DiscoverThe Transforming Basketball PodcastEP129: Inside the Hawks: Zay West on Tag Games, Variability, and Performance Coaching
EP129: Inside the Hawks: Zay West on Tag Games, Variability, and Performance Coaching

EP129: Inside the Hawks: Zay West on Tag Games, Variability, and Performance Coaching

Update: 2025-09-03
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Description

 In this episode, George Vaz is joined by Zay West, Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Atlanta Hawks and former NBA Academy Africa performance lead. Zay shares how evidence-based training, creativity, and environmental design can help athletes maximize performance, adapt faster, and return stronger from injuries.


 


Chapters:


01:30 - Zay’s coaching journey to the Atlanta Hawks
03:00 - Applying the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA)
08:30 - Creativity in training & warm-ups
09:30 - Return-to-play progressions
13:00 - Scaling from control to chaos in drills
17:00 - Engaging warmup games (tag, tennis ball, volleyball)
22:30 -  Teaching athletes how to fall safely
24:00 - Achilles injury trends & prevention
28:00 - Transformative tip


 


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EP129: Inside the Hawks: Zay West on Tag Games, Variability, and Performance Coaching

EP129: Inside the Hawks: Zay West on Tag Games, Variability, and Performance Coaching

Transforming Basketball