The Transforming Basketball Podcast EP117: Applying the CLA to Build a Championship Team with Paul Cortes
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Jun 11, 2025 Paul Cortes, a coach known for leading the International School of San Francisco to its first state championship, shares his transformative journey with the Constraints Led Approach (CLA) in basketball. He highlights the significance of player relationships and adapting practice strategies to enhance decision-making. Cortes discusses navigating challenges like shooting slumps and defensive adjustments while emphasizing trust and player autonomy. He also provides resources for coaches seeking to improve their approach, making this an insightful talk for anyone in the basketball community.
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Communicate CLA Early to Players
- Tell players early about using CLA and how it fosters autonomy and creativity.
- Emphasize players as decision-makers rather than robots to motivate and engage them.
Use Small-Sided Games & Constraints
- Use games like 4-on-3 advantage situations regularly to teach offensive and defensive principles.
- Integrate constraints in drills, like shooting with different distances and restrictions on finishing, to promote varied skills.
Progress Offense Teaching Stepwise
- Start offensive teaching with simple two-man triggers like dribble handoffs and ball screens.
- Progress to combo triggers and then off-ball actions like flares to create spacing and involve multiple playmakers.