Why Basketball Practice Needs Variability

Topic of Discussion

Over the past years, variability in learning and practice has been a big topic of discussion.

We are beginning to realize we might have made a mistake by taking learning out of the players’ hands and putting it into ours. Coaches, we can’t learn for the players.

When a child learns to move, stand, walk, and eventually move freely, we don’t ever interfere- we allow learning to occur. When this child joins a sport like basketball, and there are new and different skills that are not innate to the human movement- we intervene.

The Question

The question is, are we intervening too much!? I think so. We have tried to take the one ingredient that makes learning critical out of the equation- problem-solving.

Problems are what basketball players need so they can build a suite of solving problem armor.

When players are constantly faced with making mistakes, they build a concentration level that doesn’t exist when mistakes don’t occur. This concentration is how players figure things out through a solution-oriented approach.

The process of solving problems can last one session to several weeks or more.

A Solution

One of the ways basketball players learn to solve problems is through the variability of training and practice. The variability offers greater bandwidth into how they can solve the problem. You’ve heard the saying, “there’s more than one way to skin-a-cat.” Well, this is kind of what that means.

Once the basic vital skill execution is somewhat formed into a reliable pattern, the practice variability allows this solid pattern to have more options to solve problems. We know this because basketball players who only do things one-way struggle when faced with high levels of variability, adversity, and stress.

When structuring your practice plan or training sessions, identify your players’ stage and implement variability into the skill training, offensive and defensive situations, and even competitions.

Let them struggle! Encourage them. Focus on their effort and attitude, so they have something in their control. Make them aware it might not be easy, and frustration is an option. Teach them how to deal with frustration and be prepared to change up the activity to avoid excessive frustrations.

Conclusion

Variability is essential because human beings are variable. We have to adapt and adjust all the time. Why should learning basketball be any different?

Categories: : art of coaching, basketball movement, basketball speed