Teach learning strategies. Metacognition means "learning how to learn." Make your learning process active.
What is our core philosophy? TIA - teamwork, improvement, accountability.
Summarize how to become more effective in team play. "Get more and better shots than our opponents."
Be specific. Explain what "playing hard" means. Hitting the deck, setting strong screens, cutting urgently, sprinting back on defense, blocking out.
1) Focus. Computers don't "multitask," as they rapidly switch between individual processes. People don't have the same capability. Mindfulness improves attention span, grades, and standardized test scores. And yes, almost all pro teams have mindfulness trainers.
2) Removing distractions (e.g. your phone) is part of the solution.
3) Take breaks. The Pomodoro Technique is 25 minutes on and five off. Professional teams have learned that millennials and Gen Z are different. Some teams give players "phone breaks." Hard to believe?
4) Space repetitions. Reviewing is better than single viewing. Players won't digest the playbook in one bite. Another way to help players is to run the same action from different sets and the same sets with different actions.
5) Train analogical thinking. Learn how to relate ideas and solutions across disciplines. Need coaching analogies? CEO, chef, mad scientist, inventor, ship's captain and more.
6) Self-test. Ask yourself "what do I know about serving? Go into as much detail as possible...types of screens, where to screen, and the details of screening and reading the defense. Review your screen with video. A coach was upset with his players' remember their offense. So he said, "You're getting a written test at the next practice; you don't pass, you don't start. Players learned the plays.
7) Practice. If we want to improve at anything, use "deliberate practice." "Practice like hamburger, play like hamburger. Practice like steak..." Make everything at practice impact outcomes. Some coaches love "three man weave." I'm waiting to see it in a game.
Lagniappe. Bad spacing = bad offense. Teach the three-point line as the spacing line.
Spacing & different sets about actions for right player shooting right shots from best spots. Also, as C. Majerus said, "Getting space easy but re-spacing much more difficult". Well coached teams shift into open windows with penetration, post ups, O boards, or p/r action. https://t.co/rHYXz7f4DR
— Mike Dunlap (@CoachMikeDunlap) April 23, 2025
Lagniappe 2. Make a difference. Leave players with more than basketball.
GUT ACTIONS are becoming much more frequent at the college and professional level.
— Chris Steed (@steeder10) April 18, 2025
This is because most teams play a passive PNR coverage like drop or switch, plus hip lock off ball.
*** APPLY 2 and 3 MAN ACTIONS in the MIDDLE THIRD of the floor (gut) going vertically,… pic.twitter.com/AWR4NW6gtw
