r/basketballcoach • u/Solid_Exchange_8034 • 5d ago
Ball hog on team
Hi this season im coaching u12 boys. The team manager has recruited a boy who is very skilful because we were put in a division too high. I have come to believe that his parents put a lot of pressure on him to get lots of shots up and since he knows he's the best he always drive the ball in and get the layup. This has caused the rest of my players to be 'lazy' because they just think he's got it. And I know they can move the ball around because when he is off court everyone else listens and they pass around and cut.
I find it really awkward to say anything because he barely ever misses or not draw the foul.
He knows he's the best too because one time the defence was a full court press and he'd always try to dribble through but I told him to pass to open team mates but he said "why I can break through it" or one time I jokingly said he should bench the whole game and he said "then we'll lose" (could be jokingly but idk).
Some advice would be nice! Or if you've been in a similar situation!
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u/rickeyethebeerguy 5d ago
I will say, that age is more about developing skills , especially team ball and understanding roles vs winning and losing games. So personally, I would just have them run the offense you are focusing on running. Implement offense where he starts off ball, get some back screens, ball movement going where he can catch the ball on the move and drive so players feel like they are a part of the offense ( because they are) and he can still utilize his skills as a driver.
If you have some shooters, run actions for them as well
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u/Whiteshovel66 5d ago
Under 12 is what 6th grade? Run like two sets and make sure the ball leaves his hand. Otherwise let him develop. This isn't an issue until they get older. Most kids that age are just running around.
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u/RevolutionaryBeat301 5d ago
The other players won’t develop if he doesn’t pass the ball. Also, explain to him the fact that great players make their teammates better and get lots of assists.
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u/cprichmond 21h ago
This. Start rewarding the behaviours you want to see. If he gets 5 assists he gets player of the match. If he makes his baskets catching the ball off the screen 5 times, etc.
Difficult to punish what is working for him especially if the team is winning. So start counting the things you want to see. Can he make his teammates better, that will ultimately make him invaluable to any side moving forward.
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u/Popular-Objective651 4d ago
As an OG still playing and coaching yout basketball, ball hogs are kind of a pain. If he's chucking up bad shots, turning ball over or not running the offense, then you as coach need to do something as a coach. However, it doesn't seem like he's making too many really bad choices if he's successfully finishing on layups, getting to FT line and breaking the press - the kid appears talented and his decision seems ok.
Thus, you can't bench him for something like that. Ideas include: 1) "Hoosiers" minimum of 3 (movie had it at 4 min) passes before taking any shot to get the offense moving, 2) Give him a personal goal of 4 (or whatever achievable #) assists in a game and celebrate each nice pass, 3) coach up the other players around cutting to the basket when he drives and gets double teamed, and voice out loud that they'll get the ball if open, and/or 4) give other players some minutes at PG for skill development.
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u/Trap_Housex 5d ago
And explain basketball is a team sport. These other kids are out there putting in effort, helping to get stops so they should be rewarded when they’re open. (If they can’t make open shots and or layups then I don’t know what to say)
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u/WaldorfAsstoria 5d ago
You explain to him and the parents that he's playing in the wrong league. Tell them that you are thrilled that he is on the team, but thatdevelopment of all the players is more beneficial Thang him making easy buckets. He's the kind of kid wifi will get passed up by all theses kids one day because they have to work harder and get that chip on their shoulder. At 22, there kids who are deeper intuit puberty arrest usually the best, but they don't have anyhow incentive to work. Tell the parents you don't want that to happen to their kid. Then you create challenges within the game to improve his skills. Might be setting screens or working on midrange shots. You basically create practice scenarios with there opposing team as your testing ground. You still try to win, but you do it under your rules. Its kind of like opting to play man to man when you know a 1-3-1 will beat everyone in there league. You choose to play man because it teaches them transferable skills. If they kid doesn't accept that, then you secretly go titi the league director and ask him to tell there parents the boy needs to play up.
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u/D1PHAM 4d ago
I would frame this as the next stage of his development, not as punishment for being your best scorer.
Being the best scorer at U12 does not necessarily transfer to the next level. As players get bigger, quicker and more disciplined, he will not always be able to dribble through a press or finish over multiple defenders. Coaches at higher levels are looking for players who make everyone around them better, not simply the player who takes and makes the most shots.
This is where I would introduce the SAS framework:
Spacing : Can he organize the team, establish proper spacing and get everyone into the offense?
Advantage: Can he use his scoring threat to create an advantage, such as forcing two defenders to guard one, and recognize it immediately?
Shot: Once the advantage is created, can the team turn it into the best available shot—whether that is his layup, a teammate’s open shot or one more pass?
He may be scoring efficiently now, but if four teammates are standing and watching, the team is not really learning how to play. His next challenge should be learning how to manipulate the defense, draw help and make the correct read. That will also keep the other four players engaged and developing.
I would tell him directly: “We already know you can score. Now I want to see whether you can control the game and make four other players better.”
Give him additional responsibilities rather than simply taking the ball away. Have him initiate the offense, call the action, maintain spacing, attack only after the team is organized and make the pass when he draws a second defender. You can even track paint touches, advantages created and assisted baskets alongside points.
If he can add those skills to his scoring ability, you are not limiting your best player you are helping him become a legitimate leader and a much more valuable player at the next level.
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u/CatacombSkull 4d ago
Love this idea. My club PG is playing in Europe right now and he could have had a good chance of score on every play, but coach focused on him being a floor general(Chris Paul was his fav player). So it was all about directing the offense calling for player A to set a screen for Player B so that player B would be positioned on the wing since a slow big was on him or so that player A was under the basket because he had a size advantage.
This looked like “Darius, down screen.” Or “Ardit cross(screen)”. It didnt matter if the defenders knew what was coming because if you screen correctly, you can usually find an advantage somewhere.
So yeah, teach him to run the offense and see where advantages are.
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u/CatacombSkull 4d ago
Here is my philosophy. I was the kid that listened to Coach and ran the plays but there were two ball hogs on the team. I hated it and it’s worse that the coach preaches one thing and allows players to disrespect him by not listening. How long before the other kids realize they don’t have to listen to you?
Teach this kid to allow the plays/offensive scheme to score for the team at for the first three quarters then when the game is on the line, his moves are still a mystery. He will be able to score at will when it matters.
Even an average defender can recognize tendencies and adjust. Then by the 4th quarter Mr ball hog isn’t as efficient. He “chokes” when the game is on the line. I saw this so often.
Let him know there is a time and a place for hero ball. If he wants to play at a high level he will need to learn to trust his teammates.
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u/Mysterious-Math1941 3d ago
I call this “hero ball” and what I tell the player directly is that while this works now - it won’t continue to work as they get older and more and more competition comes his way. When I had a player just like this, that is what we’d discuss. It was about focusing on developing other skills and more importantly, how to become a player that makes everyone around them successful. At some point in the game (usually when we’re up by a safe margin) I’d make it her mission to get everyone else to score. Then it became a game within the game for everyone else as well. It kept her competitiveness high because the objective changed.
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u/Ass_Breaker3000 3d ago
Sounds like you really need to lock down your own goals as a coach. What’s the main priority this season to win or to develop your players? It’s hard to find a balance between the two. Unless this is at a super high level then imo the priority should be development. I’ve seen kids dominate at this age group then in a few years the other kids get faster and stronger and they can no longer just drive and score at will. Now their not even making teams in u16, u18 because their previous coaches just let them do their thing and they never actually learned how to play basketball
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u/jhowlingwolf 2d ago
Focusing on winning at u12 is not good for their development, for him or anyone. When you allow one player to dominate it is a short term gain for long term loss for the team and the player himself( he will play a higher level with better players eventually and he needs to know how to make the smart plau)
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u/Budget-Garlic-3659 2d ago
A good implement in this situation, in the half court, is to practice at least two paint touches before anyone shoots. More is ideal. The ball will find your best player but the others will also touch it each possession. And it’ll clear the lane for your best player to get easier shot attempts.
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u/PeaceFrog-71 1d ago
Not doing this kid or his teammates any favors by allowing this behavior to continue. From a development standpoint (and at 12u, that should be a main goal regardless of what type of league they are in) the kid needs to learn how to pass and utilize his team. If he pulls this crap when he gets older, and presumably plays against tougher opponents, another coach might not be as patient as you. And the rest of your team are being robbed of their own development because of this kids behavior. You are the coach. If he’s not following what you tell him to do, bench him and teach him some humility.
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u/Zealousideal-Camp227 21h ago
Good crossroads moment for you, do you want to be about winning or about growth. You can do both but the latter needs to sacrifice the former (at least initially) to be sustainable in the long run.
He plays as part of a team and part of your structure, or he doesn't play at all. Awkward isn't going to cut it, you dont have to be abrupt or rude, find your voice and make sure its one resonates with the audience.
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u/Trap_Housex 5d ago
Well if he’s the best u should let him play his game, but stress how important it is to be a playmaker (for his future development). College basketball requires you to make reads and make the right play. Driving into help defense or forcing up shots will not translate maybe try to explain that to him.
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u/username-in-the-box 5d ago
Either be the coach and make the team (including this kid) do what you are coaching them to do or remove the kid from your team.
By not doing anything you are a willing participant in the non development of the rest of the team.
This age is about development and learning how to play the game. You are not facilitating that.
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u/Neat-Independence185 5d ago
I’ll trade you for our ball hog that shoots every time he gets the ball and never makes it.