Coaching Toolblog

One of the toughest choices for a basketball coach to make is when to remove a player from the game who is already in or to save a player from getting in foul trouble.  Here are a few thoughts for debate.  We hope to get some responses with your opinions and ideas.  As we always want to do with our tools, we are throwing out our ideas to stimulate thought and discussion, and not saying that is the best way for everyone.  Our firm belief at the Coaching Toolbox is that every coach needs to have a thought out plan for every situation so that the decision does not have to be made in the heat of the competition.

Our rule is that a player must come out who picks up the third foul in the first half.  Some coaches have a steadfast rule of two fouls in the first half and you sit.  We understand the thinking of sitting him or her with two, but feel that it is crucial to have your impact players on the floor for as many minutes as possible.  More than likely, you are going to take each player out at some point during the first half, and that time that the player with two fouls sits out for rest is all we feel is needed to protect another foul.

The philosophy we employ is that we want to squeeze every second of playing time that we can.  If after reviewing the stat sheet at the end of a game and we see that a player sat out more than the normal rest due to fouls, but only ended up with three or four fouls, we like that player should have played more rather than sat. 

With four fouls our rule is bring them back with 4:00 to go in the game.  At that point, offense/defense substitutions and substituting foulers if the situation calls for it is the way to go.  Let us know how you handle foul trouble and hopefully someone can benefit from what you think.

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