Back to Coaching

Dedicated to the enduring value of "old school" coaching methods. Discipline, structure, and accountability drive success. Join us in embracing the foundations.

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Welcome to Back to Coaching! Where we honor the timeless principles of traditional coaching. Discipline, structure, and accountability are the pillars of success on and off the court. Join us as we celebrate the art of coaching!

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@mike_kenny3 Studies on “delayed contextualization” in skill learning show that athletes perform better long-term if they practice in a linear sequence first, only adding context once they’re comfortable with basic techniques (Chiviacowsky & Wulf, 2007).

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@mike_kenny3 Cognitive Load Theory (Sweller, 1988) highlights how multitasking between skill execution and decision-making can strain working memory, especially for newer players. Starting with isolated skill drills helps reduce cognitive overload, building competence before adding complexit

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@mike_kenny3 The skill isn’t the decision; it’s the base that supports good decision-making. Separating them builds strong fundamentals. It’s like learning to walk before running—structured drills first, decisions later. Some things in coaching don’t need reinventing.

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@tylercoston Standards don’t follow—they lead. 🔥 Culture is built on actions, discipline, and high expectations that coaches set from day one. Player-led values are valuable, but without structure, they risk being just talk. Real culture requires strong, coach-set standards.

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Without structure, standards slip. Real development happens in environments where expectations are clear, performance is measured, and each player is held accountable to their best.

Let's get back to coaching!

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The Case for Tough Love:

Facing tough feedback and structured practices builds the mental resilience needed in high-stakes competition. It’s not about tearing down—it’s about preparing players for pressure.

Thread...

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Teams that rely on discipline and tough love are more likely to thrive under pressure because they’ve been conditioned to perform and adapt in challenging environments. Handling tough practices and direct critique in training builds confidence for real games.

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Some coaches are too engulfed in positive psychology and gentle approaches. Results over mantras any day! Thanks for reading! What’s your take on positive vs. negative instructions in coaching? Drop your thoughts below 👇 #BasketballCoach #SportsPsychology #CoachingTips

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🧵 Let’s talk about a debate in coaching: Using positive vs. negative instructions. Here’s a thread on why some coaches prefer negative instructions and how behavioral psychology & economics back it up. #Coaching #Basketball

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6. 🧩 Cognitive Load: Sometimes, negative instructions are simpler and reduce decision-making complexity. Clear boundaries like 'don’t let him go right' simplify the defender's task. #SportsScience #Coaching

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Coaches, what are your stance on positive vs negative instruction?

Examples
Position: Force this player left
Negative: Don't let this player go right

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Are you helping your players get better or just facilitating them to accumulate more experience? There's a big difference. Expert Andres Ericsson weighs in here!

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Key insights from #Peak by Anders Ericsson on deliberate practice:
1️⃣ Specific, measurable goals
2️⃣ Immediate, targeted feedback
3️⃣ Focus on tasks just beyond current abilities
4️⃣ Continuous refinement through structured repetition: Mastery isn’t innate—it’s developed.