The Transforming Basketball Podcast

In this episode, Alex Sarama interviews Jamie Smith, an athletic performance coach and educator. They discuss the need for a new approach to athletic performance in basketball and how to integrate skill acquisition principles into training. Jamie emphasizes the importance of moving away from traditional methods and embracing creativity and variability in training. They share practical examples of...

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Will Twigg to discuss their experiences and insights into the implementation of a Constraint-Led Approach (CLA) in basketball coaching, highlighting the shifts in coaching philosophy and the impact on player development. They explore the principles of play, intentional use of constraints in small-sided games, and the transformative effects of adopting cont...

  In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Sergio Lara-Bercial to discuss the importance of prioritizing children in sports coaching. Sergio shares valuable insights on how to create a supportive environment for young athletes through evidence-based methods. He emphasizes the significance of understanding children's motivations and focusing on fun, friendship, and learning in coaching practices....

In this episode, Alex Sarama engages in a conversation with Mitch Kirch about implementing contemporary skill acquisition ideas and ecological dynamics framework in basketball training. Mitch shares insights from his unique journey as a player turned trainer, emphasizing the importance of creativity, adaptability, and challenging traditional coaching approaches. Their discussion explores the pract...

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Alex Lossberg to discuss his journey into evidence-based coaching and the application of contemporary skill acquisition ideas within basketball. He shares insights on how he incorporates ecological dynamics frameworks into his coaching philosophy, offering valuable perspectives on game sense, representative learning design, and differential learning. Throu...

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Liam Jefferson to delve into their experience at the London Lions Academy and the transformation in coaching methods they have undergone. Liam discusses his transition from a games-based coaching style to integrating the CLA into his practice, emphasizing the science behind ecological dynamics and the art of turning it into practical coaching techniques. T...

In this live on-the-road episode, Alex and Gray Thomas reflect on their experiences at Brown University and UConn, where they explored the impact of an ecological perspective on sports and performance. They discussed the challenges faced by pioneers in ecological psychology, the importance of humility and openness to learning, and how the ecological dynamics framework can revolutionize coaching ac...

In this episode, Alex Sarama joined by Ty Keck, a basketball coach from Idaho Falls. Ty shares his journey of implementing the Conceptual Offense and Constraint-Led Approach (CLA) with his team and the positive impact it has had on their performance. He discusses the challenges he faced in transitioning from a traditional coaching approach to a more player-centered approach and how he overcame the...

In this episode, Alex Sarama interviews Tyler Yearby, a Skill Acquisition Specialist and Co-Founder of Emergence. They discuss the role of a skill acquisition specialist (SAS) in basketball and how to overcome the challenges of introducing new ideas to practitioners who have been using a different approach throughout their careers. Tyler emphasizes the importance of transparency, open-mindedness,...

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Shawn Myszka, Founder of Emergence, to discuss the concept of alive movement problems and its application in basketball performance. They explore the ecological dynamics framework and how it impacts the way coaches and practitioners approach skill acquisition in basketball. Shawn emphasizes the importance of creating practice activities that are alive, dyn...

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by George Galanopoulos , the Associate Head Coach at Rip City Remix . They discuss the application of contemporary skill acquisition ideas within the G League. George highlights the importance of education and understanding in player development. Alex and George also delve into the practical aspects of skill acquisition, including pre-practice and pre-game wa...

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by interviews Nabil Murad, an Irish basketball coach currently coaching in Austria. Nabil shares his journey of discovering and embracing a contemporary approach to coaching, influenced by ecological dynamics. He discusses the challenges coaches face in adopting this approach and the reasons why many coaches are hesitant to change. Nabil also shares his exper...

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 t...

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. T...

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...

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 a...

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 g...

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 ap...

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 d...

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. J...

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 thei...

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...

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...

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...

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 hi...