The sixth man or Bench
Only five men are on the court at any time. Players on the bench need to be able to join the game and help the team. Often a side will have a strong bench player who can come on and help change the teams pattern. The specialist player is also called the sixth man. The bench should have a range of qualities that can be useful in any of the five positions. The more diverse the players skill, the more opportunities for changing the game.
Although only 5 players play at a time on any basketball team, the players on the bench are very important. At all levels of basketball, the sixth man has become something of an elite figure. A strong bench can be the key to any basketball team’s success. Five players are allowed on the court at any one time and can be substituted. In most games at least 3 players from the bench will play a significant amount of time.
Sometimes his role calls for him to score, play exceptional defense, or a combination of the two. Bench specialties may mean skills such as being a strong long-range shooter, playing solid defense or being able to play two or three positions well. Sometimes, the sixth man adds rebounding strength. The coach can use the bench to his advantage, particularly when the game is close. Since he doesn’t start the game, the sixth man must study the game tempo and prepare himself mentally so he is able to adjust to flow of the game the moment he steps on the floor. His coach, then, must know the sixth man’s capabilities and limitations.
