Pressing Up 20+

[Ed Ott]

Thoughts?

Team is down 20+ with 2 minutes left and they sub in their JV girls. Winning team keeps pressing. With a minute left still pressing and to the point the refs are calling touch fouls against the winning team. Coach keeps the press on while up 24 with 30 seconds left.

Is this just where we are at? No big deal? “Get better if you don’t like it!!’”

A couple weeks ago I watched a game where the team was up 40 and running clock with 2 minutes left. Players 2-6 were in the game and winning team shot 5 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes, with a running clock. Each make the bench and crowd cheered.

Hard to watch. Ridiculous

[danicalifornia]

I don’t like it, but I’ll play Devil’s advocate…

Is that the only style that the winning team plays? Like, are they run and gun in the final minute of a tie game too? Which, just typing that is maddening to me, but I guess if you’re only shooting 3’s all the time, why would you do anything else?

But, also, if you’re only doing that, you better be a whole lot better than everyone else you are playing because you aren’t winning tight games like that.

[Ed Ott]

I don’t like it, but I’ll play Devil’s advocate…

Is that the only style that the winning team plays? Like, are they run and gun in the final minute of a tie game too? Which, just typing that is maddening to me, but I guess if you’re only shooting 3’s all the time, why would you do anything else?

But, also, if you’re only doing that, you better be a whole lot better than everyone else you are playing because you aren’t winning tight games like that.

Different teams, different games. To me there is zero argument for the pressing while up 20, against JV players and under a minute left.

The team shooting 3’s was another team. Four of five starting players were on the court, up 40 with a running clock and 2 minutes remaining. Made 5 3’s in final 2 minutes. Players 2 through 6.

[danicalifornia]

I don’t like it, but I’ll play Devil’s advocate…

Is that the only style that the winning team plays? Like, are they run and gun in the final minute of a tie game too? Which, just typing that is maddening to me, but I guess if you’re only shooting 3’s all the time, why would you do anything else?

But, also, if you’re only doing that, you better be a whole lot better than everyone else you are playing because you aren’t winning tight games like that.

Different teams, different games. To me there is zero argument for the pressing while up 20, against JV players and under a minute left.

The team shooting 3’s was another team. Four of five starting players were on the court, up 40 with a running clock and 2 minutes remaining. Made 5 3’s in final 2 minutes. Players 2 through 6.

I completely agree with you, I was just trying…reaching for some sort of way to justify it just as devil’s advocate.

[bucknuts09]

I have a feeling this team is also loaded with transfers
They also are in the SVC! I may be wrong but there is a team in the SVC that does the same thing!

[Ed Ott]

I have a feeling this team is also loaded with transfers
They also are in the SVC! I may be wrong but there is a team in the SVC that does the same thing!

Nope, not them. I haven’t seen them yet.

[SoccerDad]

Pressing with your normal rotation during blowouts is a poor use of time. Forget the other team's feelings—what could you possibly be working on by pressing a team that you're 20+ points better than? If anything, you're exposing your team to bad habits that will not work against even competition. Might as well work on defensive concepts that will be applicable in competitive games.

But if pressing is a key part of the way you play, putting the JV squad out there to work on their press against older/more athletic girls seems like an okay idea to me. The way it was described, it sounds like the JV unit only got a bucket or two in those 2:00.

[Ed Ott]

Pressing with your normal rotation during blowouts is a poor use of time. Forget the other team's feelings—what could you possibly be working on by pressing a team that you're 20+ points better than? If anything, you're exposing your team to bad habits that will not work against even competition. Might as well work on defensive concepts that will be applicable in competitive games.

But if pressing is a key part of the way you play, putting the JV squad out there to work on their press against older/more athletic girls seems like an okay idea to me. The way it was described, it sounds like the JV unit only got a bucket or two in those 2:00.

The starting players were the ones doing the pressing until under a minute

[danicalifornia]

I have a feeling this team is also loaded with transfers
They also are in the SVC! I may be wrong but there is a team in the SVC that does the same thing!

Nope, not them. I haven’t seen them yet.

In last night’s game, they were done pressing by at least midway in the 2nd quarter (it was bad, so I was skipping around). I think Smith has also played about 16 total minutes in the 4th quarter this season too, which includes 14 in the two losses.

[justpassinthru]

I'm 100% ok with the winning team subbing in their JV players and letting them press if that is the main defense for their team, no place better to learn that actual game.

Several reasons a team my still press when up 20 and the other team throws in the towel but personally I would not.

[Ed Ott]

I'm 100% ok with the winning team subbing in their JV players and letting them press if that is the main defense for their team, no place better to learn that actual game.

Several reasons a team my still press when up 20 and the other team throws in the towel but personally I would not.

Again, the losing team subbed in their JV’s and and team up by 20+ kept pressing until under a minute…and it was their varsity main players.

The only thing being practiced was hideous sportsmanship.

[justpassinthru]

I'm 100% ok with the winning team subbing in their JV players and letting them press if that is the main defense for their team, no place better to learn that actual game.

Several reasons a team my still press when up 20 and the other team throws in the towel but personally I would not.

Again, the losing team subbed in their JV’s and and team up by 20+ kept pressing until under a minute…and it was their varsity main players.

The only thing being practiced was hideous sportsmanship.

I was aware what happened. I was merely stating a situation where I would be fine with a team pressing.

Maybe there is a back story here that you have not relayed to us, since you seem close to the losing side here.

[efarns]

Would it be for conditioning purposes? Playing the press at game intensity for the entire game isn't something you can necessarily simulate in practice.

[SoccerDad]

I'm 100% ok with the winning team subbing in their JV players and letting them press if that is the main defense for their team, no place better to learn that actual game.

Several reasons a team my still press when up 20 and the other team throws in the towel but personally I would not.

Again, the losing team subbed in their JV’s and and team up by 20+ kept pressing until under a minute…and it was their varsity main players.

The only thing being practiced was hideous sportsmanship.

You should write a note to the athletic directors of each school and express your concerns

[Crab's Brother]

Thoughts?

Team is down 20+ with 2 minutes left and they sub in their JV girls. Winning team keeps pressing. With a minute left still pressing and to the point the refs are calling touch fouls against the winning team. Coach keeps the press on while up 24 with 30 seconds left.

Is this just where we are at? No big deal? “Get better if you don’t like it!!’”

A couple weeks ago I watched a game where the team was up 40 and running clock with 2 minutes left. Players 2-6 were in the game and winning team shot 5 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes, with a running clock. Each make the bench and crowd cheered.

Hard to watch. Ridiculous

I had a very close seat for this. I wasn't happy. Wouldn't have been a fan if doing against the starters.

Went thru me when it was done to the JV. I expressed how I felt about it.

[Ironman92]

Yeah, was at this game. I can’t think of a single reason to play it out that way. I don’t understand those in sports that don’t understand sportsmanship. The defending of these type of things is becoming more and more understanding of it.

There’s nothing to understand. It was wrong, it’s not how you do it and the reasons are quite the reaches.

In the youth leagues they make rules to keep the youth league coaches from pressing in much less situations.

[justpassinthru]

This is where we are at now. Every game talked about on here someone is butt hurt. If your team lost it was because of something someone did, ref, coach etc. It wasnt because the other team was better.
If you dont like a score then the other mean coach "ran" it up. If you lose by 50 or 60 but they arent pressing the last 2 minutes its more of the same. I I'm leaning towards the get better crowd.

Are you in favor of if a team gets ahead by 25 then game is over and we can all pack up and leave. Kids get home earlier, no one gets embarrassed, etc.

[trampoline]

I think it varies according to the situation. what makes people upset is when some idiot a$$hole like the Athens girls coach goes out and beats Meigs last night 100 to 8. Meigs is just trying to save their program and then this scumbag shows up and beats them by 100. Its people like this who shouldnt be involved in coaching.

[Bug iis]

Sure would be tough to lose one of those starters to an injury when you are up that much and still pressing.

[danicalifornia]

I think it varies according to the situation. what makes people upset is when some idiot a$$hole like the Athens girls coach goes out and beats Meigs last night 100 to 8. Meigs is just trying to save their program and then this scumbag shows up and beats them by 100. Its people like this who shouldnt be involved in coaching.

Run some offense in the halfcourt to take up some time instead of just one quick outlet and a layup each trip like from what I saw on the hudl film.

Also, maybe don’t try to score as time runs out, because they would’ve scored 102 if they had an extra half second.