Basketball Coach Unplugged (A Basketball Coaching Podcast)

• Ep 2775 Could Simplifying Be the Secret to Winning? ( Part 1)

  https://teachhoops.com/ In basketball, the "less is more" philosophy directly translates to efficiency and poise. On offense, this means valuing shot quality over shot quantity, using fewer dribbles to get to a spot, and making the simple pass to the open teammate. Players who over-dribble often kill the team's offensive rhythm, allowing the defense to load up, while a quick, decisive player who uses one or two moves to create space is far more dangerous. A simple, well-executed play—like a perfect screen that frees up a shooter—is always superior to a complex, sloppy one that results in a turnover or a forced shot. This concept extends to individual skill development and on-court decision-making. It's better for a player to master two or three go-to moves they can execute perfectly under pressure than to have a dozen flashy-but-ineffective moves. Similarly, the best playmakers don't always throw the highlight-reel assist; they make the correct pass on time and on target. This simplicity reduces cognitive load, allowing players to read the game and react faster. A player who is "playing simple" is often playing their best, most confident basketball, letting the game come to them instead of forcing the action. From a coaching perspective, "less is more" is a powerful team-building strategy. It means having a smaller, well-repped playbook where every player knows every option, rather than a thick book of plays the team only half-understands. It applies to practice planning, where a shorter, high-intensity, and hyper-focused practice can be more productive than a long, drawn-out, sloppy one. By simplifying communication, focusing on core defensive principles, and defining clear roles, a coach removes confusion and empowers players to be decisive, aggressive, and efficient in everything they do Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Ep 2774 Is Off-Court Conflict Ruining Your On-Court Performance?

  https://teachhoops.com/ Dealing with team drama is one of the most challenging aspects of coaching, as unresolved conflict can destroy chemistry faster than any opponent. The most effective strategy is proactive: from the very first day of the season, a coach must establish and enforce a culture of respect, open communication, and selflessness. This involves setting clear, non-negotiable standards for how teammates talk to and about each other, defining roles so players understand their value beyond points scored, and creating an environment where athletes feel safe to voice concerns to the coaching staff before they fester into locker-room gossip or public arguments. When drama inevitably surfaces—whether it's jealousy over playing time, off-court disagreements, or social media spats—it cannot be ignored. A coach's first step is to gather information by speaking with the players involved individually and privately. This allows you to understand each perspective without the pressure of an audience. The key is to listen more than you talk, seek to understand the root of the problem rather than just the symptoms, and avoid taking sides. Once you have the facts, you can mediate a conversation, focusing the discussion on the team's common goals and how this conflict is actively sabotaging them. Ultimately, resolving drama requires re-centering the entire group on their shared purpose. It's crucial to remind players that while they don't have to be best friends, they must be great teammates. This means holding everyone accountable to the same team standards and empowering your player-leaders to step in and self-correct the team's culture. By addressing issues directly, fairly, and with a "team-first"-mentality, you can often turn a moment of disruptive drama into a valuable lesson on accountability and commitment that strengthens the team for the rest of the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Ep 2773 Is Your Practice Plan Just a List of Drills?

  https://teachhoops.com/ A great practice plan is built on a consistent, time-based structural framework. While the drills may change daily, the flow and time allotted to each segment should remain familiar. Most successful practices are broken into key "blocks": a dynamic warm-up (often incorporating ball handling and finishing), individual/positional skill development (e.g., guard shooting drills, post-move work), team concepts (installing or reviewing offense, defense, or special plays), and a competitive segment (like 3-on-3, 4-on-4, or 5-on-5 full-court). By dedicating specific minutes to each block, you guarantee that you are developing the complete player and team, balancing fundamental skills with team strategy every single day. The sequence of these blocks is crucial for maximizing learning and managing energy. Many coaches structure their plan to flow logically from simple to complex, or "part-to-whole." For instance, you might start with a 1-on-0 shooting drill (part), progress to a 2-on-2 drill using that same action (part), and finally integrate it into a 5-on-5 half-court offense (whole). It's also highly effective to have a "theme of the day" (like "communication" or "transition defense") that you emphasize in every single segment, from the first warm-up drill to the final competitive game, creating a clear, focused objective for the entire practice. Finally, a well-structured plan is a guide, not a rigid script. You must "coach the practice, not the plan," meaning you must have the flexibility to spend more time on a drill if your team is struggling, or cut a segment short if they've clearly mastered it. A good plan also alternates high-intensity conditioning or competitive drills with lower-intensity teaching or shooting periods to keep players physically and mentally fresh. Always conclude on time with a brief team huddle to review the day's goals, praise a specific success, and set the expectations for the next day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Ep 2772 Are You Talking yourself into a Technical Foul?

  https://teachhoops.com/ The most effective way to communicate with basketball officials begins long before you have a complaint. Start by building a professional rapport; greet the crew by name before the game, be respectful, and ask if they have any points of emphasis. During the game, your goal is not to get a call overturned—it's to seek clarification or plant a seed for the future. You must pick your spots strategically: wait for a dead ball, a timeout, or a free throw. Never address an official during live play, and be sure to get their attention calmly (e.g., "Tim, can I get a quick word on the next dead ball?") rather than yelling across the court. Your language and tone are more critical than the complaint itself. Never start a question with the word "you," which makes the interaction personal and defensive (e.g., "You missed that call!"). Instead, ask open-ended questions like, "What did you see on that drive?" or "From my angle, it looked like there was body contact; what made it a block?" Focusing on rule-specific language ("displacement," "verticality") rather than emotional complaints ("over the back!") also demonstrates that you know the rules and are seeking a professional interpretation, not just venting. Finally, you must avoid the "magic phrases" that officials are conditioned to ignore or penalize. Yelling "Call it both ways!" or "They've been doing it all game!" will get you tuned out immediately. The fastest way to lose all credibility and earn a technical foul is to question an official's integrity, fairness, or eyesight. Respect is a two-way street; by controlling your emotions and choosing your words wisely, you show officials that you are a coach they can have a reasonable dialogue with, which will pay dividends when you have a legitimate concern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• Ep 2771 How to Handle a Losing Season

  Teachhoops.com⁠ ⁠WintheSeason.com⁠ ⁠Dr Dish Website⁠ ⁠CoachingYouthHoops.com⁠ ⁠https://forms.gle/kQ8zyxgfqwUA3ChU7⁠ ⁠Coach Collins Coaching Store⁠ Check out.  [Teachhoops.com](⁠https://teachhoops.com/⁠) 14 day Free Trial Youth Basketball Coaches Podcast Apple link: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coaching-youth-hoops/id1619185302⁠ Spotify link: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0g8yYhAfztndxT1FZ4OI3A⁠ ⁠Funnel Down Defense Podcast⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/funnel-down-defense/id1593734011⁠ Want More ⁠Funnel Down Defense⁠ ⁠https://coachcollins.podia.com/funnel-down-defense⁠ [Facebook Group . Basketball Coaches](⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/basketballcoaches/)⁠ [Facebook Group . Basketball Drills](⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/321590381624013/)⁠ Want to Get a Question Answered? [ Leave a Question here](⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Teachhoops⁠) Check out our other podcast [High School Hoops ](⁠https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/high-school-hoops-coaching-high-school-basketball/id1441192866⁠) Check out our Sponsors [HERE](https://drdishbasketball.com/) Mention Coach Unplugged and get 350 dollars off your next purchase basketball resources free basketball resources Coach Unplugged Basketball drills, basketball coach, basketball workouts, basketball dribbling drills,  ball handling drills, passing drills, shooting drills, basketball training equipment, basketball conditioning, fun basketball games, basketball jerseys, basketball shooting machine, basketball shot, basketball ball, basketball training, basketball camps, youth basketball, youth basketball leagues, basketball recruiting, basketball coaching jobs, basketball tryouts, basketball coach, youth basketball drills, The Basketball Podcast, How to Coach Basketball, Funnel Down Defense FDD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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