I would just like to preface this article by saying that I am in no way complaining about being a bench-warmer. I believe it to be an honor and a privilege to be on a team at all. Being on sports teams has positively impacted my entire life whether I was a starter or a benchwarmer. That being said, being a benchwarmer on a college varsity team has given me a new understanding of what the purpose of “the bench” really is.” Though every coach claims to subscribe to the famous quote said by Russian actor, Constantin Stanislavski, “Remember: there are no small parts, only small actors,” I believe that some players are really only there to work behind the scenes or maybe even as the third understudy--if you’re lucky.
I also just want to clarify that I’m not talking about the second-stringers who are first off the bench within the first ten minutes of the game or the people who start when a regular starter can’t. I’m talking about the people who sit on the bench the entire game long. I’m referring to the elite group known as “bench-warmers.”
The following is a list of 15 jobs and perks that belong exclusively to the bench-warmers. But remember, you can't just be a bench-warmer: you have to deserve that status
1. When you first show up to practice, it is all too apparent that your purpose is to be a body. Similarly to the dummies that you encounter at a CPR course, your job is to represent the person that would be there in the real situation i.e you're a body representing the other team.
2. At games, it’s more intimidating when more people walk into a gym, regardless of their actual skill level.
3. It’s also helpful to have people to keep the warm up drills going. Whether it be lay-up lines, stretches, having a catch or doing a passing drill, the starters need someone to get warmed up with and they may not all be available to do so. Also, it’s more intense when the warm-ups are taken seriously, bringing us back to the intimidation factor of the bench.
4. When the starters get called up by the announcer, they need someone to high-five…
5. The bench is obviously there to keep the morale up via cheering and clapping.
6. A crucial part of the job of bench-warmer is to get the water for the players during a timeout or in between quarters, and then to collect the disposed of cups afterwards.
7. If you’re lucky, a bench-warmer will get called up to play if everyone is either injured or fouled out and is therefore necessary in order for the show to go on.
8. Side note: it really helps my self-esteem when my coach tells me repeatedly that he hopes I don't make it into the game.
9. That awkward moment when, after a game, showering is the first thing on your teammates’ mind but you still smell like fresh laundry.
10. When everyone else is thirsty from running and playing, and you’re just as parched--from cheering.
11. When you just intuitively know that none of the negative comments about the game after a loss were directed at you.
12. When coach repeatedly tells you to watch game film so that you can meet with him to discuss and work on where you went wrong. And you’re like “So I don't have to do that.”
13. Your family and friends don’t hate you for obligating them in filling up the stands because hey, if you're not going to play, no need for you to be cheered for on the bench.
14. When coach asks for ten people on the court to teach a play and you inconspicuously slink off to the sideline because you know that you're not one of the volunteers coach wants.
15. And what I think is by far the most crucial purpose of the bench, at least in the coach's eyes: It’s whilst fulfilling this duty that you think to yourself, “So that’s why I was allowed to join this team…it all makes sense now!" I really love it when the coach asks the bench, “Why aren’t you scoring?!” or “I don't understand--didn't we work on this?” “Umm, I don't know Coach, maybe because I’m not in the game.” Or just the general complaining about the referees, the other team and of course, the players.
See? Look at that. The bench has super important jobs and super cool perks, whereas the starters really just have one: to play a good game and win. Basically, the bench is ten times more crucial than the starters. Whatever, no biggie.
