Vision

Brian Nolasco relays some of what he learned at the recent Nike Championship Basketball Clinic in Milwaukee. Below is some of what Brian says about Princeton Coach Joe Scott's presentation:

Also, he talked about players who hold the ball. When this happen, it could mean two things. Either, they are selfish, or they are blind. Selfishness is very easy to correct. Blindness is a bit tougher. But, you can teach them to get better and make them efficient. Perhaps they won't be creative, but they will know what to do next.

I often experienced the held ball in hockey. Of course in hockey the players hold the puck, not a ball. But my frustration wasn't tempered by the fact that my teammates were holding vulcanized rubber instead of a rubber ball. Nothing irritated me more than seeing the flow of the game ruined by a player who wanted to skate with the puck instead of pass it to open teammates or to open areas of the ice, areas soon to be filled by streaking teammates eager to get a lead pass.

A similar blindness may affect club tennis players. When I see players fail to hit the ball into the open court, or fail to move offensively or defensively in response to the evolving action within points or matches, I wonder if this might be a lack of tennis vision that I'm seeing. Perhaps players are so caught up in hitting the ball that they don't see the game as good players see it.