Ranting is actually pretty fun...Plus, the rant section is beginning to stagnate, so, here's another rant of mine. This one is much more toned down than my previous one.
Well, like many games, there are always those latest fads that have to be done at least once every game. UniBall is no exception. Of course, there's the Miniball fad, which has gone on for far too long - but that's not the point of this rant. The latest trend in UniBall is self-passing (more specifically, dribbling).
For those who aren't aware of what self-passing is, it's simply when a player shoots the ball in such a way that it returns to him. This isn't a problem, it's an integral part of UniBall offense. The problem arises when players dribble the ball off the wall, in such a way that they keep moving forward, and dribbling the ball off the wall. It bears a large resemblance to dribbling in basketball.
Now, dribbling is nothing new, it's been a trick skill since UniBall was introduced. However, like all tricks, dribbling should not be something that a player does on a regular basis.
Why?
Well, to understand why dribbling is a trick skill, the reasons why people dribble in the first place must be examined. One of the main reasons to dribble is to provide a speed boost in the form of recoil. There are occasions where dribbling to provide a speed boost could make the difference between scoring a goal, and not, but they are few. Dribbling is also used as a way to maneuver around players, by placing the ball temporarily out of their reach, and then catching it a short while after. Also, on certain maps, dribbling at the right direction and speed can fake the goalie out, allowing an easy straight shot. Then, of course, there's dribbling just to show off. All of these are perfectly valid reasons, and dribbling should not be immediately disregarded as a useful UniBall skill. It's a useful skill, but it should be considered as useful as bounce shots - something with which to surprise the other team with, not something that is done every time there is an opportunity to.
The problem arises when dribbling is overused. Dribbling to obtain a boost from recoil is only useful in certain spots, on certain maps, in certain conditions. And against a team that knows how to adjust, it may work the first time, but the second time, it will cause the ball to transfer possession. Using dribbling to maneuver around players is good as a surprise skill, and only that, but in many maps, there simply don't have enough room for this to be useful anyways. And again, dribbling to do this is risky; an alert player can boost into the area between the player and the wall, and pick the ball up. Faking the goalie out by dribbling is a viable tactic, but it's severely limited in terms of versatility. Coincidentally, this form of dribbling is most often seen on Miniball. Doing this form of dribbling is also a risky move, though it does succeed more often than it should. Against a good, adaptable team, doing this may not even work once.
And of course, dribbling isn't a team tactic. I'm not implying that one player goals should be eliminated - there are many games where the outcome may have changed had this player not done this. But a good team effort will almost always win against three separate players who happen to have the same color ships. Dribbling can never be a team tactic. It can be a tactic by which a player manages to get into position to pass the ball, but dribbling itself does not involve the team in any way, unless they have to defend because the ball was stolen due to another failed attempt.
Dribbling should be considered a trick technique, and as such should not be overdone, else it becomes easily predictable. It has places where it may be the best skill for the situation, but all trick techniques do. Scoring is not a trick technique, passing is not a trick technique, and thoughtful maneuvering is not a trick technique. Dribbling is.
If you would like to submit an rant. Please send them to line@uniball-central.com. If you have images in your document, please keep the images small and correct any spelling or grammar errors you might have before you submit it. Don't forget to title your rant and don't forget your name!
Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war that we know about peace, more about killing that we know about living. Gen Omar N. Bradley
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