I have been on the road traveling to three straight basketball tournaments in Indiana, Missouri, and Iowa. I have seen a lot of girls’ basketball games during that time. There have been some good displays of basketball and some poor displays of basketball. I thought I would share with you three things I think are in danger of going extinct from the game.
1. The Offensive Charge
It has been around thirty years since I have played competitively. When I played, referees called offensive charging fouls far more often than they do today. My coach had a running challenge with the team, saying that he would buy a soda for each charge that you took during a game. I can tell you that I received many free sodas during my senior year in high school.
Is there a lack of emphasis on this call by the referees, or has the game changed? It seems like the defensive player has no chance these days. Players put their heads down, drive to the basket, and initiate contact with the defender. They always seem to get the call. Today’s game is all about three-point shooting and players driving to the rim. Everything seems slanted toward offense on every level of the game. However, it could be that the coaches are not teaching and emphasizing to their players the proper way to take a charge. I would imagine that it is a little bit of both. I will tell you that it does not take tremendous speed or great jumping ability to take a charge. It just takes anticipation and good positioning. If your child learns this skill, they will be loved by their coach for sure.
2. Contact with the Person that You are Boxing Out
Over the last few weekends, I have heard countless coaches screaming at their players to box out. The problem is universal between both good teams and bad teams. The shot goes up, and invariably the defender turns to the ball before securing contact with the person they are guarding. The question that I have is how many of the coaches or club programs actually break down boxing out and teach it. My guess would be very few. How can you expect your team to box out without spending some time teaching and reviewing the skill? Please check out my post “Driveway Academy: Top 7 Fundamentals of Rebounding — Teach Your Child to Own the Boards” for my take on great rebounding technique.
3. The Midrange Bankshot
When I was in high school, my coach always told me that the backboard was my best friend. He was right, and the backboard is still my best friend thirty years later. I see many post players employing post moves that use the backboard on their shots, but the eight to twelve-foot bank shot is as rare as a unicorn. I was so excited last weekend to see one of my daughter’s teammates pump fake, take two dribbles, and then put up a smooth twelve-foot bank shot. This is a great shot to have in your arsenal after a quick move or coming off of a dead sprint on a fast break. I have incorporated bank shots into my daughter’s shooting routine, hoping that I will see one from her soon.
What are your thoughts on the state of today’s game? Is there anything that drives you nuts, or is there something that you would like to see more of? I would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to me at youthbasketballparent@gmail.com or respond to my tweet on this blog post.
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