Tips On Becoming a Better Bench Player

Posted on 23. Apr, 2010 by admin in Blog

If your not a starter then don’t think you still need to be into the game from the opening tap. There is a basketball cliche, “it doesn’t matter who starts the game, its who ends it.” This reigns true with all ages and every level. The five starters aren’t always the best players; the five closers are the best (at that moment). I’m here to give you a few tips for coming off the bench and still having an important role in the game.

Don’t get discouraged

I can’t tell you how many times I see players soak on the bench because they are not out there for the opening tap.  If you’re one of these players then get over it!   Put your ego aside and be prepared to go in when the coach calls your name.  Starting a game does not matter in the end.

Evaluate before you go in

You should take mental notes on your competition and what your team needs.  For example, your team cannot put the ball in the bucket and from the bench you see the baseline is wide open.  When you enter the game for the first time, try to pick the other team’s weakness and find that open baseline.  You’ll have more success looking for weaknesses than just going out there blind.  You have an advantage that the five starters don’t…vision of 10 players and the entire court.

Look like you want to be out there

When you on the bench, its easy to look lazy and not into the game.  Don’t talk about yesterdays lunch with your teammates.  Instead, talk about breaking the opponents press with a press breaker.  When your coach does call you to go into the game, jump off your set and hustle to the scoreboard.  Your coach will notice that you want to be out there giving 100% even if you are not presently on the court.

Take a moment to warm up

Its very difficult to go out there and in the first 5 seconds take a shot.  I suggest to go up and down the court a few times to get your blood flowing before you shoot or drive to the hoop.  Depending on how long you were sitting for, you could feel tight.  Also, use timeouts to jump up and down to warm up.

Be optimistic

If coming off the bench really bothers you, be optimistic and take it as a challenge.  Realize that next game you could be a starter if the coach thinks it will help the team.  Coming off the bench is temporary.  But remember it’s not who starts that really impacts the outcome of the game…its who ends it.

Tags: bench, better player, sixth man