5 Changes I Would Make To Basketball
1) Fans cannot yell at coaches or refs unless they pass a short quiz upon entry. This one is pretty self-explanatory. Nowhere else in life, except maybe politics, does anyone yell at a professional while having no experience themself. Someone who has never studied film, seen a practice, gone to a clinic, or even instructed kids is perfectly comfortable with barking at another human who has hundreds more hours of training.
Sample questions
On the diagram draw a circle around the short corner and a triangle around the nail.
Define a stagger screen.
Against a flex cut, where should the ball be passed if the defenders switch the screen?
If the fan does not get the answers correct, they do not acquire yell privileges. They can still enjoy the game, they just can’t belittle someone over something they themselves do not understand. If they do pass the quiz, yell away, at least you know what you’re yelling about.
2) The team handshake occurs before a game rather than after. I am prepared to take heat for this opinion. I’m sure that 99% of readers will vehemetely disagree with this. I don’t care. The purpose of a handshake line is to show respect and sportsmanship to the other team. Does it really matter when in the timeline of a game that it happens? Here are a couple reasons why it makes sense to change. First off, court stormings have become a norm in sports. I don’t think the losing team should be subjected to getting trampled and taunted. Second point, when filled with adrenaline and anger, people make bad decisions. I’ve seen the video of post game fights and shoves that start in the line. I get it, kids need to learn to do the right thing. I’m with you. But…you can still practice sportsmanship without a formal lineup. I know this take will get rejected by many, but this is my list so shut it.
3) The assist stat would cease to exist. I can hear it now, “Hunter, you just don’t like passing so you don’t like the stat” ha ha ha… I get it. I’m going to offer you two scenarios that should provide clarity.
Scenario A: The ball handler drive to the middle of the defense, draws the help, finds the open man right on stride, and the shooter misses an easy shot.
Scenario B: The ball handler blindly dribbles into a trap, he panics, throws the ball over his head, it lands in a teammates hands, and he knocks down a lucky fadeaway shot.
Now I ask you, which one would you define as the better pass? Obviously scenario A. Which one is award the passing stat? Scenario B. Jury is dismissed.
4) Youth basketball (K-5) is 3v3 only. Kids need to learn how to play the game above all else. They don’t need cool jerseys. They don’t need to travel across states. They don’t need to run zones. The best way to learn how to play basketball is by playing 3 on 3. You have the ball more. You’re invlved in more actions. You have to be able to get open. You have to guard the ball more. You have to identify help earlier. It honestly makes too much sense. I would have anyone under 6th grade playing a 3 on 3 structure with no travel until middle school. Imagine getting 50 good possessions with the ball in a two hour span than 25 total in an entire weekend. This would also make it easier for communities to host development rather than outsource it to AAU teams at young ages.
5) Prep schools are 5th year only. Consider this a gap year of sorts. Under this rule, prep schools are only for kids who desire another year of development before starting their 4 years of collegiate eligibility. Now, I don’t think at their optimum use that they’re that bad. If only the top 1% of players in the nation went, it wouldn’t impact much. But now, you have kids who are JUCO bound leaving their hometowns in order to chase something that they probably won’t attain. We’re slowly losing high school tradition. We have players leaving friends that they spent 10 years playing with. We having coaches spending hundreds of hours helping to develop a kid only to have them get ditched for a prettier date. High school basketball is more than highlights and notoriety. It’s conference rivalries, student sections, dances, playing with friends, and representing your town with pride. Losing that is a huge loss for the sport. I’ll end with mentioning the caveat: If we went back to where it was 5-10 years ago I’d relent and forgo this proposal. Now it’s just out of control.
