The Transforming Basketball Podcast

EP30: What are Principles of Play & Why Are They SO Important For All Coaches?

Jan 5, 2024

Alex Sarama discusses principles of play in basketball and how they can be developed through the constraint-led approach. He emphasizes offense as creating advantages and using medals to guide shot selection. The podcast also explores the application of principles of play in transition and defense, focusing on adaptability and player autonomy.

18:23

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Quick takeaways

Using principles of play in basketball allows for greater autonomy and adaptability, shaping players' intentions without overly constraining their actions.

Principles of play should be incorporated in offense and defense to create advantages, prioritize high-value shots, and disrupt the opposing team.

Deep dives

Principles of Play in Basketball

Offensive and defensive schemes in basketball are often overly controlled and rigid, hindering players from naturally using their abilities and creating advantage-creating opportunities. A game model, which emphasizes strict adherence to set plays and automations, is less effective in fostering player development and creative decision-making. Instead, adopting principles of play allows for greater autonomy and adaptability. Principles of play act as guiding concepts that shape players' intentions and attention on the court, providing possibilities rather than strict instructions. The focus should be on creating advantages and utilizing triggers to initiate actions that lead to effective shot selection. Whether in offense or defense, principles of play should not overly constrain players but support their exploration of the environment to find advantageous solutions.

Principles of Play in Basketball and Defensive Strategies

01:19

Principles of Play in Basketball

01:57

Introduction

3min

Principles of Play and Ecological Approach in Basketball

3min

The Importance of Creating Advantages in Set Plays

2min

Empowering Players and Implementing Defensive Principles

8min

The Importance of Playing with Principles of Play

2min

In this episode, Alex Sarama discusses the concept of principles of play and how they can be developed through the constraint-led approach (CLA). He explains that many offensive and defensive schemes in basketball are highly controlled, which can over-constrain players’ behaviors. Instead, he advocates for using principles of play, which provide possibilities and shape players' intentions without stipulating specific actions. Alex conceptualizes offense as creating advantages and converting them successfully and uses the concept of medals to guide shot selection. He also discusses the application of principles of play in transition and defense which as with offense are centered around adaptability.

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Key Takeaways:

2:20 - Game Model vs Principles of Play

8:05 - What is a conceptual offense and how to categorize shots

11:30 - Transition concepts

13:05 - Using triggers

14:25 - Varying defensive coverages

16:10 - Takeaways

Links:

Website: http://transformingbball.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball