For this episode, we visited Riley Parkinson at his training facility in South Morang to chat about player development, skills training, and how coaches can help young athletes take the next step in their basketball journey.

Drawing on his experience working with players of all ages and skill levels, Riley shares practical insights into identifying player weaknesses, building effective training sessions, and developing the fundamental skills every player needs, including finishing, ball handling, passing, shooting, and handling contact.

The conversation explores how coaches can create more purposeful practices by combining multiple skills within a single drill, helping players improve in several areas at once while keeping training engaging and game-like. Riley also highlights the importance of off-ball movement, spacing, and teaching players to understand their role even when they don’t have the ball in their hands.

Beyond the technical side of the game, Riley discusses the importance of adapting coaching styles to individual players and reminds us that great coaching is ultimately about developing people, not just basketballers.

Whether you’re coaching domestic juniors or aspiring representative players, this episode is packed with practical ideas to help your athletes improve while creating a positive and supportive environment for growth.

Connect with Riley:

Instagram – parkoball
Next Level Hoops