way to get you more playing time.

You should put all of your energy and time into getting better physically and mentally!!! That's the only thing that will truly benefit you over the long run.

That means you need to...

• Ask your coach what they want from you to help the team win
• Ask the coach how you could get more playing time
• Ask the coach what kind of shots you should take
• Work relentlessly on your skills - Put in more time than everybody else
• Work on your mentality - Analyze the mental approach of the greatest players
• Study the game and watch videos to raise your IQ

When it comes to playing...

• Sprint the floor - Try to be the first one down the court on offense and the first one back on defense
• Dive on the floor after loose balls
• Be hyper-alert and hyper-focused on defense - Never take a second off
• Always communicate clearly and loudly
• Take shots that are expected of you - Don't try to take shots your teammates wouldn't expect you to take. You can impact the game without taking one shot
• Be a great teammate on the floor and on the bench no matter the situation

That will give you the best chance to get more playing time!

And What If You Don't Get More Playing Time?

There is a chance that you won't get more playing time even when you've done everything right from the preparation standpoint... and that's okay. There's nothing wrong with that at all.

It's just important that you became the best possible version of you!

Even if you're a senior and you're not getting playing time, you can still be a big reason that your team succeeds.

Bring energy to practice and to games even if it's from the bench. Energy is contagious!

Teach the younger players how to play. Communicate with them in practice and in games.

All teams need great practice players. If you compete at a high level in practice, you will make your team better. Challenge your best players in drills. Make them compete at a high level!

These types of players can be differentiators with championship teams.

If you did everything to the best of your abilities and were the best teammate you possibly could've been, you have a great future beyond basketball...

This means you will have more success beyond the basketball court.

You will be part of championship organizations in the most important venue... The Real World!

Let us know what you think.

A Different Situation For Youth and Middle School Levels

I wholeheartedly believe that players need to show great effort and great attitude. However, playing time is a more complicated issue due to developmental reasons from an emotional, mental, and physical standpoint.

This article covers playing time in more depth for youth and middle school (14 year olds and younger).

Camps That Teach You The Most Important Skills Coaches Crave, So You Get More Playing Time

Our mission with Breakthrough Basketball Camps is to teach you the most important skills that coaches want.

That way, you have the best chance to maximize playing time and maximize your potential!

We teach you...

• The best basketball skills to master... no fluff
• How to think the game and improve your basketball IQ
• Develop leadership skills that coaches love
• Habits and mental approaches that improve confidence and ensure success beyond basketball

Check out the schedule here to learn more:

Breakthrough Basketball Camps

What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...

Comments Most Likes First   Oldest First   Newest First Mark says: 1/18/2023 at 6:30:25 PM I will add that I love the author''s perspective about encouraging others on the team in practice and "coaching up" kids to contribute to health of the whole team (and even possibly impacting the W-L). There are also healthy lessons to teach MS and HS kids that life is not always fair and that character most often comes from managing those circumstances rather than when the breaks go your way. But, it is undeniable that we live in a coaching culture where outside critique is neither welcomed nor tolerated. We find ourselves in a place where it is not socially acceptable for kids to question their coaches and that feels like too much authoritarianism. Like     login   register Mark says: 1/18/2023 at 6:15:17 PM While I recognize the value of the piece, there is another truth that needs to be addressed. Contrary to our hope that competitive coaches will choose the best players, there are coaches that simply can't evaluate talent, that ignore their own metrics, and are far too rigid in their perception of what makes a "good" player. The Moneyball analogy works for youth basketball. Too often, coaches see an "athletic" kid..fast, quick, with hops.. and play them all the time without regard to turnovers, poor team defense, stagnating "hero" ball offense, and low basketball IQ. We might like to think these coaches are outliers, but spend enough time on AAU circuits and around the public high school courts, and you'll hear countless stories about how math teachers who "coach" ruin the Varsity experience for kids for whom those years will be the high point of their basketball experience. I think it would be useful to hear how kids, parents, and trainers who witness and experience these dynamics can address them effectively and with respect for the coaches who mean well, but truly have no business at the Varsity level. Like     login   register Ruth Grant says: 3/10/2021 at 5:07:15 PM Terrific article! Positive and affirming no matter what your situation is and promotes accountability. But, most of all, love it for the culture it promotes! Like     login   register

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