Engaging youth practices
Who it's for
Coaches of young and beginner players.
Takeaway
How to keep youth practice fun and active while still developing real skill.
Transforming Clinician
George Vaz
Coach educator & host of The Transforming Basketball Podcast
Goiânia, Brazil
George Vaz is a basketball coach consultant and the host of The Transforming Basketball Podcast. Based in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil, he works with coaches, players and organizations — and as podcast host he explores the ideas behind modern, evidence-informed coaching with guests from across the game.
- Youth practice design
- Representative learning
- Conceptual offense
Experience at a glance
George's coaching background
- Basketball coach consultant
- Works with coaches, players and organizations on modern player development.
- Host of The Transforming Basketball Podcast
- Leads the conversations on the official Transforming Basketball show.
- Based in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
- Coaches and consults from Brazil, working with groups internationally.
George's work
Youth practice· 10:24
What YOUTH PRACTICES Really Need to Look Like — U11 Dribbling Activities with George Vaz
George leads a U11 practice built around engaging, game-relevant dribbling activities.
Watch on YouTubeWhat you can learn
What you can learn with George
Representative learning design
Who it's for
Coaches designing practice that transfers to games.
Takeaway
How to design activities that represent real game demands so learning transfers to play.
Introducing conceptual offense
Who it's for
Coaches moving a team toward a conceptual, principles-based offense.
Takeaway
How to introduce conceptual offense, work through the messy phase and earn buy-in.
Coaching in practice
Leading a U11 dribbling practice
Context
In this Transforming Basketball video, George leads a U11 practice built around dribbling activities designed for young players.
Approach
He uses playful, representative activities that keep young players engaged while still challenging real ball-handling and decision-making.
What coaches can explore
How to design youth dribbling practice that stays fun and game-relevant, and how activity design shapes what young players actually work on.
Learn with George
More from George on Transforming Basketball
Official Transforming Basketball videos and podcast episodes featuring George.
Podcast episode · 15 min
EP136: Traditional vs CLA Drills
George explains representative practice design and coaching to the demands of the game.
Listen on SpotifyPodcast episode · 13 min
EP158: Transforming Team Offense — Implementing the CLA and Conceptual Offense
George on transitioning to conceptual offense, the messy phase and stakeholder buy-in.
Listen on SpotifyAs a Transforming Clinician and the podcast's host, George brings youth-practice design and conceptual-offense ideas to camps and clinics, and helps coaches connect the show's conversations to what they run on court.
Articles by George
Showing 55–63 of 68 articles
Skill acquisition
Skill Acquisition in Basketball: The Science Behind Coaching
This blog explores the principles of skill acquisition research and how they apply to basketball, with a particular emphasis on using the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA).
Jun 2, 20253 min read
Player development
Coaching Mental Skills in Basketball: Developing Resiliency
As a coach, how can you develop skills such as resiliency within your players when the game or practice is not going their way?
May 26, 20252 min read
Team defense
How to Improve Basketball Transition Defense
If you’re wondering how to improve transition defense, it starts with what you do on offense.
May 19, 20253 min read
Skill acquisition
What is the Concept of “Playing with Advantage” in Basketball?
How your team consistently creates advantages depends on your player’s unique strengths and weaknesses, as well as what may be most effective based on the tendencies of other teams in your league.
May 12, 20253 min read
Team offense
What Does “Pace and Space” Mean Within a Conceptual Offense?
What does pace and space even mean? In this blog, we unpack the modern offensive concepts that every coach needs to know.
May 5, 20252 min read
Team offense
How to Master The Short Roll in Your Basketball Offense
How can you effectively use the short roll as a coverage solution against an aggressive defensive coverage? In the modern era of pace and space, the pick and roll is the most used trigger to create advantages on offense.
Apr 28, 20253 min read
Team defense
The Complete Guide for Coaching Force Weak Defense
On-ball defense is one of the most debated aspects of basketball coaching. Should players force the ball to the sideline, middle, or weak hand?
Apr 21, 20253 min read
Team offense
Principles Over Rules: Unlocking Creativity in Transition Offense
Mastering transition offense is about more than rigid rules—it's about empowering players with principles that allow them to create efficient scoring opportunities.
Apr 14, 20254 min read
Team offense
Coaching the Fast Break: Key Transition Offense Principles
Whether you’re coaching in the NBA, EuroLeague, or youth basketball, one thing remains universally true: the worst transition offense is still more efficient than the best half-court offense.
Apr 7, 20253 min read
Host a camp
Inquire about hosting GeorgeInquire about hosting George
Bring George to your club, academy or federation for a Transforming camp or clinic. Dates and clinician availability are agreed with our team when you inquire.