Thoughts today turn to all those folks in the bleachers who make their way across the region to attend basketball games.

When I coached, I never really gave a lot of thought to what was going through the minds of the spectators. Oh, I was always grateful for the number of people who followed our teams, but I never worried about what the fans were thinking.

The way I looked at it, if I was dwelling on somebody else’s opinion, it wouldn’t be long before I’d be in the bleachers myself.

One of the most enjoyable times I spent in coaching was the two-year stint I had at Brewer High School as an assistant to boys varsity basketball coach Mark Savage. Part of my duties included being the freshman boys coach.

I liked Brewer because school officials required that all parents and guardians of participating players attend an annual meeting with coaches to hear versions of how the games would be played and, perhaps most importantly, what was expected of them and their parents or guardians throughout the course of the season.

Then, all players and adults went to a classroom with the coach to continue the discussion in depth.

Today, I’d like to add to all that and give some insight into what really makes coaches tick.

I salute the good folks at Brewer such as former longtime principal Jerry Goss, current athletic director Dennis Kiah and all the coaches there who made the BHS Witches program one of the state’s best.

When people pay good money to attend a high school or college athletic event, they should know that for the most part, coaches attempt to be fair to all members of their teams. Basketball, unlike some other team sports, has a limited number of available spots for kids to see a lot of action.

By putting five players on the court, there are generally seven to 10 players sitting on a bench. In my 24 years of coaching, I never met a parent who was content to witness his or her son or daughter not playing.

Keep this in mind, dear parents. Coaches who demonstrate a game philosophy of playing a quicker, fast-break style of game will generally play most of their kids each night. Camden Hills boys basketball coach Jeff Hart, one of the finest coaches the state has ever known, has had great success in an uptempo game. Jeff’s philosophy has always been to play all of his kids. This not only aids team unity, but it creates a style opponents fear.

The flip side of this coaching style would be coaches like former longtime Orono, Bangor, and John Bapst boys hoop coach Bob Cimbollek, who had equal state championship success by playing a more disciplined style. Consequently, a Cimbollek-coached team may only need seven to eight players per contest.

The point there is this: Parents need to educate themselves about coaching styles before confrontations. Coaches need to develop a coaching philosophy, based primarily on the talent available to them that particular year.

Problems arise when coaches fail to roll with the talent pool and run when they don’t have the talent and walk when they do.

The biggest challenge facing coaches today is not the talent that walks into their gyms in November. Oh, no, that’s not it.

The problem is coaching a philosophy that your talent can’t match.

For parents and kids, playing time is the key variable in any program. Success or failure always takes a backseat to coaches being fair. Keeping all parties abreast of what transpires in the gym is a good first step to success.

30-Second Time Out

My friend Dennis asked me recently if I planned on offering my public opinion on Roger Clemens’ guilt or innocence regarding steroids or human growth hormone use. I will stand in judgment of no one, but I will say this: The Mitchell report made one critical error. It released information publicly in an attempt to take the pressure off the poor handling of the entire affair by Major League Baseball.

Now, the fighting begins. Those who plan on playing will take what punishment comes their way. Those who don’t will maintain their innocence and fight on.

bdnsports@bangordailynews.net