In this episode, George is joined by Erick Vigansky, founder of Athletes on the Rise, to explore the balance between skill development, strength and conditioning, and creating environments that maximize learning. Together, they dive into optimal learning, constraint-led coaching, player development progressions, and how coaches can better design practices that encourage adaptability, resilience, and decision-making under pressure.
Chapters:
01:00 – Introduction to Erick Vigansky and Athletes on the Rise
02:00 – Defining "optimal learning" and balancing success with failure
03:30 – Why simplifying 5-on-5 into smaller situations improves development
05:00 – Identifying foundational weaknesses before teaching advanced reads
06:30 – The role of frustration and adversity in building mental resilience
08:00 – Creating team cultures where players feel safe to fail and learn
09:30 – Establishing non-negotiables while still encouraging freedom and creativity
11:00 – Erick's "skill layering" approach to teaching movement and footwork
12:30 – Building movement patterns through rhythm, deceleration, and re-acceleration
14:00 – Using guided defenders and constraints to bridge drills into live play
15:30 – Exploring weighted basketballs and basketball-specific strength development
17:00 – Self-organization, external cues, and teaching functional movement patterns
18:30 – The downside of overusing internal cues and creating "choking" under pressure
20:00 – Structuring weekly practices with team sessions, skill work, and strength training
21:30 – Why George shifted away from heavily scripted set plays
23:00 – Teaching offensive concepts through triggers, domino principles, and spacing
24:00 – Using small-sided games and constraints to accelerate decision-making and adaptability
Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book:
https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7
Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources:
https://transformingbball.com/products/
Links:
Website: http://transformingbball.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball
