Intentional practice design
Who it's for
Youth and academy coaches planning their sessions.
Takeaway
How to design practice with clear intent so every activity connects to how players learn.
Transforming Clinician
Felix Engel
Coach educator & youth development specialist
Germany
Felix Engel is a coach educator and youth development specialist based in Germany. His coaching and coach-development experience includes work at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, and he mentors other coaches on designing intentional, evidence-based learning environments. He was named JBBL Youth Coach of the Year in 2022, received the Matthias Grothe Award in 2024, and holds a BSc in Sports Science from the German Sport University Cologne (DSHS Cologne).
- Practice design
- Differential learning
- Coach education
Experience at a glance
Felix's coaching background
- Coaching & coach development at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- Developed players and coaching staff through a constraints-led, evidence-based approach.
- JBBL Youth Coach of the Year, 2022 · Matthias Grothe Award, 2024
- Recognized for his youth coaching and coach-development work.
- BSc in Sports Science, DSHS Cologne
- Backs his coaching with a sports-science foundation and ongoing coach mentoring.
Felix's work
Coaching conversation· 30 min
Bayer Giants Leverkusen's Secret Weapon: Ecological Dynamics
EP24 — a conversation with Alex Sarama on intentional learning environments, observation, differential learning and coach education.
Watch on YouTubeWhat you can learn
What you can learn with Felix
Movement variability & differential learning
Who it's for
Coaches exploring skill acquisition and movement.
Takeaway
How variability and differential learning can be built into everyday practice.
Observation & player autonomy
Who it's for
Coaches and coach educators.
Takeaway
How to observe players closely and coach in a way that grows their autonomy and problem-solving.
Coaching in practice
Practice design at Leverkusen
Context
In EP24 of The Transforming Basketball Podcast, Felix discusses his coaching and coach-development experience at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen and how he thinks about building intentional learning environments.
Approach
He describes drawing on observation, differential learning and ecological-dynamics ideas to design practice, and how he approaches coach education so staff can apply the same principles.
What coaches can explore
How a youth program can frame practice around intentional learning environments — and what coach educators can take from how Felix describes that work.
Learn with Felix
More from Felix on Transforming Basketball
Official Transforming Basketball videos and podcast episodes featuring Felix.
Podcast episode · 27 min
EP154: Transforming Clinic on the Inner Game of Basketball with Felix Engel
On awareness, learning environments, coach communication, autonomy and helping players discover solutions.
Listen on SpotifyAs a Transforming Clinician, Felix brings his coach-education background to camps and clinics — helping coaches design intentional learning environments and apply differential-learning and ecological-dynamics ideas in their own practices.
Host a camp
Enquire about hosting FelixEnquire about hosting Felix
Bring Felix to your club, academy or federation for a Transforming camp or clinic. Dates and clinician availability are agreed with our team when you enquire.