Summer Observations...

It has been a busy summer thus far and we have participated in and watched a TON of basketball. Here are just some random things that i have noticed and thought could create some interesting discussion:

1. The modified time formats of summer games can be really, really maddening. Sometimes I wonder if these tournaments/leagues intent is to help teams prepare for the upcoming season or is it just a money making deal. Certainly, I understand the need to fundraise...but running clock 40 minute basketball games are not very useful, especially in our style of play. I mean, I know it is important to be on time, stay on schedule and/or fit in as many games into a day as you can, but are tournaments really making that much more money by going to this modified format...heck, last year we played in a tournament where the clock would run during time-outs...and no, I'm not joking.

I can see a tourney having 7 minute stop clock quarters or 14 minute stop clock halves, but these weird formats i.e. 2 quarters 8 minute stop clock, 2 quarters 9 minute running clock, is really silly. We hosted a summer tourney last year and played regulation games and found that games moved along much quicker than we thought they would. I can understand the modified format for lower levels, but to me, the modified summer formats for Varsity games make very little sense.

2. Since I'm whining, I might as well continue...hey summer league and summer tournament directors...try getting competent individuals to work the clock and score books. There is nothing worse than watching the clock continue to run during a time-out during a 40 minute running clock game...or having the scorekeepers at the table short you on time outs, POINTS, and/or give the wrong players/team fouls. I don't expect perfection, but I also believe it is an unwise practice to simply have lower level players(or other unqualified personnel) handle these duties, even if they save the tourney a few bucks.

Especially in a situation where a scorekeeper's error effects the game...it is tough sell to our players. We try to have them take these summer games seriously, but if the tournament personnel does a poor job of handling their responsibilities, it sends a mixed message.

3. One last vent...officials...not necessarily how they are calling games(although I think there is room for improvement there)...but I don't like their approach to summer games. I realize they are probably not getting paid all that much and they are doing a bunch of games in a short period of time...but c'mon, at least get up and down the floor and ACT like you are interested in doing your job. It really goes back to my 2nd observation...we as coaches are trying to maximize our players effort and intensity...but when officials aren't doing the same, it is really frustrating.

I understand that summer basketball is a bit more informal than the regular season...but still, especially for those who are doing "the system" or some other form of extreme fast break basketball, the typical format of summer leagues and tournaments are not the most ideal.

What is the solution? Simple...run our own tourney. Which is what we intend to do...unfortunately we could not make it work this year because of MASSIVE renovations to our gym. We did it last year and it was terrific...we made some $$$, the tourney was well organized and we played full regulation games...can't wait until next summer when we can do it again(maybe more than once).

System Beauty

Just an update on Marina's progress for Spring/Summer.

Venturing into our second year with the "system" we are very pleased with the progress that our guys have made so far. We do have 8 returners and that has certainly helped. There are several players switching positions, so we have had an adjustment period.

This past weekend, we played some good, well coached clubs that gave us concern going in. Our kids played better each game and grew quite a bit.

Our "new' kids have had to learn how to play at the pace needed to be successful in the system. They thought they knew what playing hard was, but really had no idea. Over the course of this tournament, I am hoping they got it. Guys were flying all over the court and we were creating havoc from tip to final buzzer. We finished the tourney 4-1 and are 11-2 for the summer season.

In coaching the system, for the first time especially, I truly believe things must be kept simple and you must, as a staff, quit trying to "coach" your team to victory. You must hammer home the numbers and get your players to buy into that. You must create turnovers and your kids must flood the offensive boards. This tournament, we hammered the offensive boards at an incredible 52.5% clip. Size? We have two inexperienced players that are 6'5 and that is it. We are almost all under 5'10 with a couple of 6'1, 6'2 guys.

Your players must go for it and drop just about all of the "traditional" ways of thinking and playing. If you, as coaches, don't change your approach...your players have no chance to do the "system" in a way for it to be successful. In fact, you can't do the "system" unless you let your kids play with the abandon that they need to for it to work. There are various approaches to fast break basketball and they are all interesting and have their merits. The "system", for me, is a dedication to the Grinnell style and approach. That dedication must include players and coaches that are going to do every thing that they can to do it the way Grinnell does it. If you say you are doing Grinnell on offense with the LMU press, you ARE NOT doing the "system" in my opinion. Certainly, you must do what fits your team best to get your numbers. Redlands did some things slightly different from Grinnell, but the over-all attitude and style of play was very similar. They were a system team through and through. We copied Grinnell in every way that we could. To me, it was the only way for us to go. If we were going to do it, we were going to do it!

If you truly go for it "system" style, your players will have so much fun and create some incredible moments. If you do a little here and a little there, your players will get stuck in the middle and be frustrated and confused. Like Mr. Miyagi says: "Walk down road...Walk left side, safe...walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later...squish like grape." Here, system, same thing. Either you system do "yes" or system do "no." You system do "guess so," squish like grape.

Roger Holmes
Marina Basketball
www.marinabasketball.com
vikingbasketball@msn.com