Trusted By
I've been coaching basketball for over 10 years at the junior level and have gone through the experience of using traditional drills, then small-sided games. I was still struggling to find the secret sauce for how to enable effective transfer of skills and decision-making into games. Transforming Basketball has provided for me and my teams the secret sauce that has made training not only more fun, but more effective.
Peter Andruska
Transforming Basketball has revolutionized my approach to practicing, analyzing, and conceptualizing the game. Its innovative and contemporary ideas are both refreshing and applicable across all skill levels. These concepts not only enhance on-court performance but also influence coaching methods and leadership within our programs. What sets Transforming Basketball apart is its foundation in factual evidence and research. If you aspire to elevate your coaching and leadership beyond the conventional norms, Transforming Basketball is the perfect resource for you.
Jeff Schmidt
Dominoes
- getting the defense out of position (e.g. on the hip or a close-out situation)
- creating a mismatch such as a big on small (turtle) or small on big (mouse) OR
- an outnumbered situation such as a 2 on 1 or 3 on 2.
MIG (Most Important Guy OR Girl)
The lowest defender who is the ‘Most Important Guy/ Girl’ ready to peel switch or trap the box if needed. Verbals = “I’m MIG, I’m MIG.”
Floor is Lava
After a drive and kick or cut, players should sprint out to space, imagining the floor inside the 3PT is like lava.
Two Side
A type of spacing with the corner and 45/ wing filled on the same side of the floor. Look to fill the two side in transition as part of the “two side break” strategy of forming a two side early and skipping to the 45 or corner.
Principles of Play Glossary
What’s Included in This
Dominoes
- getting the defense out of position (e.g. on the hip or a close-out situation)
- creating a mismatch such as a big on small (turtle) or small on big (mouse) OR
- an outnumbered situation such as a 2 on 1 or 3 on 2.
Floor is Lava
After a drive and kick or cut, players should sprint out to space, imagining the floor inside the 3PT is like lava.
MIG (Most Important Guy OR Girl)
The lowest defender who is the ‘Most Important Guy/ Girl’ ready to peel switch or trap the box if needed. Verbals = “I’m MIG, I’m MIG.”
Two Side
A type of spacing with the corner and 45/ wing filled on the same side of the floor. Look to fill the two side in transition as part of the “two side break” strategy of forming a two side early and skipping to the 45 or corner.
Principles of
What’s Included in This
Play Glossary
Shared language
Tired of Not Having a with Your Players?
Tired of Not Having a with Your Players?
Shared language
Teach Concepts Over Plays
Help players understand the “why” behind actions, not just memorize set plays.
Build a conceptual offense
Train players to recognize advantages like mismatches, closeouts, and outnumbered situations (Dominoes).
Improve Spacing and Flow
Use terms like “Floor is Lava” and “Two Side” to build habits that create cleaner offensive spacing.
Enhance Defensive Awareness
Introduce roles like the MIG so players develop better communication and off-ball positioning.
Our Principles of Play Glossary will help you as a coach to...
offensively low price
instant access
Clear, Coach-Friendly Language
Save Time Explaining Repeated Concepts
Focused on Game Transfer
Create a Shared Identity Within Your Team
get to the Principles of Play Glossary for a
Ridiculously low price
instant access
29
$
Lifetime access at a low, one-off price...
discount ends in....
50
SAVE $21
$
get to The Principles of Play Glossary for a
Ridiculously
Offensively Low Price
Instant Access
Low Price
Focused on Game Transfer
Create a Shared Identity Within Your Team
Save Time Explaining Repeated Concepts
Clear, Coach-Friendly Language
Lifetime access at a low, one-off price...
29
$
50
$
discount ends in....
SAVE $21
FULL 14-DAY MONEY BACK guAranteE
FULL 14-DAY MONEY BACK guAranteE
After your purchase, you have 14 days to ensure that the Principles of Play Glossary is valuable to you. If you're not completely satisfied and don’t find value in it, we will provide a full refund — no questions asked!
from successful Coaches
Real Results
from successful Coaches
Real Results
Head Coach of Portland Fire
alex sarama
meet the of the glossary,
author
alex sarama
As featured in
Alex Sarama is the founder of Transforming Basketball and one of the world’s leading coaches in evidence-based teaching. He currently serves as Head Coach of the Portland Fire, where he applies his innovative methods at the highest level of the game.
Alex is also the author of the Amazon bestselling book Transforming Basketball (April 2024) and has delivered clinics in more than 40 countries, working as a coach developer for federations and organizations worldwide. His experience includes roles with the Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA Europe in Madrid, Paris Basketball in the EuroCup, and the Rip City Remix, the Portland Trail Blazers’ G League affiliate.
meet the
of the Glossary,
Head Coach of Portland Fire
alex sarama
Author
alex sarama
As featured in
Alex Sarama is the founder of Transforming Basketball and one of the world’s leading coaches in evidence-based teaching. He currently serves as Head Coach of the Portland Fire, where he applies his innovative methods at the highest level of the game.
Alex is also the author of the Amazon bestselling book Transforming Basketball (April 2024) and has delivered clinics in more than 40 countries, working as a coach developer for federations and organizations worldwide. His experience includes roles with the Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA Europe in Madrid, Paris Basketball in the EuroCup, and the Rip City Remix, the Portland Trail Blazers’ G League affiliate.
Offensively Low Price
get to The Principles of Play Glossary for a
Ridiculously
Instant Access
Low Price
Focused on Game Transfer
Create a Shared Identity Within Your Team
Save Time Explaining Repeated Concepts
Clear, Coach-Friendly Language
Lifetime access at a low, one-off price...
29
$
50
$
discount ends in....
SAVE $21
offensively low price
instant access
Clear, Coach-Friendly Language
Save Time Explaining Repeated Concepts
Game-Transfer Focused
Create a Shared Identity Within Your Team
get to the Principles of Play Glossary for a
Ridiculously low price
instant access
29
$
Lifetime access at a low, one-off price...
discount ends in....
50
SAVE $21
$
FULL 14-DAY
MONEY BACK guAranteE
FULL 14-DAY MONEY BACK guAranteE
After your purchase, you have 14 days to ensure that the U18 Practice Plan Bundles is valuable to you. If you're not completely satisfied and don’t find value in it, we will provide a full refund — no questions asked!
FULL 14-DAY MONEY BACK guAranteE
After your purchase, you have 14 days to ensure that the Principles of Play Glossary is valuable to you. If you're not completely satisfied and don’t find value in it, we will provide a full refund — no questions asked!
Transform Your Team Instantly
Change the game with clear, game-relevant terminology that teaches players how to think, move, and communicate on the court. Build higher IQ, save explanation time, and coach smarter with a shared language that sticks.
with the Principles of Play Glossary
with the Principles of Play Glossary
