The By Any Means Coaches Podcast Justin Cooper (@j.coophoops) on a Holistic Approach to Player Development, In-Season vs Off-Season Training, The Importance of Environment & More!
In this episode, we sit down player development coach Justin Cooper to unpack what player development really means, beyond drills and workouts. Justin shares his holistic philosophy of meeting each athlete where they are, empowering them to take ownership of their growth, and blending live, constraint-based training with intentional technical work. From youth athletes to pros, he walks us through how he builds individualized plans rooted in reality, context, and honest conversation.
We also dive deep into the contrast between in-season and off-season training, the emotional side of development, and how to align with head coaches while working in the private sector. Justin explains why “living in reality” is the foundation of in-season success, why micro-workouts are underrated, and why going live is essential for real growth. Whether you’re a trainer, team coach, or serious player, this episode is packed with actionable insight on how to structure workouts, build buy-in, and create environments that truly translate to game performance.
Timestamps
00:00 Weather talk, travel stories, and the infamous “free throw game”
08:40 Introduction to Justin Cooper and his player development background
09:29 What player development really means: meeting the athlete where they are
11:47 Blending training styles: live play, constraints, and skill work
13:47 In-season philosophy: living in reality and maximizing current role
15:25 Aligning with head coaches and speaking the same language
16:20 The importance of micro-workouts during the season
18:57 Player ownership and identity shifts
22:06 Managing emotions and controlling what you can control
24:15 Off-season approach: vision, planning, and building buy-in
26:40 Measuring progress without waiting for game results
29:12 Ideal off-season ratios: live vs. on-air work
31:39 Creating live environments with pros and managing risk
33:25 Coaching the defense and structuring live reps
35:15 The evolution of live training and player buy-in
36:54 Recreating game environments with limited resources
39:00 Teaching reads through guided defense and feel-based coaching
Coaching Resources: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/
BAM Blueprint Book: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/blueprint-book
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