The Georgia College & State University women’s basketball team is seeking practice players to help elevate their basketball skills to the next level. Practice players are a commonality in the world of sports. They allow teams to have extra athletes to help their starters improve their game plan, not only physically, but also mentally, by learning how certain plays can be enhanced through extra reps rather than just practicing with their fellow starters.
Newly minted Interim Head Coach Catrina Green believes that practice players are a valuable way to help her new team hone its skills. However, it’s not only other women athletes that she believes could help improve her women’s basketball team, but also male basketball players, in the sense that they will want to come in and help the girls improve.
“They can be a big part of the success of a program,” Green said. “Getting guys that are dedicated, coming in and wanting to make these girls better.”
GCSU currently sits at 11 athletes on the team, with the potential to add a couple more as the season approaches. However, only five of those currently on the roster are students returning from a previous year. While practice players are undoubtedly a valuable way to improve skill and decision-making for athletes, team chemistry can also be enhanced by incorporating practice players.
“My freshman year, one of the practice guys we had, he was a senior, by the time I became a senior, he was my post coach, so it built that relationship, and he ended up getting into coaching,” Green said. “Building that connection, just as a practice player, is excellent. I’m hoping to connect with some guys who want to do that or just stay in touch. They’ll want to come in and help build our program.”
The rapport that practice players can build with student athletes can be quintessential for the improvement of athletic programs. The need for them is definitely something that Green is looking for before the start of the season or potentially even during the season.
Practice players allow athletes to challenge themselves; instead of running consistent drills, they put athletes in somewhat realistic situations, requiring them to use their athletic IQ in a nearly game-simulation state.
However, if you do want to contribute to the women’s basketball team, there are still requirements to be considered for a practice player role.
“You have to do all the things our girls are doing,” Green said. “You have to be full-time students. Pass the same number of classes, 9 hours each semester, and be in good academic standing—all the things to be a regular athlete. But, you also have to have that dedication and understanding that this is a time commitment.”
However, with the requirements of being like a regular athlete, you also get the ability to be seen as a regular athlete, as being a part of the GCSU women’s basketball practice squad gives you perks, such as an addition to your resume, team gear and priority registration for classes. Not only that, but you end up building a community full of support by contributing to the team.
It is still a way away for Coach Green and GCSU as the women’s basketball season does not begin until Nov. 14 with a contest against Young Harris University. However, the team and new head coach Catrina Green are excited to continue preparing for the upcoming 2025-2026 season.