The Constraints Collective #66 Round Up 4
Oct 31, 2025
Explore the intriguing world of the Constraints-Led Approach in coaching, challenging its 'revolutionary' label while tracing its roots to Carl Newell's work. Discover the clash between rigid playbooks and adaptive strategies, and how coaching environments can stimulate creativity. The discussion delves into the dynamics of superstar-driven cultures versus collective coaching, as well as the strategic value of pace in gameplay. Learn how these concepts influence player development, cohesion, and even rehabilitation techniques.
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CLA As A Slow Evolution
- The CLA isn't a sudden revolution but a decades-long evolution from Newell's constraints work.
- Different regions adopt it at different paces, so 'revolution' misframes its history.
Alex Sarama's Rapid Rise
- Alex Sarama rose from coaching school teams to an NBA head coach after learning and applying CLA ideas.
- His path shows practical transfer of CLA from European contexts into the NBA.
Collective Play Versus Superstar Culture
- CLA challenges superstar-centred cultures by emphasising collective solutions and environment design.
- Shifting power from individuals to team processes can threaten entrenched cultural norms.