EP31: How Basketball Coaches Can Create a Culture of Learning with the CLA with Markus Klusemann
Jan 9, 2024
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Markus Klusemann, a coach scientist from Germany and Australia, shares his coaching philosophy and how it's shaped by his experience. The podcast discusses the challenges of implementing the constraints-led approach (CLA) and the importance of observing and tracking behaviors in small-sided games. They also talk about creating a culture of learning and the concept of minimal effective instruction (MEIs) in coaching.
Markus Klusemann emphasizes the importance of implementing the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) in coaching to create games and environments that elicit specific solutions from players.
Observing and tracking behaviors in small-sided games can help coaches understand player behavior and make adjustments to enhance development.
Creating a culture of learning within basketball programs is crucial for continuous growth and improvement.
The concept of tiger teams, where practitioners from different domains collaborate, can address specific challenges and combine expertise.
Utilizing Minimal Effective Instruction (MEI) involves conveying concise instructions to maximize player engagement and learning.
Being a proactive learner and seeking knowledge from various sources can enhance coaching practices and improve player development.
Deep dives
Coaching Philosophy and Background
Marcus Klusman describes himself as a coach scientist, utilizing science, evidence, and data to inform his coaching practice. Through his academic background in sport science and coaching experience, he has developed a philosophy of incorporating contemporary skill acquisition ideas into the basketball world. His experiences working in both Germany and Australia have shaped his approach to strengthening conditioning, training design, and competition-focused basketball training.
Transitioning to the Constraint-Led Approach (CLA)
Marcus Klusman highlights the importance of ascending out of organizational silos and implementing the CLA in coaching. The CLA, or constraints-led approach, focuses on creating games and environments that elicit specific solutions from players and uses constraints to manipulate activities and achieve desired learning outcomes. Klusman emphasizes the counterintuitive nature of CLA coaching, which encourages coaches to talk less and create an environment that promotes learning and problem-solving. He also notes that understanding research terminology and the time required for practice design can be barriers to adopting the CLA.
Applying CLA and Master Generalist Approach
Marcus Klusman discusses how the CLA principles can be applied to warm-ups and emphasizes the importance of micro-dosing and consistently touching on various areas such as basketball skill development, movement quality, life skills, and mental skills. He suggests that coaches can start by being proactive learners, seeking knowledge from multiple sources, and finding ways to condense their instructions into minimal effective instruction (MEI) to maximize players' engagement and learning. Klusman also advocates for a master generalist approach, where practitioners from different domains collaborate as tiger teams to address specific challenges and combine their expertise.
The Role at Overtime Academy
Marcus Klusman is currently the VP for Health, Performance, and Development at Overtime Academy, an elite academy with a focus on basketball. His role involves overseeing player health and fitness, providing evidence-based ideas to players and coaches, and translating performance approaches to the basketball court. Klusman highlights the challenges of synthesizing information, creating a unified approach, and managing a team of experts to maximize player and staff development.
Teach Me Tuesdays and Cultivating a Learning Environment
Marcus Klusman emphasizes the importance of creating a learning environment by promoting open conversations, seeking feedback, and exposing practitioners to different ideas and research. At Overtime, regular Teach Me Tuesdays sessions are introduced to encourage continuous learning and knowledge sharing among staff members. Klusman also highlights the value of utilizing quieter periods, like the off-season, for individual and collective learning.
Minimal Effective Instruction (MEI)
Marcus Klusman discusses the concept of Minimal Effective Instruction (MEI) and its importance in coaching. MEI involves using concise, minimal words to explain activities, ensuring that players understand quickly and can engage in action. Klusman shares the analogy of writers crafting short, powerful stories with few words and translates that concept to coaching, aiming to convey instructions effectively while keeping players active and learning.
Collaborative Coaching and Future Directions
Marcus Klusman supports the idea of collaborative coaching, where practitioners from different areas work together to create a holistic training environment. He highlights the potential benefits of blurring the lines between coaching and performance domains and adopting a master generalist approach. Klusman suggests that organizations can establish tiger teams to address specific challenges with a diverse range of experts collaborating and sharing their knowledge.
Advice for Coaches in Youth Programs
Marcus Klusman suggests that coaches in youth programs can start by being proactive learners, seeking knowledge from various sources, and applying these ideas to their limited practice time. He encourages coaches to prioritize player movement, touch on multiple areas of development, and use the concept of micro-dosing to enhance learning. Klusman also recommends intentionally leaving gaps in instructions to maximize player engagement and let them explore the activity.
Tracking Behaviors and Observation
Marcus Klusman discusses the importance of tracking behaviors and being open to evolving activities based on emerging challenges or opportunities. Using a CLA approach, coaches can observe the behaviors and constraints within small-sided games and make adjustments to improve player development. Klusman suggests a feedback loop where coaches can adapt their practices based on real-time observations to enhance learning outcomes.
Marcus Klusman's Role at Overtime Academy
Marcus Klusman currently serves as the VP for Health, Performance, and Development at Overtime Academy. In this role, he oversees the health and fitness of players within the academy and provides evidence-based ideas to enhance player performance. His focus is on translating strategies and approaches into actionable plans for players and coaches.
The Importance of Creating Learning Environments
Marcus Klusman emphasizes the need for creating learning environments within basketball programs. He discusses the importance of Teach Me Tuesdays, where staff members share insights, research, and ideas to encourage continuous learning and knowledge exchange. Klusman highlights the value of seeking feedback, sharing different perspectives, and cultivating a culture where challenging one's beliefs is encouraged.
Integrating the Constraints-Led Approach in Coaching
Marcus Klusman advocates for integrating the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA) into coaching practices. He explains that CLA goes beyond small-sided games, emphasizing the importance of manipulating constraints to achieve desired learning outcomes. Klusman highlights the purposefulness of CLA as a methodology for skill acquisition, focusing on decision-making, both offensively and defensively.
Effective Communication with Minimal Words
Marcus Klusman discusses the concept of Minimal Effective Instruction (MEI) in coaching. He emphasizes the importance of providing concise instructions to players, allowing them to quickly grasp the activity and engage in action. Klusman draws inspiration from storytelling, where a short narrative can convey powerful emotions, and applies the concept to coaching by delivering information in the most efficient manner.
Master Generalist Approach in Coaching
Marcus Klusman supports the idea of a master generalist approach in coaching, where practitioners collaborate across domains and work together to address specific challenges. He suggests forming small teams of experts, known as tiger teams, to combine their expertise and tackle specific issues within an organization. By blurring the lines between coaching and performance, Klusman believes a holistic training environment can be created.
In this episode, Alex Sarama interviews Markus Klusemann. Markus shares his coaching philosophy as a coach scientist and how his experience working in both Germany and Australia has shaped his approach. He discusses the barriers coaches face in understanding and implementing the constraints-led approach (CLA) and provides suggestions on how to overcome them. Markus remarks on the importance of observing and tracking behaviors in small-sided games. They also discuss his role at Overtime Elite and how to create a culture of learning in whatever situation you may find yourself in.
