Bench Players

I am not as critical on their playing and I am with starters and others
on a rotation.

...We know nothing what is happening behind the scenes. Was he told to gain
weight to play low post. How much time in practice does she get to
develop skills and work with starters. As a reserve does she just a dummy
against the starters. How much learning is she getting not in the rotation
and only playing in clean up times.

...We can not compare her playing time and performance with the rest of the
team. It is not fair. Been there done that. I can write a book on sitting
the bench. You do not develop skills by watching. You need actual plahing
time and is key moments not garbage time. When a coach puts a player in
at garbage time It is to protect the starters mostly. You do not learn and
develop in garbage time.

...They will develop mostly in practice in actually playing in the
system. We have no idea how the coaching staff uses her bench players in
practice. They are concerned with the coming game and ensure the team is
ready. MM is mostly a 7 or 8 player team during an actual game. So her
focus to ensure those players are ready. I am not saying they are forgotten
but the time spent with them is limited. She only has so much practice
time available per ncaa rules.

...The best chance for Cosgrove and the rest of the players is now until
when the team gets together to start the season. This is the prime time
to develop and get ready to show everyone what she can do.

...This is a real good year for Danielle because of losing so many great
players.. Coaches can not focus on 1 or 2 players. They will put them all
through the ringer to see who has it and does not. We are low on numbers
in the post so she will be given a long look and Carol will keep a good
eye on her and make changes where needed.

...We all need to give first year players a break. The world has just
changed over for them. They are no longer the best player on the court.
It is a major change and adjustment time for these young players. They
are going through a whole new world. For some it will take a little
more time. Look at Koko as a prime example. It took her part of her
junior and her senior year to get comfortable and contribute. We have
gotten on Diamond for her performance. Again all players are different
and learn at different ways. One other factor are the coaches. They may
get frustrated with a player if they do meet coaches expectations. They
may than become the forgotten child.

...All I am saying is do not judge a player by their first or some
cases their second year. Not everyone is in a position like Abby. She
had a great first year. Good job Abby.

...I have a pretty good idea how they feel. Before I became a starter. I
was so far down the pecking order that I was sharing space on the bench
with the cockroaches. Even they seem to get more attention than me. It was
a lonely feeling that questions yourself and what others thinks about
you. But you bring up your pride and suck it up and work 10 times harder
than the other players. You volunteer for everything. You make sure the
coaches see everything you do. Before you know it. You are waving by to
the cockroaches and are moving up the food chain. There is not a better
feeling in the world.

...Patience and time are keys. Danielle will be fine. She will show us
what she has when she returns in the fall. Go Danielle, Go Bench.

Thanks

SEG/Chief