Tired of players who can run drills perfectly but can’t execute in games? Enter the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA). What is CLA?
CLA is a hands-off teaching method where coaches don’t tell players what to do but instead sets up the drill so players have to “figure it out” on their own. We do this by changing the rules, the space, or the equipment (the "contraints") to force players to make game-like decisions. This method turns every practice rep into a problem-solving challenge, which quickly boosts a player’s Basketball IQ and helps develop adaptable, smart players who can make the right play in games.
CLA vs. Traditional Drills
The big problem with static drills is they teach players what to do with the ball, but never when or why—creating players who can't think under pressure. While drills create perfect technique, they don't force players to perceive the environment or read the defense before they execute. CLA eliminates all that by forcing players to practice what actually happens within a game-like context. Players are constantly practicing both the skill and the decision simultaneously. This ensures the abilities they develop are immediately transferable to the chaos and pressure of real games.
Putting CLA Into Action: Simple Constraint Examples
The beauty of CLA is that you can implement it immediately by manipulating just one rule. Here are three simple examples you can use tomorrow:
1. Forcing the Pass (Task Constraint): Play 3-on-3, but the offense must make a minimum of three passes before they can shoot. This forces players to move, cut, and read pressure, rather than relying on one player to drive and score every time.
2. Developing Weak Hand Finishing (Individual Constraint): When players drive to the right side of the court, they are only allowed to finish with their left hand (and vice-versa). This isolates a specific player weakness and forces them to find a functional solution under defensive pressure.
3. Encouraging Spacing (Environmental Constraint): Play a 4-on-4 drill only on 2/3 the width of the court. This reduced space constraint forces players to quickly find open gaps, make decisive cuts, and work on passing angles under extreme pressure, replicating a crowded paint.
Resources from Dr. Dish Basketball and Coach Tony Miller
The most effective and easy way to use the Constraints-Led Approach is through small-sided games (SSGs), which are drills designed to naturally maximize game-like decisions with just a few players. When you reduce the numbers, you increase the reps, the pressure, and the problem-solving opportunities. To help you integrate CLA into your daily practice right away, I partnered with Dr. Dish to create several resources. You can access dozens of SSG ideas in these three Dr. Dish SSG Drill Books: Small Sided Games Vol. 1, Small Sided Games Vol. 2, Small Sided Games Vol. 3