I have been at this basketball stuff long enough to understand what needs to be done in certain situations.

I also field a lot of questions regarding this game.

Parents, players, coaches and school officials seek me out from time to time to ask me what I’d do in a certain situation. Yes, I’m flattered to have the opportunity to speak to a variety of issues. These days, there is a consistency regarding much of what is asked.

I thought today might be as good a time as any to address some of these issues.

Issue No. 1: Playing time for high school basketball participants.

As a longtime coach, I would put this concern – mostly by parents and players – at the top of any list I make for frequency.

Here’s my rule.

In my high school programs as a head coach, all junior varsity and ninth-grade players played in every game. Period. Varsity playing minutes were earned in practice.

Those support coaches who failed to adhere to these guidelines were reprimanded or dismissed.

Junior varsity and ninth-grade hoopsters at the high school level need to see action every game. If coaches – head coaches, that is – wish to develop any type of continuity in their programs, all lower-level kids must play each night out.

Kids get discouraged quickly if they don’t participate in games. There’s nothing more disheartening than attending practice only to receive 15 or 20 seconds at the end of blowouts.

Hey, support coaches, play your kids. The future of the program depends on those healthy numbers at the end of the season.

Issue No. 2: Coaching dress code.

Hey, coaches, you are educators after all.

Put off the posture of success by dressing for the part. Another common complaint which comes my way annually is the casual nature of coaching dress, especially among the men.

A lot of garment manufacturers are producing inexpensive sports jackets and slacks outfits.

Want to be treated with the respect you feel you deserve? Dress for the part.

Geez … we’ve let our guard down so much on the dress and the subsequent lack of decorum rules these days.

Issue No. 3: Coaches need to be proud of who they are and represent their schools accordingly.

Recent news out of Orono regarding an identity incident for a prominent women’s basketball coach at UMaine highlights a problem that is worthy of being added to this list: Being proud of who you are and what you represent.

Coaches need to understand that being visible in the gym is not the only time that they are being seen.

In this state, especially, all eyes are on the basketball coach at all times. Postgame and after-practice activities need to be kept above board.

Coaching, like teaching, is pretty sacred stuff. Kids are like sponges, and even some of the older ones are easily influenced by what they see or hear about this most important role model.

People involved in this wonderful profession need to tune into that variable and discipline themselves to act accordingly.

As we head into 2007, a few little tweaks of coaching performance, dress and attitude can go a long way in improving the entire picture.

30-Second Time Out

Is it me, or was the Denver Nuggets’ recent acquisition of Peck’s bad boy Allen Iverson to its roster a stronger slap in the face to NBA Commissioner David Stern’s office than the one Carmelo Anthony threw the other night in New York?

What a lousy example these pros are setting these days for the younger set.

BDN columnist Ron Brown, a retired high school basketball coach, can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net.