I admire you going against the grain of shortening your rotation and trying to develop all your players and not just the best. I'm hoping that the NBA Finals between two teams that do play a lot of guys can help reverse this trend because sadly, I see it often in youth sports where coaches make up their minds about who should play and shouldn't play very early on and then "develop" only the players they consider the top ones.
The 32-minute high-school game certainly affords more opportunities to reduce the rotation. A 40-minute game, especially when we pushed the tempo, increases the importance of an 8th-10th player.
I do have mixed feelings, which I am writing about now. Did I handicap the development of the player who I think is the best by attempting to develop 14 players? Should I have focused more on the player who made his professional debut this season and less on the players the U19 coach does not believe will even have a role at U19s?
Every decision has a consequence. As I have argued now with three clubs, I believe a club needs a permanent person to make these decisions about club philosophy and not change course year by year based on a coach hired for a season or two. At a high school, maybe this is the athletic director; the varsity coach generally is too focused on winning, the presumed expectation in most jobs, to step back and make the best decision for everyone. Someone needs a somewhat detached position to make these important philosophical decisions, then hire the people to match the philosophy.
I admire you going against the grain of shortening your rotation and trying to develop all your players and not just the best. I'm hoping that the NBA Finals between two teams that do play a lot of guys can help reverse this trend because sadly, I see it often in youth sports where coaches make up their minds about who should play and shouldn't play very early on and then "develop" only the players they consider the top ones.
The 32-minute high-school game certainly affords more opportunities to reduce the rotation. A 40-minute game, especially when we pushed the tempo, increases the importance of an 8th-10th player.
I do have mixed feelings, which I am writing about now. Did I handicap the development of the player who I think is the best by attempting to develop 14 players? Should I have focused more on the player who made his professional debut this season and less on the players the U19 coach does not believe will even have a role at U19s?
Every decision has a consequence. As I have argued now with three clubs, I believe a club needs a permanent person to make these decisions about club philosophy and not change course year by year based on a coach hired for a season or two. At a high school, maybe this is the athletic director; the varsity coach generally is too focused on winning, the presumed expectation in most jobs, to step back and make the best decision for everyone. Someone needs a somewhat detached position to make these important philosophical decisions, then hire the people to match the philosophy.
I really enjoy all of your articles. Thanks so much for all the time and effort you put in to you articles and reflections.
Thank you.
Not sure I understand this bit:
"...and most teams were heliocentric."
Congratulations on a great season, and on performance-vindication for your approach.
Largely revolved around one player to do most of the playmaking and scoring. Think Jalen Brunson.