Talking Split

Coaches, you get this week off from podcast land – we are talking to the players that are about to go through trials. It’s a stressful time of year, but there are some things you can do to be prepared physically and mentally to give yourself the best chance of succeeding – whatever your goal is at selections. Because your coaches will listen to this anyway, it can certainly help!

It's a crazy time of the year for everyone as tryouts are starting over the next few weeks! We discuss what to look for, how to run them, what you need to consider and how to pick a balanced team.

Back on the Lasso bandwagon this week as we strap in for Part 2, albeit a man down – but like Lasso when he gets behind, we battle on for the win (not the draw). We look at how coaches can best manage the people around them, the relationships they will need to be successful as a coach, some of the things coaches need to be mindful of when taking care of themselves, and the best quotes from the world of Lasso and how they can apply to our coaching.

For the last 2 years Ted Lasso has helped everyone get through lockdowns, and we delve into where the show does imitate life as a coach. Sometimes you can watch it just to be entertained, and other times you can take some lessons that we see on the screen and apply it to your own coaching. Part 1 this week where we look around the areas of Starting with a new team, Setting a Culture, and the Support People around coaches. Stay tuned for part 2 next week!

Not to be confused with the Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard Fab 5 (bonus points on offer if you can name the other 2 players), or the Jackson 5, today we explore the Fab 5 basketball skills that every athlete should be working on, and every coach should be helping their athletes with. We look at why they’re important, what we would emphasise on each of the skills and discuss if there is anything missing. And if you’re reading this Ash, stop eating the caramel slices…

One of the areas we noticed athletes were lacking on our last return to sport, was confidence. We delve into how as coaches we can build it, how we create environments where it’s a growth mindset for athletes, and how our actions and reactions as coaches can influence it amongst our teams.

Back in the mailbag this week, where we discuss at what age should Strength & Conditioning be taught, is conditioning acceptable as a punishment at training sessions, how to manage athletes that are in foul trouble, session planning and working with your Director of Coaching and how different season timing and models may help player development.

Thanks to the listeners for their mailbag questions this week, as we delve into the Talking Split Mailbag Part 1. We go over on trials, playing time, statistics, and player motivation whilst we bid farewell a podcast favourite with a special guest...

Dr.Alex Roberts is a Lecturer at La Trobe University, and a member on the Executive Advisory Board for the Womens Coaches Association, and today joins us to discuss parts of her theses on “The Coaches Eye – Exploring Decision Making During Talent Identification”. Alex takes us through some great topics that coaches need to consider such as their coaching bias, what they’re selecting for, long term talent identification and their own development as a coach. You’re able to have a look at Alex’s theses via this link: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/2391/ and would encourage everyone to follow Alex (@AlexHRoberts) and the Women Coaching Association (@coaching_womens) on Twitter for some content that will be helpful to your coaching.

Fresh off the silver medal at the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup, we chat to Head Coach Dave Herbert about the lead up and the playing of the tournament, and how the team achieved such a great result winning a silver medal. We look at some of the things that worked, some things that junior coaches can focus on, and some things athletes can do to get them to that level. Rob & Zoe discuss the reaction to the size 5 basketball for U12 and younger and dispel a few of the myths that have been raised on social media.