This is not the first time I have promoted Benergy and it probably will not be the last. Here, at Stanford, we make constant benergy look easy. However, there is a lot more to it than meets the eye. To many outside viewers it might look like we only sit the bench and cheer on our teammates. However, I am here to give an inside scoop to the important jobs of the Stanford Women’s Basketball Bench.The first important job of the Bench is one that none of the fans will ever see, and it is called scout team. There is a lot of work that goes into preparing for every team we play. One thing that the Bench does to help prepare our team is we run scout team. What this means is the Bench will learn the plays and general mannerisms of our opponent. Then, during practice, we will simulate our opponent to help prepare our starters for what we think the opponent will throw at us. This can mean running their plays, or simulating their style of defense for our starters to practice against. This is the first important job of the Bench.
The second important job is to be into the game. At any point on the bench you have to be ready to sub in and contribute. This means we are not just spectators. We pay attention to what is working for our team, how certain players from the opposing team are playing, and any changes our coaches have made to our game plan. Also, when stadiums are loud and it is difficult to hear, it is the Bench’s job to help call out the plays so that everyone on our team knows what we are running. This is the second job of the Bench.
The third important job is to bring the benergy. When a team’s bench is extremely excited and into the game it can have huge affects on the players who are on the court. On the Bench we do everything we can to keep the energy up from start to finish. There are a few specific things we do to bring the benergy. To start off the game, I give a speech right before tip off that is meant to initially get the energy flowing. Then during the game we shout, jump up and down, and basically do anything we can to keep our team’s energy at maximum level. For example, whenever we make a 3 Kiran runs to the front of the bench and gives high fives all the way down to the end. It might seem like a simple gesture but it gets the whole team hyped.
I must admit that I take personal pride in the quality of our team’s benergy. Everyone on our team would like to play, but with fifteen players and only five spots on the court not everyone gets in. Instead of my teammates hanging their heads and pouting about not getting to play, they go crazy shouting for the players that are on the court. That is why I love this team. People push aside their own needs for the good of the team.
Therefore, I would like to give a little recognition to my fellow teammates that push themselves in practice and cheer along side me every game knowing they might not see a minute of playing time. Some of the most dangerous teams are the ones where every player, on the court and on the bench, is willing to do anything they can to help the team succeed. That is why every game my teammates and I bring the BENERGY!
