In this episode of the By Any Means Coaches Podcast, Tyler Clark and Coleman Ayers sit down with elite shooting coach Mitchell Kirsch (@hoopin_mitch) to dive deep into modern shooting development, learning theory, and what actually transfers to the game. The conversation breaks down how Mitchell’s approach to shooting has evolved, not through radical mechanical changes, but through a deeper understanding of physics, biology, and how humans truly learn movement in chaotic environments.

The trio explore differential learning, self-organization, and why confidence is more often a competence problem disguised as psychology. From NBA shooters like Duncan Robinson to youth players developing their first reliable jumper, this episode challenges traditional repetition-based training models and reframes shooting development around adaptability, representative environments, and emotional resilience.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and reconnecting with Mitchell Kirsch
02:30 Building training facilities and scaling basketball businesses
07:15 Overview of the BAM Coaches Podcast vision and direction
11:20 Mitchell’s evolution as a shooting coach
12:30 Function over form in shooting development
14:00 Release angle, exit velocity, and shot direction explained
15:20 Balancing chaotic game reps with technical focus
17:45 Differential learning vs representative learning environments
18:40 Self-organization vs muscle memory
21:00 Why variability accelerates learning and transfer
23:45 Stochastic resonance and finding your “true” shot
26:30 Problems with shooting machines and repetitive reps
28:30 Contested shooting and why it cleans up mechanics
31:45 Psychology vs biology in shooting performance
33:30 Why most “confidence issues” are really competence issues
36:00 Building real confidence through adaptable skill development
38:00 Applying ecological dynamics to team culture
40:30 Constraints-based approaches to joy, responsibility, and awareness

Coaching Resources: https://www.byanymeansbasketball.com
BAM Blueprint Book: https://www.byanymeansbasketball.com/blueprint

If this episode challenged how you think about shooting, confidence, or player development, share it with another coach, leave a review, and subscribe to the By Any Means Coaches Podcast. These conversations are shaping the future of basketball training, and you don’t want to be late to the shift.

In this solo episode of the By Any Means Coaches Podcast, Coleman Ayers breaks down the concept of nonlinear pedagogy, reframed as the nonlinear progression model, and explains why learning, development, and skill acquisition in basketball are rarely clean, linear processes. Drawing from research across sport, education, and motor learning, Coleman challenges the traditional “start simple and build up” mindset and makes the case for starting closer to (or slightly above) an athlete’s true challenge point to accelerate learning and improve transfer to the game.

Through practical basketball-specific examples like shooting footwork, ball screen decision-making, warmups, and youth development, Coleman explains how nonlinear structure and nonlinear progress work together. He outlines why struggle is not only acceptable but necessary, how regressions should often replace progressions, and why coaches must reframe expectations around visible improvement. The episode closes with actionable rules of thumb to help coaches design more efficient, engaging, and game-representative training environments.

Timestamps:

00:01 – Introduction to nonlinear pedagogy and why learning isn’t linear
01:28 – Nonlinear structure vs. nonlinear progress explained
02:39 – Traditional linear progressions and why they fall short
04:08 – Starting with difficulty and regressing instead of building up
05:09 – Inefficiency of linear models and wasted training time
06:32 – Engagement, autonomy, and mental toughness benefits
07:14 – Giving athletes time to struggle and self-organize
08:28 – Why linear progressions don’t transfer well to games
09:13 – Addressing concerns about bad habits and technique
10:58 – Confidence, psychological momentum, and game reality
11:50 – Example: shooting footwork and nonlinear application
13:00 – Example: handling aggressive ball screen coverages
15:19 – Starting live, then regressing with purpose
16:05 – Rules of thumb: start 10% harder, regress more than progress
17:25 – Finding challenge in warmups
18:41 – Whole–part–whole and play–drill–play frameworks
20:27 – When it makes sense to start simple
22:01 – Youth development, experimentation, and learning windows
24:25 – Advanced challenges making basic skills easier
26:34 – Nonlinear progress and managing expectations
28:00 – Spacing, consolidation, and why breaks matter
30:30 – Final takeaways on embracing the chaos of learning

Coaching Resources: https://www.byanymeanscoaches.com
BAM Blueprint Book: https://www.byanymeanscoaches.com/modern-basketball-blueprint

If this episode challenged the way you think about player development, be sure to check out the By Any Means Coaches Certification and Coleman’s book, The Modern Basketball Blueprint, where these concepts are explored in much greater depth. If you enjoyed the episode, share it with another coach, and we’ll see you next time on the By Any Means Coaches Podcast.

In this episode of the By Any Means Coaches Podcast, Coleman Ayers breaks down what creativity actually is—and more importantly, how coaches can systematically develop it. Rather than treating creativity as an innate talent or mysterious gift, the episode reframes it as a skill rooted in deep understanding, problem-solving, and exposure to diverse ideas. Through personal experience, coaching education, and the constraints-led approach, Coleman outlines why creativity is best built on strong foundations of knowledge, curiosity, and intentional learning.

The episode also explores practical ways coaches can unlock creativity in their daily work: aligning with the right people, starting with clear end goals, using constraints to force innovation, and diversifying how they think both inside and outside of basketball. From studying other sports and disciplines to embracing feedback and removing the fear of judgment, this conversation offers a framework for coaches who want to move beyond recycled drills and begin creating more adaptive, engaging, and effective learning environments.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and why creativity matters in coaching
00:51 – Why creativity is hard to explain but critical to develop
01:49 – Balancing practical takeaways with deeper education
02:38 – Creativity as intelligence having fun
03:26 – The role of learning and foundational knowledge
04:11 – The danger of creativity without understanding
04:54 – Letting intelligence “have fun”
05:28 – Aligning with creative people and environments
06:45 – Avoiding fixed-mindset coaching circles
07:42 – How collaboration sparks new ideas
08:47 – Learning from different thinking styles
09:35 – Don’t fear judgment or “bad” ideas
10:03 – Starting with the end goal, not the drill
10:45 – Working backward to design better solutions
11:48 – Why many creative drills miss the real problem
12:30 – Using the constraints-led approach for coach development
13:09 – Practical constraint examples for coaches
13:39 – How natural constraints build adaptability
14:34 – Applying lessons from travel and unfamiliar environments
15:07 – Training coaches the same way we train players
15:53 – Creating just to be creative
16:43 – Coach-to-coach experimentation sessions
17:19 – Exploring safely within trusted environments
17:57 – Avoiding stagnation with long-term athletes
18:24 – Diversifying your mind beyond basketball
19:43 – Learning through conversation and observation
20:24 – Watching basketball through a creative lens
21:11 – Studying different levels and styles of play
22:07 – Learning from other sports and disciplines
23:44 – Blending artistic and scientific thinking
24:46 – Systemizing creativity without killing it
25:55 – Fear of judgment as a creativity killer
26:24 – Owning ideas and building confidence
27:46 – Creating buy-in and embracing feedback
28:24 – Asking others to critique and improve your work
29:18 – Final thoughts on innovation and creative growth

Coaching Resources: https://www.byanymeansbasketball.com
BAM Blueprint Book: https://www.byanymeansbasketball.com/bam-blueprint

If this episode challenged the way you think about creativity as a coach, share it with someone who’s stuck recycling the same drills. For deeper frameworks, applied constraints, and hands-on coach development, explore our full resources and education pathways at By Any Means Basketball and subscribe to the By Any Means Coaches Podcast for more conversations like this

In this episode of the By Any Means Coaches Podcast, we sit down with Rikki Broadmore, head coach at Barking Abbey Academy and one of the most respected youth development coaches in the UK. Rikki breaks down how he designs principles of play around personnel, why efficiency metrics matter more than systems, and how Barking Abbey reverse-engineers the modern game to prepare players for college, professional, and international basketball. The conversation offers a deep look into how winning, development, and long-term athlete preparation can coexist when the process is clear.

The discussion also dives into practice design, decision-making under constraints, defensive layering, and the importance of environment over drills. Rikki shares how limited practice time can still produce elite outcomes through efficiency, terminology, and intentional repetition. Beyond tactics, the episode highlights coaching identity, imposter syndrome, relationship-building, and why caring for players as people is the true needle-mover in long-term success.

Episode Breakdown & Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and background on Rikki Broadmore
03:10 – Developing principles of play based on personnel
06:15 – Trends in European basketball and flow offenses
07:40 – The four key categories Barking Abbey prioritizes
09:45 – Defense driving offense and playing fast
12:10 – Shot selection, ego, and earning freedom
16:00 – Roles, expectations, and allocating minutes
18:00 – Practice design and decision-making development
21:15 – Constraints-led approach in team practice
24:50 – Teaching efficiency with limited practice time
30:00 – Terminology, communication, and coaching efficiency
35:30 – Knowing when to intervene as a coach
39:45 – Relationships as the biggest needle-mover
45:00 – Learning through collaboration and sharing ideas
49:30 – Layering defensive coverages for development
56:45 – Winning vs development and long-term perspective
01:01:30 – Process-driven culture and mindfulness

Website Links:

Coaching Resources: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/resources
BAM Blueprint Book: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/blueprint-book

If you’re a coach looking to improve how you design environments, structure practices, and develop players, make sure to explore our coaching resources and dive into Coleman's new book: The Modern Basketball Blueprint.

For more conversations like this one, subscribe to the By Any Means Coaches Podcast and continue learning alongside coaches who care deeply about the craft and the people they serve.

In this research review episode of the By Any Means Coaches Podcast, the conversation dives deep into the impact of scaled equipment—lower rims, smaller basketballs, and modified environments—on youth basketball development. Through the lens of current research and the constraints-led approach, the episode challenges long-held assumptions about “toughening kids up” with regulation equipment and instead explores how properly scaled tasks can accelerate skill acquisition, improve movement quality, and foster long-term engagement with the game.

Beyond shooting percentages, this episode explores how scaled environments influence biomechanics, perception, psychology, and decision-making. From earlier emergence of adult-like mechanics to increased confidence, creativity, and adaptability, the discussion highlights why many technical “flaws” are actually functional solutions to poorly designed tasks—and how fixing the environment often fixes the movement without excessive coaching cues.

Episode Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and context for the research review
00:26 – Why scaled equipment is worth revisiting through research
01:40 – Overview of studies and research synthesis approach
02:07 – Performance vs development vs psychology
02:42 – Key findings from the research
03:55 – Shooting mechanics, arc, and energy transfer
04:42 – Trunk lean, elbow flare, and acceptable technique ranges
05:54 – Why mechanics improve without technical instruction
06:24 – Psychological benefits: confidence, enjoyment, and volume
07:31 – Motivation, success, and long-term engagement
08:11 – Spacing and offensive behavior in scaled environments
09:02 – Finishing degrees of freedom and creativity
09:42 – Movement exploration with smaller basketballs
11:09 – Early developer bias created by regulation equipment
12:13 – Compensation vs challenge in youth shooting
12:38 – Depth perception and shooting range development
13:46 – Adaptability vs rigid technique
14:17 – Constraints-led approach applied to shooting
15:39 – Why many shooting drills are compensatory fixes
16:26 – Observational learning and imitation
18:05 – Finding the optimal challenge point
19:20 – External focus and freer shooting behavior
20:11 – Rhythm, sequencing, and adaptable skill development
20:37 – Practical coaching implications
21:44 – What to do when scaled equipment isn’t available
22:38 – Playing athletes up or down based on physical maturity
23:14 – Supplementing constraints with cues and observation
24:57 – Sport crossover effects and task design solutions
25:34 – Final takeaways and practical applications

Coaching Resources: https://www.byanymeansbasketball.com
BAM Blueprint Book: https://www.byanymeansbasketball.com/bam-blueprint

If this episode challenged the way you think about youth development: share it with a coach or parent who needs to hear it.

For more research-driven insights and practical coaching tools, subscribe to the By Any Means Coaches Podcast and explore our full library of resources at By Any Means Basketball.

In this episode of the BAM Coaches Podcast, Tyler Clark, Alex Silva and Coleman Ayers host an open group discussion with coaches from the BAM community - diving into real-world challenges, questions, and reflections around some of the most common mistakes made when putting together small sided games and designing practices.

The conversation explores what coaches are currently wrestling with in their own environments—from practice design and communication to confidence, leadership, and navigating uncertainty early in the coaching journey. Rather than presenting a polished lecture, this episode captures the raw thinking process of coaches learning together, sharing experiences, and refining ideas in real time.

This episode highlights the value of community-driven learning, where coaches are encouraged to ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and grow through dialogue rather than answers alone. It’s a reminder that coaching development doesn’t happen in isolation—and that meaningful growth often comes from conversation, not content.

Episode Breakdown & Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & Setting the Discussion
03:40 – Why Group Conversations Matter for Coaches
07:10 – Common Challenges Coaches Are Facing Right Now
12:30 – Feeling Lost Early in the Coaching Journey
18:20 – Developing Confidence Without All the Answers
23:45 – Learning Through Experience vs Information
28:10 – Asking Better Questions as a Coach
33:30 – Communication, Clarity, and Player Buy-In
39:15 – Balancing Structure and Freedom in Practice
44:50 – The Role of Failure in Coach Development
50:30 – Community, Mentorship, and Shared Learning
57:40 – Takeaways for Coaches at Any Level
1:04:30 – Closing Thoughts & Next Steps

3️⃣ Resources, Next Steps & Call to Action

🔗 Explore More with BAM Coaches

🌐 Coaching Resources: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/resources
📚 BAM Blueprint Book: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/blueprint-book

If this episode resonated with where you are as a coach:

• Share it with someone in your coaching circle
• Leave a rating & review to help the community grow
• Subscribe for weekly conversations around coaching, learning, and development

In this episode of the BAM Coaches Podcast, Tyler Clark and Coleman Ayers sit down with Joerik Michiels for a wide-ranging conversation on coaching, entrepreneurship, learning, and personal evolution.

Joerik shares his journey from building one of the first player development academies in Belgium to eventually walking away from multiple businesses in pursuit of freedom, alignment, and life quality. The conversation moves fluidly between gratitude practices, cultural differences in ambition, ego versus confidence in coaching, and what truly defines a great coach at different levels of the game.

From practice design and skill acquisition to consistency, impostor syndrome, and becoming a “chef” rather than a “cook” as a coach, this episode offers deep insights for coaches who want to grow—not just technically, but as humans. It’s a reflective, honest conversation that challenges traditional ideas about success, development, and what it means to truly love the process.

Episode Breakdown & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & Catching Up
05:50 – Starting the Conversation Through Personal Reflection
07:45 – Gratitude as a Daily Practice
10:00 – Walking Away From a Facility After 12 Years
12:45 – Freedom, Entrepreneurship, and Life Quality
14:40 – Cultural Differences: Ambition in Europe vs USA
16:10 – Being a Trailblazer & Dealing With Resistance
18:40 – Ego, Vulnerability, and Building Bridges
22:20 – Intangible Qualities of Great Coaches
24:20 – Transactional vs Transformational Coaching
26:30 – Coaching Youth the Right Way
28:40 – Impostor Syndrome & Consistency Over Time
31:30 – Learning From Others: Cook vs Chef Mentality
35:20 – Imitate, Then Innovate
37:10 – How Coaches Identify What “Works”
40:20 – Science vs Instinct in Coaching
44:45 – Designing Practices That Challenge Players
48:20 – Gold & Silver Topics in Skill Development
55:00 – Confidence, Struggle, and Learning Transfer
59:30 – Making Practice Fun Again
1:02:30 – Final Reflections on Coaching & Growth

🔗 Explore More with BAM Coaches

🌐 Coaching Resources: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/resources
📚 BAM Blueprint Book: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/blueprint-book

If this episode resonated with you:

• Share it with another coach who needs to hear it
• Leave a rating & review to help the show grow
• Subscribe for weekly conversations on coaching, development, and learning

In this episode of the BAM Coaches Podcast, Coleman Ayers walks through a thought experiment: how he would design and run an entire country’s basketball federation if it were built around ecological dynamics, skill acquisition, and long-term athlete development.

Drawing from experiences working in over 35 countries, Coleman explores how culture, environment, and structure shape the way athletes learn the game. The episode covers everything from offseason competition models and facility access to coach education, talent identification, and making basketball culturally relevant for young athletes.

Rather than focusing on tactics or systems, this conversation centers on building better environments—ones that produce adaptable, skilled players while also developing better humans. While the framework is presented at a national level, Coleman emphasizes how coaches and clubs can implement many of these ideas immediately within their own programs.

Episode Breakdown & Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & Framing the Thought Experiment
01:15 – What a Basketball Federation Is (and Why It Matters)
02:11 – Why Centralized Systems Shape Player Development
03:15 – A Club-Based 3x3 Offseason Season
04:12 – Why 3x3 Is an Elite Development Tool
04:49 – Real-World Results from 3v3 & 3x3 Leagues
05:41 – The Power of Role Models in Player Development
06:11 – Connecting Elite Players Back to Youth Systems
07:35 – Integrating U18, U21, and Pro Teams
08:37 – Facility Access & Improving Outdoor Courts
10:40 – Rest, Play, and the Importance of Being a Kid
11:32 – Encouraging Outdoor Pickup Culture
11:57 – Requiring Multi-Sport Participation Until Age 13
14:10 – Cultural Exchange & Playing Outside Your Bubble
16:18 – Humility, Exposure, and Accurate Self-Assessment
17:14 – Rethinking Coaches’ Education
19:37 – Developing Young Coaches & Coaching Pathways
20:30 – Holistic Athlete Development Beyond Basketball
22:32 – Making Basketball Cool Through Media & Storytelling
24:27 – Rethinking Talent Identification
25:37 – Delaying Selection & Avoiding Early Burnout
27:08 – Final Thoughts & Practical Takeaways for Coaches

3️⃣ Resources, Next Steps & Call to Action

🔗 Explore More with BAM Coaches:

🌐 Coaching Resources: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/resources
📚 BAM Blueprint Book: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/blueprint-book

If this episode challenged the way you think about development, culture, or coaching systems:

• ✅ Share it with another coach
• ⭐ Leave a rating & review
• 📲 Subscribe for weekly coaching insights