10 Ways To Use Sun Tzu's Art Of War In Your Local Recreational Basketball League

This is a way to incorporate the greatest military literature of all time into your rec league tactics with success.

1. Deception

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When initially building a team to compete in your towns rec league you want to keep deception in mind. Why? Because lets be honest the skill in this league will not be at par with regular basketball standards. There are two types of teams, the other high school kids from around the area, and the 40 year old men chasing after what they could not accomplish in their youth. There will be roughly no fundamental basketball being played, the game will take place almost completely in transition. That being said you are going to want the most deceptive team possible. You want short, quick, slippery players who can shoot the lights out. Who cares if no one on your team is taller that 6", it is a rec league no one is rebounding any way. Sun Tzu said "all warfare is based on deception"; treat every game as a war, deceive the enemy, and there is no way to lose.

2. Bench Depth

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A teams bench is just as important as their starting five. Sun Tzu stated "when your weapons are dull and armor damped, your strength exhausted and treasure spent, neighboring rulers will take advantage of your distress to act." You do not want to get gassed and not have anyone to step in and play at full intensity. Your teams next five in in talks of war is like following up an air raid with an air raid. Once your starters are exhausted or worse "cold", you need an elite second group of player to come in and drop bombs.(pun intended) This is the perfect time to break way with a lead. While you have fresh players coming in with equal skill of the starting five the other team will more often then not be subbing kids in who barely know how to dribble.

3. Strategy

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This is how you win games. Just like in war each battle/game will not be the same. If you are playing the team built up of old men the best bet is to try and out run them. Chances are none of these men will be in any sort of shape despite what they insist is 30 years of basketball experience under their belt. And for the other college students plan to exploit their weak points. If they throw the ball away often go for steals and try to create turn overs, don't worry the refs are older then the men you just played and in this rare case might actually be going blind; perfect time to get a little physical on the player with the ball. Sun Tzu says "know the enemy and know yourself, in a hundred battles you will never be in peril." So after exploiting the enemies game flaws make sure to capitalize on your strengths. If your team shoots well run screens to get those guys open, if you work well in transition always push the ball, simple strategies like that.

4. Confidence

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"A victorious army wins its victories before seeking battle; an army destined to defeat fights in hope of winning." said Sun Tzu. And he is right one hundred percent. Evey time you walk into that church gym you need to act like you own the place and only take orders from Jesus himself as he hangs there on the cross towering over the court, making sure every shot you take goes in. Being the cockiest team will not be anything but a positive, if you don't act like the best, how will you ever be the best. Sure the other teams might hate your guts, but use that to your advantage by trash talking and getting into their head. Just don't actually get into any physical altercations, there is no way the one referee working the game (aka Father Joe) is going to be able to break up a bench clearing brawl.

5. Clutch

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Sun Tzu emphasizes timing consistently throughout the fifth chapter of Art of War. One line he wrote was "When the strike of a hawk breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing." This "hawk" is crucial in close, nail biting games. You need a player with that clutch gene. The kid who never shies away from the big shot at the end of the game; a shooter with ice in his veins. This player at the end of the game is equivalent to a check mate in chess, no matter what the opponent does to get out of the situation they are still going to lose. Make sure your team has a "hawk".

6. Holding a Lead

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"When he pretends to flee, do not pursue." What Sun Tzu means by this is when they look like they have given up do not fall right into their trap. This is very common in basketball games, you get a 15 point lead the other team has appeared to have given up so your players start to relax on the court. This is a huge mistake. Once you have followed in your enemies foot steps they have you right where they want you. Before you know it the other team hits four wide open three pointers while you guys were throwing behind the pack passes and alley oops despite the fact no one on the team can dunk. This is the main reason behind almost all comebacks. Only way you can guarantee a win is to never relax, hold your lead and don't fall right into the enemies trap.

7. Coaching

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Coaching is key but it is something almost every recreational team lacks because lets be honest no one wants to coach a rec team unless it is children and they have to. So the option that is taken almost every time is one person from your team is deemed player-coach. Where so many teams go wrong is not correctly picking the most basketball IQ oriented player. Once you find this kid on your team make sure he leads it and that everyone is on board with what he is saying. Sun Tzu says "when orders are consistently trustworthy and observed, the relationship with the commander and his troops is satisfactory." Frustration is very common in a game and you do not want to self destruct. Make sure that this guy steps in and leads the team, gives them orders, and that the players then follow them. Chemistry is everything in basketball.

8. Never Give UP

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Sun Tzu sums this up perfectly, "in difficult grounds I would press over the roads." And it is true, even though you have heard it a million time never give up. Your teams drive is what determines the outcome of the game. The only time you stop is when that buzzer sounds, and even then you should not give up. You review your faults so that next time you do not follow in the same foot steps. It does not matter if your are down by 2 or down by 20 your intensity should be the exact same, that is what makes a true winner. Because no matter the scenario there is always a chance.

9. Hot Hand

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In basketball once your teammate catches fire you do everything in you power to keep feeding him the ball. Everybody knows that feeling when they are knocking down shot after shot just like they are shooting around back home in their driveway. A player in this zone is simply the most dangerous player on the court at any given time. Sun Tzu stated "those who use fire to assist their attacks are intelligent." And that is literally what any smart basketball player will tell you, if some one is on fire pass them the ball and watch your assists skyrocket.

10. Secret Weapon

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"Of all those in the army close to the commander none is more intimate that the secret agent." Sun Tzu was right with statement and it could not be a better way to end this list. Your secret weapon/agent is most likely going to be your sixth man. This is a very important player, just as important as the starting five. He is the leader of the bench and most of the time the teams best one on one play maker. He has the ability to make something out of nothing and always can create enough room to take a shot. There is even an NBA award for sixth man of the year because they recognize what importance he is to the game. That is how you complete a perfect rec team, find a secret weapon that fits perfectly in the system.