TECHNIQUES OF BASKETBALL SUBSTITUTION

TECHNIQUES OF BASKETBALL SUBSTITUTION

We are all familiar with typical substitution protocols for fouls, injuries, height and weight matchups, and various other as-need-basis practices. Although there is merit in individual substitution, there are many occasions when the instant-shock factor of unit-substitution will provide the quickest and most stabilizing effect of “righting-the-ship” when facing an unexpected onslaught from an opponent. The preparation of 5-man units who have been prepared to meet various attack-and-response challenges and who are able to mount successful skirmishes appropriate to the occasion can effectively respond to the various offensive and defensive strategies of opponents. Instead of relying on individuals with appropriate tactical-response skills, the use of entire units prepared for immediate response to specific offense and defense tactics will offer a more complete and effective alternative than any single player can provide. Coaching staffs skilled in the recognition of various offensive and defensive strategies combined with three sets of 5-man, alert and prepared tactical units intent on their mission of disrupting any strategy their opponent throws at them will revolutionize the game of basketball as we know it. The element of surprise combined with prepared and fresh units in lock-and-load position can respond and wreak havoc on any line of attack and prevent any meaningful attempts at recovery by staying a step ahead of the opponent. Readiness is the key to a program of this kind, so full-on scrimmages should replace warm-up drills and shoot-around routines as a better method of pregame preparation. Timing rotations effectively will ensure that all units are able to stay in contest-ready condition throughout the game. Dividing game-time minutes equitably among units will allow full-scale warm-up routines without fear of fatigue and pre-game slump. Coaching staff skilled in the identification of unusual offensive and defensive strategies must have the ability to instantly inform units of their detection and appropriate responses. The element of surprise is critical in overcoming the opposition, both in readiness to fully-engage in full-court defensive and offensive strategies from the opening tipoff and in the advantage gained through unannounced rotations of units, timed to keep the opposition off-balance and unable to appropriately respond before the rotation is completed again, assuring that the opposition is unable to recover their equilibrium.

Mark Overt Skilbred