In this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Brandon Brock and Mike MacKay explore reflection as one of the most important, and most overlooked, skills in coaching. Moving beyond the traditional end-of-practice debrief, they unpack how reflection can be used before, during, and after training to help athletes think more critically, make better decisions, and take greater ownership of their learning. Through practical tools like Notice, Name, Navigate, See–Feel–Need–Do, and AAA (Ask, Anchor, Action), Brandon and Mike share how coaches can build reflection into the flow of practice to develop more adaptable players and more thoughtful leaders. They also explore reflection as a coaching skill, discussing journaling, mentorship, and the discomfort of growth through the lens of “learning like a lobster”, a powerful reminder that meaningful development often requires vulnerability before progress.

On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Mike shares his recent Points to Ponder Blog post titled are we Guiding or are we Guessing, which explores the intentionality of coaching and teaching. This is a great quick episode if you're thinking about the ways in which you implement your coaching.

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Research paper: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher-Janelle/publication/5878313_Perceptual-Cognitive_Expertise_in_Sport_A_Meta-Analysis/links/58e505f6a6fdcc6800b038c0/Perceptual-Cognitive-Expertise-in-Sport-A-Meta-Analysis.pdf

On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike sits down with Betsy Butterick, coach, communication specialist, and author of Kids These Days, to discuss how coaches can better connect with and coach today’s athletes. The conversation explores co-creation, communication, emotional regulation, failure recovery, and the importance of care and connection before challenge. Betsy shares practical strategies for coaches who feel like what used to work no longer works, and offers ideas to help coaches communicate more effectively, build stronger relationships, and create environments where athletes can perform and grow.

For coaches interested, there is a 15% off discount link for the purchase of "Kids These Days" here: Canada Basketball Podcast Discount Link

On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Mike shares another Point to Ponder. This time, on his observations watching a Youth 3x3 event. Listen and consider some of the benefits that 3x3 can provide your basketball programs!

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On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike and Brandon dive into the concept of motivation through a practical coaching lens, exploring how everyday coaching decisions can shape, shift, and sometimes unintentionally disrupt athlete motivation. Building on ideas from self-determination theory, they unpack the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and introduce the concept of “motivational displacement”, how drills, constraints, and coach behaviours can redirect what athletes are actually motivated to do.

Through real coaching examples, they explore how environments can either foster autonomy, confidence, and connection, or create fear, compliance, and short-term thinking. The conversation challenges coaches to reflect on their own motivations, the impact of reward and punishment, and how to design practices that truly support athletes in learning, adapting, and performing in the storm.

On this Episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Mike share his most recent blog post remembering some of this mentors who have recently passed away.

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On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike sits down with Alan Keane, performance psychologist, coach developer, and co-founder of MVMT Sports, to discuss coaching with care, developing self-aware athletes and coaches, and designing learning environments that translate to performance in the storm. Their conversation explores the principles of care in coaching, including empathy, motivational displacement, and athlete empowerment, while diving into topics such as reflection, decision-making, confidence versus competence, and the role of connection in high-performance environments. Alan shares practical frameworks and research-informed insights on how coaches can better support athlete growth, build meaningful relationships, and create environments where learning, adaptability, and performance can thrive.

On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Mike explores his recent Points to Ponder Blog Posts on the NCAA Division 1 Men's and Women's Championship teams. Specifically on the growth that those coaches and teams experienced that allowed them to have success.

If you're interested in reading the full Blog Post, head to gameplanbasketball.ca.

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On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Mike and Brandon continue their discussion on intentional practice planning. This episode does a much deeper dive into the what's and the how's of practice planning and encourages coaches to consider the smaller details of what they include in their plans to ensure that their activities align with their intention and intended impact.

On this episode of the Canada Basketball Coaching Podcast, Coach Mike is joined by Dianna Ros, Head Coach of the University of Toronto Women’s Basketball team. Dianna shares her path through the game—from being a standout player at McGill University to national team involvement, her first head coaching opportunity at Bishop’s, and now guiding the University of Toronto Varsity Blues program. Together, they unpack the experiences that have influenced her growth as a coach and leader.

Dianna shares a ton of her learning, experience, and advice for coaches in this one.

For more coaching resources, check out gameplanbasketball.ca