Basketball Coach Unplugged (A Basketball Coaching Podcast)

https://teachhoops.com/ There is no quicker way to kill an offense than a player who pounds the air out of the ball while four teammates stand and watch. In this episode, we tackle the epidemic of over-dribbling that plagues high school and youth basketball, often fueled by "mixtape culture" and a misunderstanding of what actually creates offense. We discuss why the "ball stopper" destroys team rhythm, allows the defense to rest, and ultimately leads to lower-percentage shots and increased turnovers. We move beyond just yelling "Pass the ball!" and dive into concrete strategies for breaking this bad habit. We explore the implementation of constraint-based games in practice, such as "zero-dribble" or "two-dribble" scrimmages, which force players to rely on cutting, spacing, and passing to create advantages. We also discuss the "0.5-second rule"—teaching players to shoot, drive, or pass immediately upon the catch—to eliminate the hesitation and ball-holding that allows defenses to recover. Finally, we talk about teaching the "purpose" of a dribble. We explain how to coach your players to understand the difference between dribbling to improve a passing angle or attack the rim versus dribbling out of boredom or indecision. By redefining what a "playmaker" looks like and rewarding the "hockey assist" over the isolation move, we outline how to build an offense where the ball moves faster than the defense can rotate, making your team infinitely harder to guard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

https://teachhoops.com/ Momentum in practice is incredibly fragile; one poorly timed lecture or a slow transition between drills can suck the oxygen right out of the gym. In this episode, we look at practice planning not just as a checklist of drills, but as a study in flow and energy management. We discuss the "art" of sequencing your time on the court, ensuring that you aren't asking for high-mental focus immediately after a physically exhausting conditioning segment, or conversely, letting players stand around too long when they need to be moving. We dive into the logistics of an efficient practice, focusing on the "hidden" time killers that most coaches ignore. We talk about the importance of rapid-fire transitions, the "zero seconds" mentality, and how to set up your gym before the players even walk in so that not a single minute is wasted moving cones or searching for basketballs. We also cover strategies for "sandwiching" your teaching moments—keeping instructions short and punchy so the sweat doesn't dry and the legs don't get stiff. Finally, we explore the psychology of the start and the finish. We discuss why the first 10 minutes determine the mindset for the next 80, and why the last 5 minutes determine how your players feel about coming back tomorrow. You will learn how to "prime the pump" with early energy drills and how to use the "peak-end rule" to ensure your team walks out of the locker room feeling accomplished and hungry, rather than drained and defeated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

https://teachhoops.com/ In an era of constant feedback, specialized trainers, and relentless sideline instruction, we have to ask a difficult question: Is more actually better? In this episode, we tackle the epidemic of "over-coaching" and the tendency for coaches to "joystick" their players from the sideline. We discuss the difference between teaching foundational concepts and micromanaging every dribble, pass, and cut, exploring how excessive instruction can lead to "paralysis by analysis" where athletes are too afraid of making a mistake to actually compete. We dive deep into the long-term effects of removing decision-making from the players. When a coach solves every problem during practice or calls out every read during a game, players never develop the crucial basketball IQ needed to adjust on the fly. We examine the benefits of the "constraints-led approach" and the importance of messy, chaotic practices where the game itself becomes the teacher. We challenge the traditional model of blocked drills in favor of small-sided games that force players to think for themselves. Finally, we offer practical strategies for "coaching less" to get more out of your team. This includes the uncomfortable art of staying silent during a scrimmage, asking questions like "What did you see?" instead of immediately providing the answer, and empowering your point guards to take ownership of the offense. It is about shifting your mindset from being the puppet master to being a facilitator who builds autonomous, high-IQ players capable of winning when they can't hear your voice over the crowd. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Teachhoops.com⁠ In today’s episode, we dig into one of the most underrated parts of basketball strategy: out-of-bounds plays. Most coaches treat them like filler. The best coaches treat them like gold. O.B. actions can steal you possessions, break scoring droughts, and flip momentum in tight moments. We’ll talk about why every team needs a simple O.B. package, how to teach reads instead of memorization, and the three situations every coach should have answers for: under-the-basket, sideline pressure, and late-game quick scores. You’ll walk away with practical tweaks you can implement tomorrow. If you want a full library of O.B. sets, breakdown drills, and video walkthroughs, head to www.teachhoops.com. It’s where coaches at every level get the structure, support, and systems they need to win more games. Mastering O.B. plays isn’t optional — it’s a competitive edge. ⁠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

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 In this episode, we take a hard look at a trend many coaches are seeing across all levels of basketball: players who struggle to improvise, create, and make reads on their own. Is creativity fading? And if so, why? We’ll break down how structured systems, year-round specialization, and fear of making mistakes may be limiting player imagination. More importantly, we’ll talk about what you can do in your practices—small-sided games, constraints training, freedom within structure—to help your athletes rediscover the joy of creating plays, not just running them. If you want more tools, drills, and teaching strategies to develop smarter, more instinctive players, visit www.teachhoops.com. It’s the place where coaches learn, grow, and find the support they need all season long. Bring creativity back to the court. Your players—and your program—will feel the difference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices