Volleyball Vs. Basketball

I was at a college volleyball game this weekend and as a lifelong basketball fan, noticed some differences. Some made more sense than others.


1. The players on the bench were not actually on the bench, only the coaching staff. The players were standing off to the side. I would think that sitting would be more restful and thus more helpful to the game. On the other hand, sitting can also make it easier to lose focus (and so cheering spirit) if it's too restful. It might have nothing to do with energy, maybe the coaches just don't want to smell the sweaty players, or need them to be closer to the water cooler to fetch them refreshment.


2. When time out is called, the bench players left the bench area, jogged across the court, and then jogged back. This also seemed to be contrary to rest, but also contrary to the kind of stiffness that could arise from standing idly near the cheerleaders instead of comfortably on the bench so it could be an antidote. It could also be yet another strategy to keep players from falling asleep, as they might if they sat on the bench.


3. After almost every point the entire team screams with delight and runs toward each other to huddle up in a celebratory circle. There is evidence that physical affirmation (back or butt slaps, etc.) among teammates has a winning effect, so it would be intriguing and socially funny for a bunch of boys to pump their arms and scream with delight after, say, a made free throw instead of the more common low-key fist bump from a couple teammates. It would also be potentially exhausting and more than a little counterproductive after a fast break layup for the entire team to chase down the scorer and swat him while the other team easily scored at the now unguarded hoop at the other end.


4. Players change benches after every game, which makes sense in the more stationary game but still means that an annoying amount of equipment needs to be toted back and forth over the course of five games.


5. It's a best-three-of-five game scoring system. What if basketball did the same, best-three-of-five six minute games? It would change the whole dynamic, probably resulting in lower scoring games given how coaches tend to hold for "the last shot" in the final minute of a quarter today.


6. Rally scoring. What if you got a point for a defensive stop, as well as for an offensive point? That would offset the scoring decrease in the previous point.