Idaho Basketball Coaching Podcast

We are fortunate to have Alex Sarama join us for this episode.  Sarama is head coach of the Portland Fire and a frequent guest to this podcast.In this episode, Sarama discuss his first season as a WNBA head coach and how he applied CLA concepts at the professional level. The discussion explores practice design, conceptual offense, Shapes, Pistol action, and creating an environment where players can adapt to defensive coverages rather than simply execute plays.———“We never want to be on offense in a shape we haven’t practiced. ... It allows you to have such clarity offensively and defensively when you view the game through this lens."———Subscribe to the 🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Idaho Basketball Coaching Podcast newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We are fortunate to have Peter Lonergan join the show. Lonergan is the General Manager of Performance Pathways for Basketball Australia.In this episode, Lonergan shares how coaches can develop a clear coaching philosophy and translate those beliefs into how they teach and play. He challenges coaches to simplify their messaging, avoid becoming overly rigid, and balance player freedom with enough structure to provide clarity. Lonergan also shares thoughts on practice design, small-sided games, teaching the “why,” and why coaches can often solve tactical problems by returning to fundamental skills and principles.———Lonergan: “Make sure that you're servicing the players, (and) you're not servicing your practice plan.”———Subscribe to the 🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Idaho Basketball Coaching Podcast newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We are fortunate to have both Liam Jefferson and George Vaz as guests for this episode.The former London Lions coaches explore how coaches can prepare their players to attack different defensive coverages using progressive, game-like techniques.The conversation focuses on pick-and-roll coverage solutions starting from 1v1 all the way through 5v5. The coaches also share practical tips on sequencing the defense, film sessions, dynamic drill starts, and the importance of building trust with players.———Vaz: “Go in with a really open mind... watch what's happening to really manipulate to create the affordances you want.”Jefferson: “They need to see it and feel it and understand it ... and make a few mistakes before you can even start to talk about coverage solutions.”———Subscribe to the 🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Idaho Basketball Coaching Podcast newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We are fortunate to have Eagle (Idaho) High School basketball coach Nate Hartman back for this episode.The discussion centers on how Hartman is building a modern, pace-driven version of the Princeton Offense in his new coaching job. The hybrid system still leans on core spacing and cutting principles, but also incorporates modern concepts and actions to put pressure on the defense early in a possession.Hartman On simplifying decision-making: "I'm really trying to give our guys three quick reads ... to get a score out of the first 12 seconds of the shot clock."Some key ideas in this episode include …Debunking the idea that the Princeton Offense is slowTeaching limited transition reads for quick decisionsBuilding the offense around personnelLayering installation for deeper understandingMethods for delivering media to playersIdentifying Gold, Silver, Bronze shot spectrumCutting conceptsPractice breakdownDealing with mistakes: “Right idea, smarter execution”--Subscribe to the 🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Idaho Basketball Coaching Podcast newsletter⁠⁠⁠.

Caden Hoffman joins the podcast to break down the evolution of conceptual and layered offense, with a focus on creating advantages, manipulating defensive decisions and using the entire floor. The former Division 1 assistant coach also shares practical ideas for building possessions, teaching players to make decisions,and helping coaches simplify layered offense at any level.“When the play breaks down ... they’re just going to resort back to whatever you’ve trained in practice.”5 coaching concepts covered in this episode:Building offense around player strengthsLayering simple actions to create advantagesUsing triggers to read defensive coveragesCourt geography and moving the low manTeaching players to make the next read--Subscribe to the 🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Idaho Basketball Coaching Podcast newsletter⁠⁠.