The Transforming Basketball Podcast EP155: Warm-up Design with German Pro League Coach Domenik Theodorou
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Mar 18, 2026 Dominik Teodoro, performance coach for Rasta Vechta who specializes in warm-up design and movement variability. He talks about turning boring routines into playful, skill-building games. Short, progressive tasks that spark quick thinking, boost engagement, and manage injury risk come up a lot. Practical warmup games, timeboxing, and using novelty and autonomy to keep players alert are highlighted.
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Bored Warmups Became Games That Built Speed
- Dominik was bored of rote sideline warmups and replaced them with small games to re-engage players.
- After adding a simple toss-and-layup task players built speed naturally because they focused on the task, not the warmup.
Warmups Should Be Problems To Solve
- Learning is repeating the process of finding a solution rather than repeating a solution, so warmups should present problems to solve.
- Dominik's 'lightbulb' basketball toss task made players focus on the problem and therefore improve acceleration indirectly.
Use A Five Point Warmup Checklist
- Follow a concise warmup checklist: raise tissue temperature, prep mobility, prime the CNS, rehearse sport movements, and make the warmup representative of basketball.
- Keep the gap between warmup end and first drill small for a smooth transition.