Player Positions

[asiancoach]

Seems like the positions have changed with the versitility of todays athletes. I remember having a 1 pg, 2 sg, 3 sf, 4 pf, and 5 c. Now days it seems like pg, wing and post. Small forwards are gone, do we look at positions differently now or has the game evolved to the point that you are either a guard or post?

[first2no]

I think coaches are putting their best five on the floor at the same time. If that means putting 3 guards and 2 small forwards on the court at the same time then so be it. On the boys and girls side we now have big guards who can post up so when there is a mis match coaches can still take advantage of the low block even without the traditional center. On the boys side we are seeing a bunch of 6"4 to 6"8 players that can handle the ball but they are not quite good enough to play the point. Some coaches are putting 4 of these type of players on the floor at the same time along with a point guard and they go get after it. We are seeing the same thing on the girls side, a bunch of 5'10 to 6"2 ladies who can handle the rock a little bit but they are not point guards. I say we don't label players anymore lets just find five that can play and have good chemistry and put them out on the court at the same time.

It all starts with the little rec league coaches who take the tallest 8 year old and only allows them to play close to the basket and calls them a center. Rec league coaches should teach all of the kids the basic fundamentals (passing,shooting,dribbling, and defending). What if EDD dad or Candace Parkers parents only allowed them to play the traditional center position? They wouldn't be the players they are today.

Message to all YOUTH LEAGUE COACHES - Don't let height determine which postition and skills you are going to teach and allow the young players to learn. You never know who is going to hit a late growth spurt or who is going to top out at 5"9!!!