Since I seem to be out on an island on this one, let's try this from another angle.

 

How do you guys feel about substitution patterns in general. I am all about developing a rotation and letting the kids play through mistakes. A confident player excels. I have watched and continue to watch coaches that react to a turnover/missed shot with a quick sub (x 5). Kids play tentative. They try not to make a mistake rather than make something happen.

 

Players do not gain confidence looking over their shoulder.

Yes. Heaven forbid we discipline a group of 15-18 year olds for not doing what they have been asked to do.

 

EXACTLY. Pulling the starters was exactly what that group needed! For someone who's not around the program it's easy to second guess the coach. They were pulled because this group has not executed consistently all year so why should the coach keep repeating himself all year?

Kudos the the unit that stepped in and held their own in the 2nd qtr. and in fact won the qtr.

 

This group does not have a leader and until someone steps up and takes the bull by the horns coach Sully should do what he thinks is best for the program. It obviously worked since they won the game.

Since I seem to be out on an island on this one, let's try this from another angle.

 

How do you guys feel about substitution patterns in general. I am all about developing a rotation and letting the kids play through mistakes. A confident player excels. I have watched and continue to watch coaches that react to a turnover/missed shot with a quick sub (x 5). Kids play tentative. They try not to make a mistake rather than make something happen.

 

Players do not gain confidence looking over their shoulder.

 

It depends on the mistake. Has this been repeatedly addressed in practice? Is it a reoccurring mistake in the same game? Is it truly a mistake or a player specifically not doing what he has been asked? In all of the above the player needs pulled. If none of these apply then I agree with you let him play but the leash does get a little shorter.

Since I seem to be out on an island on this one, let's try this from another angle.

 

How do you guys feel about substitution patterns in general. I am all about developing a rotation and letting the kids play through mistakes. A confident player excels. I have watched and continue to watch coaches that react to a turnover/missed shot with a quick sub (x 5). Kids play tentative. They try not to make a mistake rather than make something happen.

 

Players do not gain confidence looking over their shoulder.

 

The mass substitution has nothing to do with mistakes. It has to do with effort which cannot be coached. Sully can live with the occaisional mistake but when a group has lack of effort and energy you send a messages and in this case it was delivered and received.

I think what's keeping Cooper from being really good is lack of production inside with their two bigs.

That was always going to be the issue from the start of the season. Cooper has the outside shooting to stay with just about anyone in the district, but the production underneath will always hurt them. Hathorn is as strong as anyone you'll find but they just don't have the height to win the battle of the boards most nights or be able to move the bal inside as much as they'd like. Losing their 2 big men from last year was a big loss, but they are still pretty scrappy and Hathorn has begun to step up a little more.

 

As far as pulling the starters, well that has always been part of Sullys coaching arsenal. He's done it just about every year he's been at Cooper and it more times than not works pretty good. A very good coach can do that when he knows the players going in won't be a big drop off and I've seen more times than not the new 5 coming in will be more succesful than the ones they replaced for a bit. This isn't anything new for Sully and as I said it usually works.

I saw him do it last year also and it was the spark needed. Sounds like the same thing yesterday. He usually does it when the effort he wants isn't there.

Two 6'5 kids on the post are not tall enough Hellbird?

 

Highlands would love to have those two kids considering they have 6'1 Drew Houliston playing Center on a 2-3 zone this year.

Sully asks his kids to play with effort and intesity. I know all coaches ask that but If he feels you are not giving that it gets is bur up. After watching him the last several years he usually has a pretty good pulse on his team. What works, who he can chew on, who he goes a little easier on. He has had to ask for a little more toughness at times from this team. It sounds this was just another tool in his belt to try to get his message delivered. I think it is a credit to the kids on the bench since he felt this is something he could do at this time. The coach had confidemce the next kid would step up and it sounded like they did.

Since I seem to be out on an island on this one, let's try this from another angle.

 

How do you guys feel about substitution patterns in general. I am all about developing a rotation and letting the kids play through mistakes. A confident player excels. I have watched and continue to watch coaches that react to a turnover/missed shot with a quick sub (x 5). Kids play tentative. They try not to make a mistake rather than make something happen.

 

Players do not gain confidence looking over their shoulder.

 

Think you are arguing two different things here. We are talking about intensity and effort on one hand and making physical mistakes on the other. Lack of effort and/or lack of intensity can best be addressed with a little pine time IMO. The most precious thing to any athlete at any level is playing time and if you are not going to put forth max effort then you are not going to play.

 

The physical mistakes I will agree with you 100%. There are too many coaches that have certain players on shorter leashes than others. Those with the short leash never play to their potential for fear of making a mistake and being taken out. There are others that can make mistake after mistake and continue to get the playing time.

There are too many coaches that have certain players on shorter leashes than others. Those with the short leash never play to their potential for fear of making a mistake and being taken out. There are others that can make mistake after mistake and continue to get the playing time.

This.

The physical mistakes I will agree with you 100%. There are too many coaches that have certain players on shorter leashes than others. Those with the short leash never play to their potential for fear of making a mistake and being taken out. There are others that can make mistake after mistake and continue to get the playing time.

Do you not think that those long leashes are earned at practice?

Do you not think that those long leashes are earned at practice?

 

Honestly, I do not. Some kids are perceived as the face of the program and all others fill in the gaps. Those filling in the gaps are the players that have to look over their shoulder all the time. No kid can play any sport if they are playing not to be taken out. You know as well as I do that confidence goes a long way in a kids success. How can one be confident when they get yanked everytime they make a mistake? Again remember I am talking about mistakes and not lack of effort.

Hopefully as the season progresses Highlands is able to expand on the bench. Lots of talent in that soph. class from I can recall, but not seeing many of those names in the box score just yet.

Hopefully as the season progresses Highlands is able to expand on the bench. Lots of talent in that soph. class from I can recall, but not seeing many of those names in the box score just yet.

 

If thats the case with the soph class, they need to be playing.

Honestly, I do not. Some kids are perceived as the face of the program and all others fill in the gaps. Those filling in the gaps are the players that have to look over their shoulder all the time. No kid can play any sport if they are playing not to be taken out. You know as well as I do that confidence goes a long way in a kids success. How can one be confident when they get yanked everytime they make a mistake? Again remember I am talking about mistakes and not lack of effort.

 

How do you get to be the 'face of the program'? My guess is by showing the coach over and over again that you constantly do not make the same mistakes. Some kids are better athletes, some are smarter ball players. The coach has the hard job of figuring out the best combination in order to win. He sees them 2 hours a day in practice. He is the one that has to tell some kids 10 times to do something the right way. The kid that has gained the trust has a longer leash. I agree the confidence factor does come into play but maybe its time to put the onus on the kid to get it right at practice?

I once had a coach tell me my High school son had improved over the summer and I said "I just hope he is working hard for you". the coach replied "At this level, it is not just about trying hard, it's about being a good athlete and smart player."

Hopefully as the season progresses Highlands is able to expand on the bench. Lots of talent in that soph. class from I can recall, but not seeing many of those names in the box score just yet.

 

If thats the case with the soph class, they need to be playing.

 

 

Not sure how far back you recall - the sophomore class is even more football player heavy than the junior and senior classes, hence one of the reasons Ben Weyer went to NCC. The top 6 six players in that class all play football. Have not progressed as you would have thought.

 

Cain gets some varsity minutes off the bench. Hebel has been hurt and has been held out - he will get some minutes inside when healthy.

 

Come to a game guys and watch before making general statements.