Vault: Coaching Styles

Mike MacKay: Developing World Class Basketball Players

This. Is. A. Coaching. Masterclass…! Seriously. It’s rare to observe basketball practices that have been mindfully designed to integrate the mental, technical, physical, social and competive constraints in a way that reads like a book. This is why we (affectionately) call Mike MacKay: Yoda Master MacKay. In his day “job”, he’s the Women’s High Performance …

Permissionless Rather Than Positionless Basketball

Many refer to it as POSITIONLESS play. Years ago, while working with Canada Basketball, we had referred to it as developing the ‘global’ player (i.e. players that could shoot, pass, and dribble from all positions). Perhaps, better said, it’s PERMISSION-LESS… players are no longer seeking permission to initiate from multiple positions, in multiple ways. Perhaps, …

Practice Is Everything

Here’s an insightful peek into the practice philosophy of the NFLs Seattle Seahawks. Head Coach, Pete Carroll, shares some golden nuggets that any coach can benefit from. Takeaways: Tap In(to) Practice Before a Seahawks practice, players ‘tap in’ (i.e. hit the “I’m In!” sign) to make a positive – an active – affirmation of what …

Coaching Is Developmental Science Not Rocket Science

Love how Dr. Kwame Brown, a developmental neuroscientist, frames it… “Coaching is not ‘rocket science’ but it is ‘developmental science’.  It is also developmental experience, and developmental awareness, and developmental temperament.” Same, Same But Different. — you need to convey your symptoms in vivid detail to get the proper diagnosis. Asking a coach who has …

On Failure, Fundamentals, and Practice Planning [Interview]

The Whistle and a Clipboard podcast was created to “provide a place for coaches to learn from one another.” With, I want to give a big shout out to Jason Oates for creating this platform for so many coaches to share their point of view and grow sport coaching – together! Highlights: In this interview, I discuss: …