The Transforming Basketball Podcast

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Felix Engel and Niklas Geske from Germany to discuss player perspectives of a differential learning approach. They explore how differential learning can impact shooting performance and share their experiences and insights. Niklas talks about his journey as a professional player and how he discovered differential learning through a seminar. Felix explains the concept of differential shooting and the benefits of adding variability to shooting practice. They also discuss the importance of observation and creativity in implementing differential learning. Key Takeaways: 5:17 - Addressing Dysfunction with Variability 9:00 - Niklas' Implementation at the Professional Level 18:05 - DL Helping Maintain Focus and Engagement Connect with Felix on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felix.engel.09 Connect with Niklas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikges7 Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama welcomes back Dr. Alex Lascu as a guest. They discuss an upcoming coach development workshop called CLA Playing by the Rules, which aims to provide coaches with an interactive and genuine experience of using the ecological dynamics framework in basketball. They emphasize the importance of creating a supportive environment for coaches to learn and apply new concepts. They also explore the challenges of coach development and the need for ongoing support and collaboration among coaches. Key Takeaways: 02:40 - Re-arranging the classroom to show the importance of the environment 11:30 - Peer to Peer Learning 16:58 - A Goosebumps Coaching Curriculum 19:36 - Cultivating Coach Developing Candidates CHECK OUT THE EVENT HERE: https://bit.ly/4b180ZV Connect with Alex Lascu: Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/skillacqlascu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alascu_ Substack: https://substack.com/@skillacqlascu ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alexandra-Lascu-4 Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Patrick Burnett, an applied sport and exercise nutritionist. They discuss the importance of nutrition in basketball and how it can be integrated into basketball programs at all levels. Paddy shares practical strategies for optimizing nutrition, including the use of external cues, hydration stations, electrolyte drinks, carbohydrate and recovery snacks, and travel strategies. They also explore the concept of constraints and how it applies to nutrition in basketball. Key Takeaways: 02:00 - Patty's Background 07:00 - Constraints Involved in an Athlete's Nutrition 12:40 - Gold Silver and Bronze Medals at a Pizza Shop in Torino 19:00 - Eat the Rainbow 21:50 - Hydration Station and Electrolytes 26:10 - Variations in Carbohydrates and Recovery 32:30 - Travel Considerations Connect with Patty: Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Martin Andrade, a coach that is known for his creative and innovative approach to skill acquisition and player development. Martin shares how he came across the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) and ecological dynamics, and how it has transformed his coaching style. He discusses the importance of creativity in coaching and how he designs practice activities and constraints to help players develop functional solutions on the court. Martin also shares his insights on shooting and how he incorporates differential learning and CLA principles into shooting drills and small-sided games. Key Takeaways 04:40 - Martin's trial and error process of activity design 08:50 - The drawbacks of rigid and benefits of variable shooting 13:00 - Differential Learning and CLA activities for shooting 17:50 - Martin's strategies for Warmups and SSGs Connect with Martin: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlyaboutbball/ Website: https://www.onlyaboutbball.com Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

Transforming Basketball: Changing How We Think About Basketball Performance by Alex Sarama is now available! Alex Sarama's new book provides tangible strategies that have the potential to transform the basketball world. These transcend to the front office, athletic performance, physical therapy, analytics, and virtually every area of an organization. Transforming Basketball exists to bridge the gap between research and practice. Within this book, readers can learn more about the true essence of skill, how to incorporate skill acquisition research into player development, the potential of the constraints-led approach, and much more! YOU CAN ORDER HERE: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Daniel Muntz to discuss the application of an ecological approach in the field of physiotherapy, specifically in the context of basketball. They explore the traditional approach to physiotherapy and how it can be transformed to focus on prevention rather than just reactive treatment. Daniel shares his insights on recovering from ankle sprains and how to apply a constraint-led approach to rehabilitation. They also discuss the importance of integrating physiotherapy with coaching and athletic performance training to create a more holistic approach to player development. Key Takeaways: 05:55 - Rehabilitation & Representative Activities 10:20 - Incorporating Movement Attractors in Warmups 13:52 - Ankle Sprain Protocol 23:49 - Alternatives to Ice and Braces for Injuries 28:30 - Proform Screening Process Connect with Daniel: Instagram Proform Physiotherapy daniel@proformphysiotherapy.com.au Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Gray Thomas and they talked about the principles of ecological psychology and its application in the context of basketball. Gray explains how ecological psychology challenges traditional cognitive theories and offers a fresh perspective on perception, action, and memory. They discuss the concept of affordances and how it influences player performance and decision-making on the court. Their conversation in this episode highlights the importance of understanding individual differences and designing flexible, adaptable environments to foster growth and optimize player development. Key Takeaways: 02:45 - Gray's arrival to and historical background on Ecological Psychology 16:15 - Application of Affordances & Ecological Dynamics in Basketball 27:30 - The pitfalls of seeing skills as something you acquire then apply them 33:00 - Affordance-Based Control vs Information-Based Control 40:00 - How a unified theory can knock down organizational silos Connect with Gray: Twitter/X Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama interviews Jonas de Bruyne, a basketball coach who has experienced a significant shift in his coaching philosophy. Jonas shares his journey from traditional drill-based coaching to adopting a games-based approach influenced by ecological dynamics. He discusses the impact of perception-action coupling and the importance of incorporating defenders in training sessions. Jonas also talks about his current coaching role in Germany and how he has implemented a creative and individualized player development program. Throughout the episode, they provide valuable insights into the evolution of coaching methods and the benefits of a games-based approach in basketball. Key Takeaways: 04:10 - Biggest changes after being at College Prep 09:30 - How Jonas plans and executes Player Development Sessions 17:00 - Practical Examples: Tennis Basketball w a Defender, Snake & KOB Finishing, Push Out Shooting, Snake/KOB Dribble PNR 2v2 Connect with Jonas: Twitter/X Instagram Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama and Adam, address common challenges and questions they have received regarding the application of contemporary skill acquisition ideas in basketball. They discuss obtaining results versus following science, how players can learn a skull without explicit instruction, the concept of learning styles, and the reinvention of fundamental skills by youth players. Through their conversation, they provide answers to these common questions/rebuttals with practical examples. Key Takeaways: 01:35 - I want to see results not science. What NBA Players have trained with the CLA to prove this contemporary approach works? 03:42 - The science is sitting on a surface level understanding of basketball, big leaps are made to tie skill acquisition to science. 08:15 - How can a player perform a skill without being first taught it explicitly? How can a youth player that cannot dribble a ball suddenly play 1-on-1 or a more complex small sided game? 09:50 - There are multiple learning styles. I wouldn't want a players to organically learn a jump shot when then jump shot took 30 years to appear. Youth players aren't going to reinvent the game quickly. The CLA should be used for some things but without ignoring best practices that evolved over time. Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama welcomes back Markus Klusemann, Director of Health Performance Development at OTE, to discuss the upcoming Coach Education Workshop. The workshop aims to bridge the gap between science and coaching by providing coaches with a holistic overview of player development and practical strategies they can implement on the court. Markus and Alex also delve into the challenges and differences in player development across different basketball environments, such as North America, Europe, and Australia. They explore the concept of minimal effective instructions (MEIs) and how it can be applied to enhance coaching and player performance. Throughout the episode, they discuss the importance of queuing and attentional focus in coaching, as well as the impact of the CLA lens on health and performance development. Key Takeaways: 01:48 - Coach Education Workshop at Overtime Elite 05:30 - Differences in Player Development between Cultures 09:40 - Decision-Making as an entry point to using the CLA 14:45 - Applications of Minimal Effective Instructions (MEIs) Coaching Workshop OTE Coach Science & Development Workshop Connect with Markus Twitter/X Instagram LinkedIn Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Zico Coronel and Adam Omiecinski to discuss the alignment of principles of play with an ecological approach to skill acquisition. They delve into the concept of coverage solutions in basketball and how they can be enhanced through a comprehensive understanding of principles of play. They explore the importance of spacing, different coverage solutions, and the role of target players in executing effective offensive strategies. Throughout the episode, Zico and Adam provide practical insights and examples, highlighting the balance between freedom and structure in player decision-making. Key Takeaways: 06:05 - How Zico builds his coverage solutions up out of spacing principles 13:22 - Emphasizing the reject in all screens 21:22 - Starting with aggressive defensive coverages 36:20 - Cracking the Ice with Action before Shattering It within a Set 46:45 - Taking into account limitations of using coaches as defenders & optimizing low stress days Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama interviews Marti Canellas, the host of "The Fosbury Flop" podcast. Marti shares his background as a basketball player and coach, discussing how his curiosity and insecurity led him to explore different approaches to coaching. He highlights the importance of understanding the cultural influences and forms of life that shape our coaching practices. Marti also delves into the concept of complex systems and how it relates to coaching, emphasizing the need to view basketball as a complex system rather than a complicated one. He encourages coaches to question their beliefs and intentions and to focus on the game and the players' needs. Key Takeaways 02:00 - Marti's Background 09:00 - The Invisible Backpack We Carry Everywhere 14:25 - Spanish and Catalonian Cultures Differences 20:55 - Coaching Complex not Complicated Systems 25:48 - Understanding Each Individuals Intention for Being There 29:50 - Start With Asking Why You Are Doing What You Are Doing Follow Marti Twitter/X Marti Cañellas on Linkedin Fosbury Flop Podcast Fosbury Flop YouTube Fosbury Flop Blog Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama interviews Adam De Groot, a physical education teacher, basketball coach, and owner of Nightshade Training. Adam shares his journey of discovering and applying an ecological approach to coaching and teaching. He discusses how he incorporates the principles of ecological dynamics into basketball practices, athletic performance training, and even his interactions with his own children. Adam emphasizes the importance of creating environments that allow athletes to discover solutions and develop their skills through self-organization. Key Takeaways: 02:00 - Adam's Background 08:00 - Matching a Conceptual Offense to Personnel 16:48 - Structuring Variability in the Weight Room 20:40 - Exploring an Ecological Approach with Adam's Children Connect with Adam: Twitter (@coachdegroot): https://twitter.com/coachdegroot1 Nightshade Training: https://www.instagram.com/nightshadetraining/ Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex, Adam & Gray delves into the concept of TWIT coaching. TWIT is an acronym highlighting a coaching method: Tell, Watch, Inform (of mistakes), and Tell (how to do it better). They touches on five immediate actions to improve coaching in the US, encompassing coach education, changing rules, adjusting equipment, and educating parents against early sports specialization. They also highlights notable examples of professional athletes like Kobe Bryant and Hakeem Olajuwon, who played multiple sports before specializing, suggesting a similar approach could positively impact the future of basketball. Key Takeaways 01:10 - What is TWIT coaching & Observations of Youth Coaching in the United States 06:00 - Searching for solutions in the wrong locations 12:45 - Actions to improve the youth landscape People and Article Mentioned: Randy Sullivan Welcome to TWITs Anonymous Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this very special episode, Alex announces the release date of his book "Transforming Basketball: Changing How We Think About Basketball Performance." Alongside Transforming Contributors Gray Thomas and Adam Omiecinski, Alex, Adam and Gray take you behind the scenes of how the book came to be. From the initial writings in Italy in the spring of 2023 to its release this April, the book has had a tremendous impact on Alex and he hopes it will have an equal impact on the basketball world at large. In this episode, the three reflect on the first few drafts to what the final product became, favorite chapters and how the book can help change the way the game is coached and played going forward. Key Takeaways: 01:05 - Book announcement and reflections 10:46 - How the writing process changed Alex 12:40 - How important is to understand the why behind each activity PRE-ORDER HERE: https://education.transformingbball.com/book-landing-page Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama interviews Tony Holler, the creator of the "Feed the Cats" program. Tony shares his insights on the flaws of traditional conditioning methods in sports and how they can hinder player development. He emphasizes the importance of rest, recovery, and prioritizing athleticism in training. Tony challenges the notion that hard work and constant grinding are the keys to success, advocating for a smarter and more efficient approach to practice. He also discusses the need for coaches to change their mindset and embrace a more player-centered approach to coaching. Key Takeaways: 06:20 - Practice Volume 09:30 - Feed the Cats 15:20 - 4 Day Workweek 20:00 - Sleep is the Real Grind 24:00 - Wave Theory throughout Life Follow Tony: Twitter/X: https://x.com/pntrack Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachtonyholler YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachtonyholler Coachtube: https://coachtube.com/users/tonyholler Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama talks about the traditional notion of fundamentals in basketball. He discussed the concept of fundamentals, as commonly understood, holds back the development of skillful and adaptive basketball players. Alex emphasizes the importance of reframing the idea of fundamentals and adopting a more ecological perspective on skill acquisition. He explores the problems with the traditional approach to teaching fundamentals and highlights the need for a more functional and adaptable approach to skill development in basketball. Key Takeaways: 01:50 - We have no idea what fundamentals are 06:16 - 5 problems with Fundamentals 11:52 - Advice from "pracademics" on how to apply ecological dynamics theory to practice design 18:05 - We want functional solutions Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama and Adam discuss the use of constraint manipulation in basketball training. They question the validity of point systems and suggest alternative ways to manipulate constraints to enhance player performance. By shaping the boundaries of the game rather than changing how players think and engage with the game, coaches can create a more effective learning environment. They provide practical examples, such as using turnover as an immediate consequence instead of a point system, and changing shot selection criteria to focus on specific types of shots. Key Takeaways: 01:00 - The limitations of point systems 05:15 - Constraining to highlight the most important information 08:03 - Additional examples of non-scoring system constraints Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama interviews Marius Huth. Marius shares his insights on using small-sided games and an ecological dynamics framework to develop basketball skills. He discusses the importance of having players start with the game, rather than focusing solely on perfecting technique. Marius also highlights the unique approach taken where the emphasis is on creating a fun and dynamic practice environment that mirrors the game. He also touches on his experience coaching the national team and the challenges of preparing a team with limited practice time. Key Takeaways: 03:33 - Games from the start 07:36 - Embedding the same framework throughout an entire club 14:48 - Incorporating SSGs with the National Team 19:00 - What's next for Marius Connect with Marius: Email: marius.huth@albaberlin.de LinkedIn: https://de.linkedin.com/in/marius-huth-58b563100 Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Tom Parry, a professor at Indiana University, Kokomo. Tom shares his insights on applying ecological dynamics in sports coaching, specifically in soccer. He discusses the challenges coaches face when transitioning from traditional coaching methods to an ecological dynamics framework. Tom emphasizes the importance of combining actions and decisions in practice activities and highlights the need to design activities that involve decision-making and game-like scenarios. He encourages coaches to be open to new ideas and to value the expertise of both researchers and practitioners. Key Takeaways: 03:55 - Seeking Adaptability vs Fundamentals 13:15 - Questioning the validity of current practices 17:55 - Redesigning Principles of Play 23:32 - Deciphering "It Depends..." Follow Tom: Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/kestrelpsych?lang=en Website: https://kestrelpsychology.wixsite.com/kestrelpsychology People Mentioned: Keith Davids Andrew Wilson Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball