In this episode, George is joined by Konstantin Hula discusses his experiences and insights gained from coaching youth basketball, particularly focusing on the importance of intentional practice, clear principles of play, and effective communication. He reflects on his growth as a coach, the challenges faced while transitioning from coaching under 12s to under 14s, and the implementation of seasonal constraints to enhance player development. 

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and Reflections on Previous Conversations
02:54 - Coaching Practices and Intentionality
05:55 - Transforming Basketball Summer Camp Experience
08:53 - Challenges and Changes in Coaching Under 14s
11:58 - Defining Constraints and Principles of Play
14:59 - Effective Constraints in Practice
17:54 - Communication and Accountability in Practice
21:03 - Growth as a Coach and Accelerating Learning
23:59 - Seasonal Constraints and Their Impact
27:53 - Creative Constraints in Coaching
30:19 - The Architect Metaphor in Coaching
33:07 - Simplicity and Accountability in Coaching
36:25 - Creating a Supportive Environment for Failure
39:40 - The Evolution of Coaching Practices

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Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
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In this episode, George is joined by  Tim Dather, assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers, shares insights from his extensive coaching career. He discusses the significance of practice design, the integration of analytics and medical insights, and the importance of creating a representative environment for player development. Tim emphasizes the role of film breakdown in coaching, translating NBA concepts to youth basketball, and building consistency in a rapidly changing G League environment. 

Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Tim Dather and His Coaching Journey

03:04 - The Importance of Practice Design and Constraints

05:53 - Integrating Analytics and Medical Insights in Coaching

08:42 - Film Breakdown: Strategies for Effective Learning

11:52 - Translating NBA Concepts to Youth Basketball

15:01 - Building Consistency in G League Coaching

17:49 - The Role of Video in Practice and Player Development

20:43 - Engaging Players Through Questions and Exploration

23:47 - Overlooked Competitive Advantages in Coaching

26:57 - Transformative Tip

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Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, George is joined by former Euroleague pro Billy Baron discusses his transition from player to agent, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and player development. He shares insights on training routines, the differences between college and European basketball, and the significance of creating scoring opportunities through effective movement. Billy also addresses concerns about youth sports in the U.S. and offers recommendations for a balanced approach to skill development and team concepts.

Chapters: 

00:00 - Introduction to Billy Baron and his career

01:37 - Transitioning to retirement and new ventures

03:28 - The importance of mentorship in player development

06:00 - Building routines for optimal performance

12:33 - Differences between college and European basketball

18:04 - Tactics and relationships in coaching

22:17 - The complexity of shooting mechanics

26:08 - Effective offensive actions in basketball

29:56 - Defensive strategies against shooters

32:41 - Youth sports and development concerns

37:54 - Transformative tips

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Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, George and Jon Giesbrecht explore the concept of mental toughness in sports, emphasizing resilience, routines, and energy regulation. They discuss the importance of co-regulation between athletes and coaches, the process of subbing in and out during games, and the need for athletes to find their own paths rather than following someone else's blueprint. The conversation also touches on how to challenge fear and embrace mistakes, ultimately leading to a state of playing free on the court.

Chapters:
00:00 - Understanding Mental Toughness in Sports

02:56 - The Importance of Routines and Energy Regulation

05:47 - Co-Regulation and Communication with Coaches

08:48 - The Process of Subbing In and Out

12:00 - Finding Your Own Path: Avoiding the Kobe Trap

14:39 - Challenging Fear and Mistakes in Performance

17:45 - Defining Freedom in Play

Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7
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Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, George is joined by Jon Giesbrecht, founder of Play Free Basketball, Director of Mental Performance for the Vancouver Bandits, and author of Free Your Mind: Overthinking Athletes. Jon shares how mindfulness and emotional regulation can transform both coaches and players. He explains how to bridge the gap between basketball coaching and mental performance, build player awareness through breathwork, and use journaling as a tool for self-discovery and growth.

Chapters:
00:00 – Jon’s journey from coaching to mindfulness and mental performance

02:00 – How Alex Sarama influenced his shift toward holistic coaching

03:30 – Developing personal identity as a coach & embracing growth

05:00 – Integrating psychology and spirituality into coaching

07:00 – Why self-awareness is key to helping athletes thrive

08:30 – The connection between mental state, perception, and performance

10:00 – Tools for mindfulness: breathing, awareness, and regulation

14:00 – The pendulation principle: balancing stress and relaxation

17:00 – Inside the Free Your Mind Journal: nervous system mastery & growth mindset

21:00 – Building emotional regulation into team culture and daily routines

26:00 – Practical techniques for grounding athletes before practice or games

30:00 – How touch, safety, and co-regulation impact team connection

32:00 – Why mental performance is essential for modern basketball

34:00 – Transformative Tip 

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Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, George sits down with Tim Fanning, associate head coach at BYU and former coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv and Overtime Elite. Tim shares his global coaching journey across Spain, Israel, New Zealand, and the U.S., and how principles like intensity, IQ, and simplicity guide his coaching philosophy. He dives into player development at the elite level, building competitive cultures, and how watching practice film daily transformed his coaching.

Chapters:

01:00 – Discovering the Constraints-Led Approach & Spanish influences
03:30 – Coaching abroad & evolution through European basketball
05:00 – Developing elite prospects at Overtime Elite & BYU
07:00 – Defining “next step” development & aligning with players
09:00 – Lessons from Maccabi Tel Aviv: Culture of winning
10:30 – Coaching national teams: Simplicity under time constraints
14:00 – Core coaching pillars: Intensity & Basketball IQ
16:00 – Coaching shot selection, accountability & player standards
18:30 – Rebounding as a non-negotiable & how to reinforce it daily
19:30 – Evaluating practice effectiveness & watching every session back
22:00 – Networking & relationships: Authenticity over agenda
26:00 – Transformative Tip

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Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama continues the Q&A workshop with coaches, diving deeper into how practice design, constraints, and teaching methods can drive player development. The conversation highlights how to balance principles with in-game adjustments, why autonomy and accountability matter, and how conceptual offense evolves through experimentation.

Chapters:
01:00 – Shifting the lens in practice: solving problems, not filling time
03:00 – Using players to officiate constraints and build accountability
05:00 – Balancing long-term principles with short-term game adjustments
07:00 – Observing player transfer: triggers, spacing, and early progress
09:00 – Evaluating the role and efficiency of DHOs in youth basketball
12:00 – Why uphill DHOs and retriggers can be more effective than perimeter ones
14:00 – Teaching solos, posts, and exploiting mismatches (turtle vs. mouse)
16:00 – Managing feedback, intentionality, and when to add detail
19:00 – The three stages of skill acquisition: coordination, flexibility, optimization
21:00 – Conceptual offense in practice: mixing structure with freedom

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Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, Alex Sarama hosts a Q&A workshop where coaches dive deep into transition offense, spacing concepts, pistol actions, and defensive principles like tagging up. The conversation explores practical teaching points for youth basketball, how to structure practice planning, and ways to blend conceptual offense with structured actions.

Chapters:
00:50 – Transition spacing explained: “traffic light” approach (green = dominoes, yellow = triggers, red = sets)

03:00 – Teaching lag-free reactions & spacing rules on rebounds and makes

05:40 – Kick-ahead passes, two-side advantages, and early decision-making in transition

08:10 – Handling overloads and principles for positioning (corner vs. 45 cuts)

10:20 – Transitioning from offense to first trigger actions without delays

13:00 – Pistol action variations: get game, flare screens, Ricky rescreens & inverted setups

17:20 – Teaching timing on cuts, flare actions, and spacing constraints

20:30 – Communication, signals, and scripting vs. conceptual flexibility in pistol offense

23:50 – Transition defense: tagging up vs. emergency system, how to teach both

27:00 – Planning an annual coaching framework: practice planning, principles of play, and sticky-note hierarchy for team priorities

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Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, George Vaz breaks down the concept of representative design in coaching — the idea that practice environments should mirror real game demands for true skill transfer. Drawing on ecological dynamics and research-backed insights, George explores how coaches can create more game-realistic drills, use task simplification over decomposition, and balance traditional and constraints-led approaches.

Chapters:

00:00 - Defining representative design and why it matters for skill transfer

01:00 - The problem with decontextualized drills and false learning

02:00 - How representative practice helps players adapt under real game pressure

03:00 - Simplifying tasks without losing game context

04:00 -  The “Representative Dial” – scaling from isolated drills to full 5-on-5 play

05:30 - Guided, scripted, and live defense: how to layer decision-making

07:00 - Designing small-sided games that replicate the chaos of real competition

09:00 - Practical tweaks: adding decisions, varying starts, and coupling skills to context

10:30 - Using constraints and consequences to simulate pressure situations

11:30 - Blending traditional and CLA methods through belief-driven practice design

12:00 - Transformative Tip

Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7
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Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

In this episode, George sits down with Nathanial Mitchell, head coach for Canada Basketball’s Senior Men’s National Team and former NBA assistant with the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets. Nathanial shares lessons from coaching across the NBA, G League, international basketball, and now the Chinese Basketball Association, emphasizing how connection, accountability, and continuous learning shape his coaching philosophy.

Bio:

Toronto’s Nathanial Mitchell has coached at every level — from the NBA with the Raptors and Hornets to leading and assisting Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team across the FIBA AmeriCup, World Cup, and Olympic stages. Nate is currently the head coach of the Guangzhou Loong Lions in China’s CBA. In this episode, he shares how he builds transformational environments through sweat equity, trust, and a constraints-led approach that develops both the player and the person.

Chapters:

01:00 – Coaching Canada at the AmeriCup and representing the country on the world stage

03:00 – Adapting to short national team windows and learning from elite head coaches

04:30 – “Sweat equity” and why showing up physically for players builds trust

06:00 – Balancing individual development with team success

07:30 – Coaching challenges and leadership lessons from the CBA in China

09:00 – Co-creating player development plans and identifying priority skills

11:30 – Using constraints and competition to shape decision-making

16:00 – Working with Canadian stars like RJ Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Pascal Siakam

18:00 – Bridging the gap between skills trainers and team coaches

23:00 – Aligning player ambition with team roles and offensive systems

28:00 – Transformative Tip

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Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball