EP154: Transforming Clinic on the Inner Game of Basketball with Felix Engel

In this episode, George is joined by Felix Engel to explore the inner game of basketball and how awareness, mindset, and learning environments shape player development. Felix shares insights from his experience coaching youth players and working with coaches around the world, explaining why the best coaches focus less on control and more on helping players discover solutions themselves. 

Chapters:

01:00 – Introduction to Felix and his coaching background

02:00 – What the “inner game” of basketball means for coaches and players

04:00 – Why awareness is a key driver of player development

06:00 – Moving from instruction-based coaching to discovery-based learning

08:00 – Helping players solve problems instead of giving them answers

10:00 – Building trust and autonomy in young athletes

12:00 – The coach’s role in shaping effective learning environments

14:00 – Balancing structure with player freedom in practice

16:00 – Encouraging decision-making through game-like situations

18:00 – Differences between coaching youth and more experienced players

20:00 – Practical ways to apply inner-game principles in everyday practice

22:00 – Creating practices that encourage curiosity and experimentation

25:00 – Long-term player development vs short-term performance

27:00 – Transformative tip

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