HoopClinics

by Coach Ken Sartini

I think I really learned how to sub when I had my own team at the high school level.  It was my own team at the Sophomore level.  We all pretty much know to sub when a player gets in foul trouble or is tired…. but there is a lot more to it than that.

We were playing this one very good team… it was in the second half that I figured I needed to stop their fast break from the free throw line.  So, when the ref handed the ball to my shooter for the second shot, I sent a sub to the scorers table…. when the shot went in, the play got stopped and my sub entered the game.  IF we missed the shot I brought him back to the bench.

I did this from that game on because it allowed me to set up our press or whatever defense I wanted to be in at the time.  I also learned that you can sub a good defensive player or offensive player when the situation called for it.  Certainly you can do that at any time during a game but it really helped after a made free throw.

We weren’t necessarily blessed with a lot of great athletes…. don’t get me wrong, we had some very good players, especially this team.  But everybody has those great shooters that cant even spell DEFENSE let alone play it.  AND, we all have the great defensive guys that couldn’t throw the ball in the ocean from the shore.  So, there is a time and place for those types of players.

I was a firm believer of this philosophy….
Control the Tempo,
Get a GOOD shot every time down the floor,
Limit Turnovers,
At least, Break EVEN on the boards,
Challenge every shot,
and play GREAT Defense…. allow only one shot at the basket.

Subbing at the right time in a game allows you to control the tempo and get the right player in the game at the right time.

Basketball Coaching