In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Sam Funnell to discuss her innovative use of the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) in youth basketball. Sam addresses the misconception that the CLA cannot be applied to younger age groups and emphasizes the importance of patience, creativity, and playfulness when working with beginners. She explains how she incorporates constraints and games to help her U7 and U9 teams develop skills and have fun. Sam also discusses the engagement of young players, the use of age-appropriate equipment, and the challenges of managing a practice with this age group.

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Key Takeaways:

02:00 - What an U9 practice with Sam would look like

05:20 - The importance of age appropriate equipment

09:00 - Strategies to keep kids focused in a fun way

12:25 - Dribbling and Passing Games

13:35 - Finishing Games

16:50 - Shooting

18:55 - Advice for Youth Coaches

Follow Sam here:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/coachsam_nz

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Linktree: https://linktr.ee/coachsam_nz

Links:

Website: http://transformingbball.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball

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