Dealing With Young Superstars

Notice: This article was written by Steve Jordan, Coach's Notebook. Email the author at sjordan@alaskalife.net.

Pool enough kids together to play some basketball and you will likely see a wide range of talent and ability. Basketball, as sports go, strongly favors big, quick bodies. It is also a sport that requires years to master essential skills. So, as a coach, you may have an opportunity to work with two kinds of exceptional players: those who have matured early and have distinct physical advantages compared to their peers, or those kids who have grown up in a basketball family and learned to dribble and shoot about the same age they learned to use a knife and fork. Because of these factors, a few kids are basketball-blessed and seemingly destined at an early age to be superstar basketball players.

Coaches need to be very careful with superstars. If you were lucky enough to get the number one draft choice at the local league tryouts, you may feel like a successful season is assured. As one who has "been there, done that", I offer several situations you should consider before you embark on your journey to the championship led by your MJ prototype.

What about the Superstar's Future?

Many times I have heard or read of some proud parent (or coach) glowingly describing a young, 11 year-old player as the next Allan Iverson, or whomever. Or perhaps after scoring 30 points in a YMCA youth basketball game, observers will say things like, "Just think how good this kid will be in high school!" or "She'll make the WNBA easily" or "Someone just needs to work with that kid and he'll be awesome!". The player hears all that and in time, believes it. Such input may lead to a conceited player, but not necessarily. What the coach should worry about is much more insidious. Think about two facts of life:

1. While most kids are discovering new strength and abilities, basketball just gets harder and more frustrating for the superstar. Why?

1. Kids who mature early and are physically superior at age 10-12, may hit their peak height at a young age and actually end up shorter than average as an adult. The best post player I ever coached in that age range (he was about 5'9" at that time) is now a guard for his high school team. He's still 5'9. Sometimes you can take a look at the parents and surmise that this player will be quite tall, but you may also be quite wrong. The lesson for coaches of young, big people is to provide a broad basketball experience.
2. Players that develop their muscularity and coordination early will also have a big advantage, but in time, the other players will catch up. In two or three years, that strength-edge may be gone. The player that has over-powering right handed moves at 11-12 may not feel a need to learn to use his other hand. Why should he? He just scored 30 points and single-handedly routed another team. But, three years later the star tries out for his high school team and can't even get a shot off because the defense herds him into a corner. The lesson is to teach these kids to rely on their fundamental skills to survive, not sheer strength.
3. Skills catch up, too. The learning curve is much steeper for the novice player than for an experienced player. Once the fundamentals take hold, the rookie will enjoy stretches of rapid improvement. In contrast, the child who was so advanced a year or two ago may look like he/she is going nowhere. It is also possible that the advanced player may exceed the capabilities of the coach. In that case, there may be little instruction of value during the season. It is similar to an over-qualified student attending a class at school. The lesson is to provide challenges for the prodige' through advanced skill development or competition against older players.

2. High expectations can place an unbearable emotional burden on the player

Success can be intoxicating, especially for kids. Its nice to be flattered, appreciated and respected. The problem for youngsters is that it is hard to live up to all the incumbent expectations. The coach and teammates may come to expect 20 - 30 points a game. What happens when the superstar falls short? What is it like to for him/her to score 18 points only to have people say that he/she didn't have a very good game, and let the team down? What is it like for the superstar to realize that he/she hasn't gotten any bigger since last year and yet people still talk about the basketball future as if it were a sure thing? Emotionally, the player is probably at the same level as everybody else, yet because of sports, the athlete is forced to deal with adult pressures.

The lesson is to remember that there is a little kid in that big, talented body. Make the player a part of the team. Stress team values, team responsibility and team work ethics. Teach the value of assists. Teach the value of making your fellow teammates better players. Encourage the star to perfect all aspects of the game. Improvement is always possible. Later, if transition to a new position is necessary, it won't be a shock. A superstar that shares adds a huge padding of confidence around the team. Every player can do their part knowing that the big gun is always there.

What Happens to the Superstar's Team?

It is very important for every team member to feel needed. Individuals work harder in practice knowing that their contribution level is directly related to team success or failure. When players are asked to essentially get out of the way to let the superstar win the game for them, morale will suffer. The wins don't mean as much to the players if they had little to do with earning them. On the other hand, if they are needed for screens or spotting up for shots, they have a chance to make a difference. Set up clutch shots for unexpected shooters. You may discover a new hero.

Its important, too, to teach all the players the game skills they need to learn. For example, you may have a ball handler that can individually rend a press to shreds. Yet, the way to beat a press is learn to pass the ball and take advantage of defensive movement. The entire team, including the superstar, must learn how to do this. If the coach relies on the superstar to carry the team rather than teaching the team how to play and to how to play together, these penalties will be paid:

1. If the superstar is not in the game, the team will not be able to function. Stars are susceptible to injury, transportation problems, sickness, fouls and many more factors that may remove them from the game. Opposing teams may be able to shut down the top scorer. What's the backup plan? Inexperienced players trying to step up makes for a frustrating experience for all involved.
2. Another situation that may catch you by surprise - recruiting. Exceptional players are often enticed to switch teams and will usually change if the new team offers a chance to play with better athletes. Without any bonding to your team, why should the star stay?
3. The following season, the players will move on. What will they take with them to use with their next team? Will they have developed skills needed to make the team at the next level? If they played on a team totally dependent upon the superstar, they may not have a place to play anymore.
4. Superstars get all the attention. Though teammates may be less talented, some of the players may desire equal treatment. Not getting it, they may resent the star player. If that happens, you may notice all kinds of "equalizers" appearing in your game play. Your star is open but doesn't get the ball. Passes are late, wide or low, just enough to spoil the shot. Criticisms are made towards trivial things. Favoritism is mentioned. Excuses are heard. Other players may feel like they should be shooting more and start to make poor decisions on shot selection.

What is in Store for the Coach?

Don't expect to be cut any slack if you have a superstar on your team. No one will feel sorry for you. Anything short of perfection will be seen as a coaching problem. Successes will be attributed more to the star than the team at large or the coach. If you lose, keep your sense of humor. Here are some things you may hear:

Playing time - too much, too little. When one player draws a lot of attention, the amount of time he or she spends on the floor may be scrutinized by others. Opposing coaches, opposing players' parents and even parents of your own players will feel your star gets too many minutes. The one who sees that issue with a totally different opinion is the star's parents. Can't you see that their kid is saving your team?

Star falters - its the coach's system. Sometimes a star plays under a new coach and becomes decidedly unimpressive. There can be many reasons. Perhaps the other team members command the ball more, maybe the system is slower and allows fewer shot attempts or, most likely, the competition level is higher and things have equalized on their own. Nonetheless, folks may feel that the new coach is holding their favorite player back.

Not getting everyone "in the game". Did you ever notice how some players change the team's style? Some kids just have the ability to take over. That's not always a bad thing, but take a look at players who seem to be contributing less than before. Why is that? Don't sacrifice them. Help them find new ways to assist the team. Call plays that involve different people.

Parents' opinions. There are two types of parents with opinions - the star's parents and the rest of the parents. Each type has their child's best interests in mind. If the star's parent was also the previous coach, he or she will have a lot of time and emotion invested in the child. It may be difficult to let go of control. You may get a lot of unsolicited advice. You may have a legacy to live up to if the player's previous teams have been successful. The other parents will fuss if their kids do not get a chance to play or to contribute because of time and opportunity devoted to the star.

The best you can do is follow your plan and develop everyone on the team. If the players support each other and work together, the parents will see that. If playing time is managed fairly and everyone has a chance to play, complaints will be minimal. Its a whole lot easier to defend your policies when everyone gets in. If the complaint is that you should have played your star more, you have position that you are building the entire team. If the complaint is because some kid(s) sat the whole game while your star played every minute, then you have obviously set yourself up as a coach who favors winning over development.

As far as style of play is concerned, the coach should match it with the overall team's attributes and the coach's experience base. To change everyone else to satisfy a single player is not a happy answer. Remember, the team doesn't exist to promote one player. Every player is there to promote the team.

Summary

While writing this article, several memories of special, young athletes came to mind. Each of these particular players fit the superstar model in their pre-high school days. They were dominant scorers and ball handlers. They had a huge impact on each game they played. But, only a couple played in high school. Two dropped out of school. Two gave up basketball altogether by ninth grade.

So, if you end up with a superstar, try to make the experience mutually beneficial. Emphasize the Magic Johnson and Larry Bird role models over the singular scorers. Maybe, if everything works out perfectly in the years ahead, you can watch a basketball game on TV and see your work in action.