Not playing much? Here’s how to thrive in a depth position

One of the most challenging positions to be in is coming off the bench and playing a limited number of minutes. Depending on the sport this can look different. In baseball and football there are specific roles such as relief pitchers and kickers. In hockey and lacrosse it is depth roles giving skill players a rest for a few shifts. Either way the role is challenging for a few reasons.

First is staying focused and engaged. Each game is different. And if you are joining in the middle of it you better be ready for the moment. Staying engaged in the game while spending long periods on the bench is challenging.

Second is all mistakes are magnified. Either because it is a high pressure situation such as a field goal or you only have 3 shifts to stay in the line up. Every mistake carries more weight because there is a low number of opportunities.

Third is executing every game without recognition. Most of the low minute roles fly under the radar. Doing your job is normal and if you are not noticed, that’s a good thing. Accepting that and executing a job that most of the time is unnoticed unless for a negative, is very tough.

So how can we prepare ourselves to overcome these challenges? Here are some suggestions:

Be vocal – communicate with your team throughout the game. Cheer on good play, tell them what you are seeing from the bench and keep the energy up. This will keep you engaged with the game and have a feel for the flow.

Stay loose – Get up and move. During breaks in the game get off the bench. Walk around, stretch, take some kicks, do something. You will get cold and your legs will get heavy just sitting there. Make sure you are moving in some way between playing time.

Keep it simple – you are not playing to do anything fancy. The good thing about that is your job is very clear. All that needs to be done is execute that one job. Don’t need to make a spectacular play. Keep it simple and do your job.

Bounce back quickly – if a mistake is made, correct it immediately. Whether it is in that shift or the next. Don’t let a mistake become multiple mistakes. Have a short memory and keep moving forward. Make the next best decision.

Be a great teammate – just like magnifying mistakes, your attitude is magnified. A role player with a bad attitude won’t be tolerated long. It also loses your teammates. Your teammates will be your biggest advocate when the role is done selflessly and you are part of the bigger goal. Being a great teammate is the right thing to do but it is also your best asset in self preservation.

Embrace it – like I said before, the team loves the unsung heroes. The player who blocks the shot when they already blocked 5 at the end of a long shift. And guess who else will? The fans. The coaches. People like goal scorers. People love heart. Embrace it. It might be a difficult road, but at the end of the day it is the players who plays with heart that earns respect.