Basketballs No Child Left Behind

The man that was kind enough to let me be his assistant, Virgil Hovden, always said that the system was “The no child left behind of basketball.” His claim was this, what if a classroom teacher only took his seven or eight best students and did not put the other thirteen to eighteen students in a position to have the same success. That classroom teacher would be put out on his ear. No question, he would be questioned by all of his immediate supervisors for why he was letting those students fail.


During this time of budget cuts what if we were told as coaches that we could only field one team, a varsity team and you got to have success, yet you need to find important and fulfilling playing time for all students. Could we as coaches do it? I am convinced system coaches could. The following is an example how; First off you need to suit up all twenty players. Second, you have a 32 minute game, that mean you still have 160 minutes to shell out. Third you still want to play your two stars half of the game (64 minutes) 96 minutes remaining. Fourth, you have eight kids you want to play the bulk of the remaining moments. Five, you want for their subs and five that may struggle on the floor you must divvy the minutes up like the following;
Next best eight (58 minutes) 42 minutes remaining
Next best five (30) 12 minutes remaining
Next best five (12 minutes) Done


There are ways in which you can put all players in for success and important times;
Defensive lines
Offensive lines
Ball Control lines
Assassin lines (Your fouling line late in the game)
Three shooters
Closers
(Offensive/Defensive lines with nine in each group)


What does this have to do with no child left behind you ask? Bottom line all are playing in times of high tension and points where it is important. Students will tell you they want to have an impact on a game and it can be done. Recently I have discussed this with a number of people. I am convinced that less is more. Fewer minutes (Not playing JV) but playing some minutes of Varsity is more important to them then a JV game. I would challenge you to ask your players this.


I believe this would do great things for your program; It would unify all twenty people for a common cause, Second, one practice is all you would need because you only have one team, third it would save in transportation costs, fourth It would safe costs for a JV Schedule, fifth people would not complain about playing time. There are multiple other reasons.
Do not get me wrong I am not abdicating an end to JV and 9th grade scheduling, but I do see this as the “No child left behind” of basketball.
Do not be afraid to reply.