The By Any Means Coaches Podcast
The By Any Means Coaches Podcast: Exploring the Science, Art, and Culture of Modern Coaching.
The BAM Coaches Podcast takes coaches inside the evolution of player development. Grounded in modern skill acquisition science and Constraints-Led Approach but guided by balance and context. Hosts Coleman Ayers, Tyler Clark, and Alex Silva dive into how athletes truly learn - across cultures, systems, and environments. Each episode unpacks the intersection between science, experience, and intuition, equipping coaches to build players who think, adapt, and thrive anywhere in the world.
The By Any Means Coaches Podcast
3 Things Coaches Say That Hurt Players
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In this solo episode of the podcast, Coleman Ayers breaks down three extremely common things coaches say that often work against the outcomes they’re trying to create. While phrases like “move the ball,” “snap your wrist,” or “you’ve got to want it more” are well-intentioned and widely used at every level of basketball, Coleman explains how these cues can actually limit learning, decision-making, and performance when used without context.
Using insights from coaching experience, motor learning research, and player development, the episode explores how coaches can communicate more effectively. Coleman discusses why ball movement is actually a byproduct of advantage creation, why internal mechanical cues can disrupt skill execution, and why intensity is better shaped through environment and competition than motivational speeches. The conversation ultimately highlights a larger coaching principle: the words coaches choose matter, and thoughtful communication can dramatically improve how players learn and perform.
00:00 – Introduction and overview of three common coaching phrases that can unintentionally hinder player development
01:30 – Why “move the ball” is often a directionless cue and why ball movement is actually a byproduct of creating and maintaining advantages
03:30 – Teaching players to create advantages with the pass and understanding the real purpose of ball movement
05:10 – Why players sometimes don’t move the ball: misunderstanding the concept rather than selfishness
05:50 – The problem with internal cues like “snap your wrist” or “bend your knees” during shooting
06:20 – Research on internal vs. external focus and why internal cues create rigid, less accurate movement
07:50 – Why complex movements like jump shots cannot be consciously controlled joint by joint
08:40 – Alternative coaching cues: external focus (ball flight, backspin, target) and why they improve performance
10:45 – Feel-based cues that help players self-organize movement and improve shooting fluidity
11:55 – The third coaching phrase: telling players they need to “want it more” or “go harder”
12:30 – Why motivational cues only work in rare situations and often fail to address the real issue
13:10 – Understanding players’ motivations, backgrounds, and individual triggers
14:20 – Why long motivational speeches usually lose players’ attention
15:10 – The key idea: environment and game design create intensity better than words
16:00 – Using competition, small-sided games, and constraints to naturally increase effort
17:00 – Balancing fun and seriousness to maintain engagement and effort
17:50 – Final thoughts on intentional communication and coaching language
Coaching Resources
Website: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/
BAM Book: https://byanymeanscoaches.com/blueprint-book
If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe to the podcast and share it with another coach who is constantly looking to improve their communication and player development strategies. Small changes in how we coach can create big changes in how athletes learn and perform.
