In this episode, George is joined by Luke Bonner, a former Division I and professional basketball player, about his journey in basketball and his current work in youth sports. They discuss the importance of early specialization, the integration of technology in coaching, the challenges of the college basketball system, and the significance of enjoyment in youth sports. Luke shares insights on load management, the constraint-led approach to coaching, and innovative drills to enhance skill development.

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Luke Bonner and His Basketball Journey
02:30 – When Elite Players “Know” They’re Good
04:30 – Early Specialization vs. Multi-Sport Development
06:45 – Learning from Soccer: Data, Movement, and Engagement
08:45 – Constraints-Led Games to Keep Kids Engaged
11:00 – Rethinking the College Basketball Grind
13:15 – Load Management, Locking the Gym, and Long-Term Planning
15:30 – Coaching Young Players with CLA Principles
18:00 – Gamifying Basketball to Teach Teamwork and Skills
22:00 – “Less Is More” in Player Development
27:00 – Transformative Tip

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Links:
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In this episode, George is joined by Ryan Gensler, Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Akron, to explore how concept-based offense, relationship-driven leadership, and constraint-led learning shape modern team building and player development. Ryan shares lessons from his coaching journey across multiple programs and explains how cutting, spacing, and selflessness can become foundational offensive weapons. He also dives into practice design, blending traditional drills with constraints, building team culture through shared values, and trusting players to make decisions.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Ryan Gensler and His Coaching Path

01:00 – Coaching Influences and Concept-Based Offense

02:30 – Relationship-Driven Leadership and Program Culture

04:00 – Defining Core Values as a Head Coach

05:30 – Playing for Each Other and Selfless Basketball

06:30 – Using Cutting as a Primary Offensive Weapon

08:00 – Teaching Cutting Through Constraints and Small-Sided Games

10:00 – Solving Spacing and Dunker Spot Challenges

11:30 – Blending Traditional Player Development with Constraints

14:30 – Modernizing Traditional Drills for Decision-Making

17:30 – Developing Shot Quality and Contested Finishing

19:30 – Reinforcing Culture Through Assist-Based Rewards

21:00 – Emotional Intelligence and Off-Court Development

22:30 – Aligning Vision Through Team Retreats and Vulnerability

24:00 – Transformative Tip: Trust Your Players

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Links:
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In this episode, George is joined by Dr. Matt Bowers to explore how different sport environments—from structured teams to unstructured play—shape athlete development, creativity, and long-term potential. He challenges early specialization, outcome-driven coaching, and win-at-all-costs youth systems, advocating instead for play, autonomy, and constraint-led learning. Matt also shares lessons from research, parenting, AAU culture, and even video games to help coaches design better practice environments that protect joy, growth, and human development.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Matt Bowers and His Research Background

01:30 – Discovering Constraints-Led Approaches and Athlete Learning

04:30 – Youth Development, Long-Term Potential, and the Coach’s Role

08:30 – Early Specialization vs. Multi-Sport Sampling

11:30 – Why Being the Best at 8 Years Old Doesn’t Matter

13:30 – Playing the Long Game in Youth Basketball

15:00 – Training vs. Competition Ratios in AAU Culture

18:00 – Small-Sided Games, Constraints, and Individual Growth

21:00 – Navigating AAU Pressures as a Parent and Coach

23:00 – What Traditional Sports Can Learn from Video Games

26:00 – Rethinking the Scoreboard and Competition

29:00 – Hope for the Next Generation of Coaches and Leaders

32:00 – 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 is joined by Jon Yu to discuss various aspects of basketball coaching, focusing on the challenges faced by coaches, the importance of skill development versus technique, and the implementation of conceptual offense. They explore the dynamics of small-sided games, the significance of spacing and creating advantages, and share transformative tips for coaches to enhance their practice environments.

Chapters:
01:00 – Taking Over a Varsity Program with Limited Resources
03:30 – Installing Principles of Play with Limited Practice Time
05:30 – Building Buy-In, Competition, and Team Culture
07:00 – Rethinking Pass-and-Cut and Teaching Spacing
10:00 – Defense, Closeouts, and Playing the Percentages
11:30 – Skill vs. Technique in Player Development
14:30 – The Form Shooting Debate and Motor Learning
18:30 – Structure vs. Chaos in Conceptual Offense
21:30 – Sets, Triggers, and When to Break Structure
26:00 – Designing Small-Sided Games and Constraints
29:30 – Scouting, Predictability, and Offensive Adaptability
31:30 – Physicality, Shield Tag, and Managing “Bad Habits”
35:30 – 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 Cole Hergott, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Trinity Western University, to discuss innovative approaches to athlete recovery, training, and injury prevention, emphasizing the importance of mobility, constraints in training, and the role of relationships in coaching. He challenges traditional methods like icing for injuries and advocates for promoting blood flow and movement instead. Cole also highlights the significance of individualizing training using technology and fostering a positive team culture through accountability and engagement with athletes.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to Cole Hergott and His Role at Trinity Western University

01:00 – Programming for Large Groups in Small Spaces

05:00 – Isometric and Eccentric Training Explained

08:00 – Applying Isometrics in Training and Practice

12:00 – Why Cole Is Anti-Icing

16:00 – Mobility as a Competitive Advantage in Basketball

17:30 – Constraint-Led Training in the Weight Room

19:30 – Moving Away from Olympic Lifts

22:00 – Game-Day Activation Circuits

26:00 – CNS Readiness and Injury Prevention

28:00 – Building Culture in the Weight Room

31:30 – Technology, Research, and Individualized Training

34:30 – Staying Current as a Coach

35:00 – 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 dives into the concept of donor sports and how non-basketball activities can enhance on-court performance through transferable movement skills. He explores how coaches can creatively integrate donor sports into warm-ups and practice design to improve balance, decision-making, physicality, and perception–action coupling. The episode also features a conversation with Scott Peters, a youth basketball coach with 17yr experience- Vanguard Prep AAU, who introduces his developmental pyramid—a practical framework for balancing competitiveness with meaningful player development. Scott shares how structured rotations, thoughtful practice groupings, and consistency can help ensure all players continue to grow, not just the starters. 

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Donor Sports and Player Development

02:00 – What Donor Sports Are and Why They Matter

03:45 – Repetition Without Repetition and Game-Realistic Context

05:00 – Favorite Donor Sport Games and Practice Applications

07:10 – Using Constraints to Develop Balance, Passing, and Physicality

09:00 – Wrestling, Contact Games, and Teaching Physicality Safely

10:00 – Introducing Scott Peters and the Developmental Pyramid

11:30 – Managing Playing Time While Staying Competitive

13:00 – Structuring Player Tiers and Rotations

14:45 – Applying the Pyramid in Practice Settings

15:45 – Creating Optimal Challenge and Balanced Groupings

16:45 – 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 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
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

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

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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