dukelifer
02-07-2009, 08:25 AM
Barry Jacobs is a long time observer of ACC basketball and in his piece on the Duke Clemson game- he again brought up the topic of team/player fatigue- relating it to the type of D that Duke plays. This is not the first time we have heard this. Even Coach K make reference to fatigue - even in his Olympic team.
I did a little searching and found this nugget from Tommy Emma- former Duke player- who apparently has some program about how to identify this in players
"One of the most important (and difficult) aspects of a basketball coach’s job is managing long-term player fatigue. This type of fatigue, unlike being winded during a game or practice session, describes the cumulative effects of a basketball season on a player’s body. It is a subtle performance inhibitor, hard to recognize by even the most discerning of eyes, and is inevitably debilitating to individual and team success"
http://www.powerbasketball.com/060629.html
Tommy offers the following advice
* Play your bench often early in the season. Playing substitutes substantial minutes early in the campaign when games tend to be less important serves many positive purposes, not the least of which is saving starters from the deleterious effects of long-term fatigue. Remember, “early rest equals post-season success.”
* When games are decided, give your starters a break. It is amazing to me how many coaches on a variety of levels persist on keeping there top players in games long after outcomes have been decided. These useless minutes can greatly contribute toward long-term fatigue as the season moves forward-not to mention leaving players susceptible to injury due to sloppy play (a common occurrence during garbage time). As such, unless extra minutes are serving some tangible purpose (improving team continuity, helping a player breakout of a prolonged shooting slump, etc.), resting your starters when a game is out of reach one way or the other is highly suggested.
* Don’t play athletes extra minutes to garner individual statistics. Unless a player is reaching some type of milestone that can’t be achieved in a subsequent game, playing players so they can pad their statistics is a mistake. Adding minutes in this manner not only increases the chances of individual body breakdown, but exhibits poor sportsmanship as well. Winning is the only statistic that counts in the end.
* Encourage players to communicate when they’re dragging during a game. Players should be encouraged to let the coach know when they’re gassed out on the court. Originally brought to the game by legendary North Carolina coach, Dean Smith, having players signal to be taken out of a game is a great way to save athletes from unnecessary (and unproductive) minutes.
At the same time, posters on this board argue (very passionately) that 20 year old players do not get fatigued by playing too many minutes in games. The question I have is whether this fatigue argument is valid or if this is just convenient to explain the decline in shooting etc. If it is, is there something going on at Duke that makes the players more fatigued than at other places? Are the players spending too many late nights studying or in the waffle house? Are they working harder in practice than other teams. Is this fatigue argument real or should it be officially put to rest? I know this has been discussed but it will continue to come up over the next few weeks. Perhaps there should be an official media fatigue counter on the front page.
I did a little searching and found this nugget from Tommy Emma- former Duke player- who apparently has some program about how to identify this in players
"One of the most important (and difficult) aspects of a basketball coach’s job is managing long-term player fatigue. This type of fatigue, unlike being winded during a game or practice session, describes the cumulative effects of a basketball season on a player’s body. It is a subtle performance inhibitor, hard to recognize by even the most discerning of eyes, and is inevitably debilitating to individual and team success"
http://www.powerbasketball.com/060629.html
Tommy offers the following advice
* Play your bench often early in the season. Playing substitutes substantial minutes early in the campaign when games tend to be less important serves many positive purposes, not the least of which is saving starters from the deleterious effects of long-term fatigue. Remember, “early rest equals post-season success.”
* When games are decided, give your starters a break. It is amazing to me how many coaches on a variety of levels persist on keeping there top players in games long after outcomes have been decided. These useless minutes can greatly contribute toward long-term fatigue as the season moves forward-not to mention leaving players susceptible to injury due to sloppy play (a common occurrence during garbage time). As such, unless extra minutes are serving some tangible purpose (improving team continuity, helping a player breakout of a prolonged shooting slump, etc.), resting your starters when a game is out of reach one way or the other is highly suggested.
* Don’t play athletes extra minutes to garner individual statistics. Unless a player is reaching some type of milestone that can’t be achieved in a subsequent game, playing players so they can pad their statistics is a mistake. Adding minutes in this manner not only increases the chances of individual body breakdown, but exhibits poor sportsmanship as well. Winning is the only statistic that counts in the end.
* Encourage players to communicate when they’re dragging during a game. Players should be encouraged to let the coach know when they’re gassed out on the court. Originally brought to the game by legendary North Carolina coach, Dean Smith, having players signal to be taken out of a game is a great way to save athletes from unnecessary (and unproductive) minutes.
At the same time, posters on this board argue (very passionately) that 20 year old players do not get fatigued by playing too many minutes in games. The question I have is whether this fatigue argument is valid or if this is just convenient to explain the decline in shooting etc. If it is, is there something going on at Duke that makes the players more fatigued than at other places? Are the players spending too many late nights studying or in the waffle house? Are they working harder in practice than other teams. Is this fatigue argument real or should it be officially put to rest? I know this has been discussed but it will continue to come up over the next few weeks. Perhaps there should be an official media fatigue counter on the front page.