IDEAS ABOUT BOX SUBSTITUTION

by RICK KINCAID
(SOUTH CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL SYKESVILLE, MARYLAND)

HOW TO RUN BOX SUBSTITUTIONS FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH DICK EDELL
FORMER MEN'S LAX COACH UNV OF MD)

1. LINE DEPTH - DO NOT CALL YOU LINES/UNITS BY NUMBER 1,2,DEFENSIVE MID... IT IS DEMEANING USE TEAM COLORS EXAMPLE: RED,WHITE,BLACK,GOLD
KNOW WHO IS ON THE EMO, MDD, OR ANY SPECIALIST. KNOWING WHO THE BACKUPS ARE TO THOSE SITUATIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

2. FOGO UNIT... FIRST ON GET OFF WORK WITH THIS UNIT DURING PRACTICE, BEST USED DURING FACEOFF WORK, OR SCRIMMAGE SITUATIONS. YOU MUST WORK IN THIS AREA EVERY DAY IN PRACTICE SO THAT COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING IS WELL UNDERSTOOD. SPRINT TO THE BALL.

3. FOGO UNIT OFFENSIVE TRANSITION SPRINT INTO BOX TO THE CONE OR AREA OF CLOSEST TO THE SUBSTUTION. LIKEWISE DEFENSE SUB CLOSEST TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE BOX. MAKE SURE THE ONE COMING OFF IS YELLING TO THE OPPOSITE PLAYER THEIR NAME. RICKIE RICKIE RICKIE, GO! PLAYERS MUST KEEP THEIR HEADS UP IN CASE OF TURNOVER OR CHANGE OF DIRECTION. YELLING BILLIE, BILLIE, BILLIE, GO. (OF COURSE THE NAME MAY CHANGE AS A NEW PLAYER MAY BE COMING ON. KEEP THE HEAD UP LOOKING AT COACH AND PLAYER ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE BOX! MISTAKES HERE CAN KILL YOU.

4. AS A BOX COACH DO NOT LOOK ON THE OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE FIELD OF PLAY. COUNT THE NUMBERS EVERY TIME A SUB COMES IN, OR ANY TRANSITION.

5. YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES, LIFE IS FULL OF MISTAKES. LET YOUR PLAYERS KNOW THIS. THE IDEA IS EVEN THOUGH MISTAKES OCCUR DURING THE COURSE OF THE GAME, THEY CAN BE OVERCOME, BY LEARNING FROM THOSE MISTAKES, FORGIVING YOURSELF AND CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY. PLAYERS MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, LOVERS LET IT HAPPEN!