Traditional coaching concepts and drills are being challenged...understandably so. Brian McCormick wrote a pair of books (Fake Fundamentals) challenging whether conventional wisdom really is that wise.
For example, in observing high level college players scrimmaging, he noted that they virtually NEVER assumed triple threat position. So why would we teach something that people don't do. Said another way, Pete Carril noted, "you want to be good at things that happen a lot."
In this article Coach Pintar extends that to review free throw practice. McCormick noted that typical "block" practice didn't improve free throw shooting. He observes, "What stands out is the remarkable accuracy with which players shoot in practice and the remarkable lack of translation into game situations."
He introduces what McCormick calls "random" and "variable" practice. His point is that what happens in practice has to simulate game action enough to translate into games. I'll share how we practiced free throws (in the early 1970s). We had four 'rounds' of free throws (10 in each set) to determine a daily playoff with the coach. But during the rounds, free throws could be defended (you were not allowed to touch the shooter) with noise, humor, and distractions better left to your imagination. During games, crowd noise seemed like nothing.
Coach Pintar discusses the "practice shots" that some professionals take (activating 'myelin memory' in neurologic terms...muscles have no memory).
The broader context is coaches innovating practice to improve results. Coach Calipari uses heart rate monitoring during practice to assess effort. Coach Izzo uses helmets and shoulder pads during rebounding practice. Coach Auriemma practices his women's team against men. We need to assess every drill and how and what translates to improvement.
