THE IMPORTANCE OF "GLUE" PLAYERS

Glue players are needed.  They are vital to a team's success.  They contribute things to your team that don't always show up in a box score; things that can't always be measured with a stat. 

SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF A GLUE PLAYER

• Sprints the court in transition
• They might night receive a pass in transition, but the fact they sprint could draw a defender to them and open up a teammate for a score
• Talks on the court
• Call out screens on defense
• Makes sure the team is in the correct offense or defense
• Makes sure the team is matched up on defense
• Motivates their teammates
• Dives for loose balls
• This can be contagious 
• Forces the person they are defending to give extra effort just to get open
• This tests the will of the person they are guarding.
• Makes the extra pass on offense
• Pass up a good shot for a great shot
• Forces the defense to work extra hard
• Follows the game plan.
• They understand the game plan.  
• They execute the game plan. 
• Takes care of the ball on offense
• They aren't careless with the ball.  They are poised with the ball in their hands.
• Genuinely cares for their team
• Speaks positively of their team, teammates, and coaches
• Represents their team to the best of their ability on and off the court
• Serves others

SUCCESSFUL TEAMS NEED GLUE PLAYERS

Any player can be a glue player.  I think some coaches see glue players as players on their roster who maybe aren't the most talented.  This can be the case, however your most skilled players can be glue players as well. If your most talented players are glue players then chances are your team has a great chance to reach its full potential.

The average fan sitting in the stands watching a game might wonder why certain players are getting so many minutes if they aren't scoring, rebounding, or filling other stat columns.  Most likely those are glue type players they are wondering about.  In a team sport like basketball we have to remember that we don't always play our five best, we play our best five. Your best five are the five players that play best together.  Many times a glue player or two are part of that best five.

CELEBRATE YOUR GLUE PLAYERS

I encourage coaches to celebrate their glue players.  In a film session point out an example of a player running the court in transition, setting a great screen, or making the extra pass. Stop play on the practice court to point out an action of a player that makes them a glue type player.  While in a huddle during a timeout you can let your team know how important a dive on the floor for a loose ball was for your team because it gave you an extra possession.  While talking to the media you can highlight players that do these glue player type things that are keys to your team's success.  Your glue players need to be celebrated so let them know how important they are to the team.  

REMEMBER:  Not all of the players on your roster are going to have the same skill, BUT they can all be glue players.  

SHARE YOUR IDEAS

I'd enjoy hearing from other coaches on how they celebrate glue type players.  If you have suggestions, please share with me.  You can reach me by email at dietelgreg@gmail.com

HELPING PLAYERS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE

Every player on your roster is important.  Each player is important not only to the success of your team, but also to the personality of your team.  A player who plays in every third game has the ability to impact your team just as much as a player who starts every game.  Yes, it's true, but ONLY if they know and understand their role.

You can have superior talent, but if your team does not have a sense of togetherness then it is more unlikely your team will reach their full potential.  Talent IS important to the success of a team.  Some of your players have the talent to score.  Some can defend the ball extremely well.  Others have the talent to set up their teammates for easy scores.  But how many of your players have the talent to put the team first?  This is a talent needed to help any team reach their full potential.

The responsibility to get a team to understand this falls directly on the coach.  How does a coach get their players to put the team first?  The answer is simple, communicate with your players and help them understand their roles.

Meet with your players and talk to them about the role they have.  Players may not always like to hear what a coach has to say, but there is some sense of peace for a player when they know where they stand.  A player isn't going to like hearing that they probably aren't going to get into every game.  Or if they are in your regular rotation they may not like hearing they aren't needed to shoot the three.  But the player-coach conversation cannot end there.  The coach has to let the player know that the things they can do for the team are of great value.  That may be to challenge your team's point guard in practice, or to keep a particular teammate's confidence level high by supporting them.  Or a player in your rotation may need to hear that their job is to set great screens, defend, and rebound.  Whatever it is they have to know it is important to the success of the team because it IS important.  It may not be glamorous but it is important.  A player that plays their role well is a player who puts the team first.
 
One way to help with the communication is to periodically schedule meetings with your players.  The coaching staff should sit down with each player and talk with them about their roles.  Coaches cannot assume that players understand their roles.  These meetings will help clear up any gray area that may be out there.  If you can regularly schedule these meetings throughout your season a coach would be able to meet with each player every couple weeks.

Your team has a better chance to be more upbeat, excited about being together, and reaching their potential if each player understands their role on the team AND knows their role is important.  Coaches, schedule those regular meetings with your players.  It takes time, but it will definitely pay off in the end.