How to Execute an Effective Timeout in Basketball
Basketball is a popular sport all around the world and more so in the United States of America. People, who regularly watch basketball games, understand the importance of a timeout in a match. Coaches execute this stoppage in play to revise their strategies, change formation of the team or to motivate the players to perform better. If your team is not doing well, you can take a timeout and have a quick but strong word with your players, who can then change the course of a match. A timeout, if used effectively, can be the turning point of a basketball match.
Instructions
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1
Rules of a timeout
These rules are different for NBA, FIBA and NCAA games. In college basketball for instance, each team can utilize a timeout of 20 seconds in one half. A coach is not allowed to carry forward or save these timeouts. Apart from them, there are six regular timeouts in a basketball match which are pre-decided. The length of a regular timeout is between 60 to 100 seconds, which is also decided before the start of the match. Mostly, we witness 100 second timeouts in televised matches because of commercial breaks.
A timeout can be called by a player when the ball is in his team’s possession or is dead. A team can also take a timeout when a player is between shooting foul shots or is injured. -
2
Appropriate time to take a timeout
According to most coaches, a timeout is most important during the fourth quarter of a closely fought game. If your team is just a few points behind and needs to score quickly to level or to take a lead, players can discuss some quick strategies with the coach and set up a play.
At times, the players are lacking motivation to deliver the goods in an important match. A coach may send a signal to a player to take a timeout and then have a strong word with the team. If a coach has good communication skills, s/he can surely motivate the players and get the best out of them. -
3
Substitutions
If a coach thinks that a particular player is not performing well, s/he is allowed to make substitutions during a timeout. A fresh player can be called in to great effect at times.
