The practice players at St. Joe’s are a behind-the-scenes aspect in preparation, but they are an added component to success for the women’s basketball team.
St. Joe’s has been using practice players for the women’s team for the last 22 seasons, using the players and assistant coaches to recruit them, according to Head Coach Cindy Griffin ’91.
While practice players don’t play on the court during games, they run drills and help simulate possible gameday scenarios during practices with the team.
Griffin said that recruiters are looking for size, speed, skill and good character in players so they can be instrumental in running offenses and defenses against the team.
“We need size to go against our post players. We need quickness and speed to go against our guards,” Griffin said.
Practice players James Lavelle ’25 and Jack Beck ’25 were both recruited by women on the team while playing in O’Pake Recreation Center during their first year at St. Joe’s.
The women on the basketball team approach those who have potential in hopes of gaining new recruits to become practice players.
“We were just playing basketball and these two girls from the team came and wanted to play with us,” Lavelle said. “They said, ‘We need practice players for next season, would you guys be interested?’”
Although they agreed to the commitment for different reasons, Lavelle and Beck each explained taking up this offer would give them another way to play the sport they love.
“It was a competition,” Lavelle said. “The big thing was going to Hagan and getting to play on the court.”
For Beck, it was about the sport and sense of community.
“[It was] an opportunity to play some basketball and get to know people,” Beck said.
Practice players filling in for team members offer a challenge for the women and allow a break during practice from the high number of minutes the players practice for, Griffin explained.
“You want to compete against the best to be the best,” Griffin said “They really help our team, and it allows our girls to get some reps off.”
There is a current total number of players that ranges from 10-15, but not all are required to attend every practice, said Beck.
Beck explained that a normal practice requires players to be versatile and adaptable so they can be asked to fill in different positions when the team needs.
“We would fill in wherever we’re needed,” Beck said “Whether that be in three on three, five on five or different types of drills.”
Practice players get to embrace and support the team they assist on game day and also are given merchandise from the coaches for their dedication and effort.
“The more practices you go to, the more stuff they give out. Mainly t-shirts, shorts, etcetera,” Lavelle explained.
Griffin pointed out the feeling of achievement and involvement that practice players gain from this experience.
“They’ll come to games and feel a part of that, and take some responsibility and ownership and feel really good about helping our team be successful,” Griffin said.
