How to Add Practice Variability To Build Smarter, More Adaptable Players

Variability gives players repeated opportunities to solve a basketball problem under changing conditions. A different starting angle, defender or passing distance can require the player to adapt the action while keeping the same intention.

• Perception-action coupling: The player’s movement changes the information available for the next action. Preserve the defender, teammate or target that matters to the problem instead of varying a movement without its game context.
• Adaptability Through Exploration: You’ve heard the phrase “Every game is different”. Well, every single possession is different, too. Adding variability helps players explore the different affordances (opportunities for action) that are available to them.
• Contextual Interference: This is an old information-processing term that is still relevant within a contemporary approach. Essentially, by practicing in diverse conditions it helps players become more skilful as they learn to solve movement problems in different ways.
• Developing Resiliency Under Pressure: Building skilful, adaptable players starts by putting them in unpredictable situations in practice. If players have never trained within the storm, how can you expect them to succeed in the real thing?

Practical Ways to Add Variability

Some easy methods to incorporate variability include:

• Changing start positions in activities
• Altering player spacing each repetition
• Introducing time or scoring constraints

These adjustments ensure players regularly face new problems to solve, accelerating their ability to adapt in real-time.

Variability Equals Better Problem-Solvers

At the end of the day, more variability enhances the ability of your players to solve problems. And problem-solving is the very essence of the game. Players who frequently encounter novel situations in practice develop better perception-action couplings, allowing them to read the game more effectively in real-time.

Look at how different all these possessions are. Will the players be able to better adapt to these same or similar problems in the game if they have seen them prior at practice?