The F-Word

Let me start by saying, forget everything you know about “fundamentals.” Yeah, I said it. The F-word is a myth. Don’t worry; I’ll explain why. Basketball coaches often teach players techniques in a certain way, where they demonstrate the technique and the player must copy it exactly.

Once the player can copy the technique perfectly, they can move on to more advanced techniques or try playing in a game. The idea is that practicing the techniques repeatedly will help the player perform the skills automatically in a game.

As a coach, your job is not to produce robots who can perform every skill with textbook perfection. You’re here to develop athletes who can think on their feet, make split-second decisions, and have fun while doing it. Trust me; nobody wants to watch a game of perfectly executed “fundamentals” with no heart or creativity.

In the world of sports training, the term “fundamentals” is often used to refer to the basic skills and techniques that all athletes must learn in order to succeed. Which typically involves a lot of rote memorization and repetition of drills and exercises. However, the concept of “fundamentals” is not as clear-cut as it may seem.

What may be considered a fundamental for one athlete may not be the same for another, and the traditional approach to teaching “fundamentals” may not be the best for all athletes because it doesn’t take into account that every player learns differently and develops skills at their own pace.

We’ll explore the limitations of the traditional approach to teaching “fundamentals” and offer alternative perspectives on how athletes can develop their skills in a more personalized and effective way.

Also, basketball isn’t just about following specific techniques, it’s about adapting to the changing situations on the court. Shooting, for example, requires different movements and solutions depending on the location on the court, the positions of offense and defense, the time and score, fatigue levels, and sizes of defenders.

So instead of just teaching players one specific technique, coaches need to focus on helping players develop their own style and adapt to different situations on the court.

It’s important for coaches to understand the complexity of the brain and how players act unpredictably in game situations, resulting in unexpected movements and techniques. It also fails to account for the fact that the best athletes in the world often don’t adhere to these traditional “fundamentals” and instead rely on their natural talents and creativity to succeed.

So, let’s talk about how you can develop your athletes into confident, adaptable players without relying on the boring old “fundamentals” approach.

First, throw them into the game. Yes, I said it. Let them play, experiment, and learn from their mistakes. It’s okay if they miss a layup or fumble a pass. Those mistakes are where the real learning happens.

You know what else is essential? Fun. Yep, it’s not a dirty word. If your athletes are having fun, they’re more likely to be engaged, willing to take risks, and, most importantly, they’re more likely to come back to practice.

When was the last time you heard of a kid begging their parents to sign them up for a sport they hated? Probably never.

In short, I’m not saying you shouldn’t teach your players any “fundamentals” (I prefer to call them “Foundational Skills”). They definitely need to learn how to shoot, dribble, run, and jump, but don’t make the mistake of focusing solely on these skills at the expense of everything else.

Teach them how to dribble and shoot, but also teach them how to fake out their defender and create their own shot. Learning basketball is not a linear process where everyone learns the same technique at the same time.

Players should be allowed to experiment with different techniques and movements to find what works best for them.