Basketball standings have evolved alongside the sport itself. This has not happened by mere chance, but the improvement over time of the physical conditions of the players and the change in the characteristics of the game has caused each of the roles of the sport to have presented different variations.
The clearest example of this can be seen in the fact that twenty years ago some specific roles were determined for the players and each of them had a specialty. At present, these roles no longer exist, since modern basketball focuses on motivating players to be versatile enough to act in different roles according to the needs of the game strategy .
This is something quite positive, since it has represented a significant improvement in defensive and offensive strategies that can be applied compared to the strategic possibilities of twenty years ago.
The relationship between basketball positions and training methodology
As basketball positions and player roles have evolved, coaches have been forced to make their training methodologies evolve as well .
Because the versatility of each player is prioritized, coaches strive to improve the technical skills of the players on their team along with their performance when executing individual tactics . That is, it is not only intended that the players are integral, but it also seeks to make the most of the specific abilities of each player.
This differs from more traditional basketball in the fact that previously team tactic was the most important thing in training.
The different basketball positions
Now that the antecedents of basketball positions have been clarified, it should be mentioned that these are divided into two groups: exterior and interior .
The interiors are those playing positions located in spaces close to the rim. Specifically, we speak of spaces that range between four and five meters long . On the other hand, the outer positions are those of spaces with greater distance, more than six meters long with respect to the rim.
In this sense, both the exterior and interior positions have the following subdivisions or roles :
- For inside positions: pivot and power forward .
- In the case of the outside positions: forward, guard and point guard .
The details of each of these basketball positions are explained below.
Base
The base is one of the most important positions, since it is responsible for directing the entire match. One of his most important jobs is to get the ball up between the courts, so he has the responsibility to play at high speed .
In essence, the rank and file must be in charge of controlling the pace of the game, directing it and organizing it. The decisions you make must be related to the game situation and the strategy to be adopted.
Due to all the aforementioned, the base is considered as the coach’s voice on the court, so the player with this position must work hand in hand with the coach . It should be noted that they are usually assigned as the base to the shorter players and are located in the center of the perimeter. At the numerical level, this player is usually assigned the number “1”.
The specific skills of a good foundation are:
- Great control of the ball.
- Agility in the feet.
- Dexterity in the hands for defense.
- A lot of versatility to move between indoors and outdoors, both over short and long distances.
- Excellent peripheral vision.
Although the base is one of the most important positions, certain game strategies seek to do without it. For this reason, in modern basketball it is possible to find some teams that grant most of the functions of the base to the guard .
Shooting guard
Also called low forward, this is an intermediate position between forward and base. It is characterized by the ability to exercise three external functions: guard, point guard and forward , for which it has no problems.
Players who are bigger than the base are usually assigned to this position. At the numerical level, it is usually assigned the number “2”. Beyond being bigger, a good guard should have the same skills that the base position should have. However, shooting guards differ in that they need to have more skill to score. His playing area is outside, around more than six meters away from the rim .
Eaves
This position is usually assigned to the bigger players on the team. They must have great speed , although not as fast as the guard and the base. It is characterized by being a position with a more open area on the court. However, in some cases it can be assigned interior positions. Numerically, the forward is usually the number “3”. A good forward must have the following skills:
- A powerful counterattack game.
- Excellent aim from the outside area.
- Ability to correctly execute a rebound both offensive and defensive .
- Great performance when it comes to one-on-one matches.
Pivot-wing
Generally, the players in this position are quite large, but without surpassing the pivot in this regard. It is a position that requires a lot of agility and coordination . Power forwards tend to play mid-range from inside space or fairly close to the rim.
Also, when they are especially close to the rim it is common for them to turn their backs on it. Likewise, a good power forward must be very precise with his shots and very effective in one-on-one, so that he has no problem penetrating opposing defenses.
On the other hand, it is also one of the positions that most demands skill for passing, especially on free throws or from the high post, which makes power forwards also some of the most dangerous players.
Speed is also another of their strengths, since they must be able to make fast counterattacks, since one of the main functions of this position is to rebound both in defense and attack . Their number is usually “4”.
Pivot
Finally, we must mention the pivot: the largest and largest player on the team . This is quite a demanding position, as strength and weight are especially important in it. A good pivot must be able to take advantage of all the benefits of his body to gain space on the court.
When a team has a dominant pivot, it is a great tactical advantage, since it offers many different possibilities of play , especially in the plays that are made with their back to the defender.
With regard to their playing area, in most cases it is close to the rim, but due to the versatility that modern basketball implies, it is increasingly common for the pivot to decide to leave its perimeter . His assigned number is “5”.
In conclusion, there are five basketball positions that exist today. However, not all of them are always present on a team due to the versatility of basketball. In addition, because it is a sport that is constantly evolving, it is possible that these positions will change in the future .
