Alex Sarama | How to Develop Adaptable Athletes Using Skill Acquisition Science

In this episode, Alex Sarama joins to share his unique coaching philosophy when developing skillful, adaptable athletes. Drawing on ecological dynamics, constraints-led approaches (CLA), and differential learning (DL) his goal is to revolutionize player development.

From his early coaching days in the UK to his NBA experience and global coaching journey, Alex discusses the limitations of traditional coaching methods and how modern movement science can help athletes become adaptable, dynamic performers in the heat of competition. Whether you’re a strength & conditioning coach, personal trainer, or sport scientist, this episode provides actionable insights into how learning and training should work hand-in-hand to optimize performance.

Time Stamps:

[06:00] Writing "Transforming Basketball"

• How Alex self-published a professional-level book
• The challenges of writing and organizing thoughts into a book
• Why the book became a springboard for his company

[14:00] The Problem with Traditional Coaching Approaches

• The disconnect between coaching methods & movement science
• Why repetition-based drills don’t build true skill adaptability
• Breaking the myth: More reps ≠ better performance

[18:00] Implementing the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA)

• How skill is actually developed through dynamic environments
• Why small-sided games are more effective than traditional drills
• Practical examples of CLA in basketball development

[25:00] Teaching Novice Players with CLA & Differential Learning

• How to design training for beginners
• Task simplification vs. decomposition—why traditional methods fail
• Real-world coaching scenarios: Using DL & CLA to expand skill adaptability

[33:00] How to Measure Skill Transfer & Performance Gains

• Using film, analytics, and real-time adjustments
• Why customized data and KPIs matter more than generic stats
• How NBA teams should rethink their analytical approach

[42:00] The Future of Coaching & Skill Acquisition

• Why sports is at the beginning of its "Moneyball" era for skill acquisition
• The importance of breaking silos between coaching, analytics, & performance science

Alex Sarama is currently the Director of Player Development for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA. He previously worked for NBA Europe based in Madrid, as well as Paris Basketball in the EuroCup and the Rip City Remix (the Portland Trail Blazers’ G League Affiliate).

Alex is also the founder of Transforming Basketball. He is widely regarded as an industry-leading practitioner within the field of contemporary skill acquisition and more specifically, the usage of the constraints-led approach. His book, Transforming Basketball, was released in April 2024. He has delivered clinics in over 40 countries around the world and worked as a coach developer for numerous organizations and international basketball federations.

You can follow Alex on Instagram and Twitter.

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