As we’ve gone through this series on games-based coaching, it got me wondering about exactly when I made the switch to that coaching style.

With that in mind, I recently started sifting through my 20 years of practice plans (you do save your practice plans, right??).

I realized that I made the switch to games-based coaching in 2013. That was 3 years into my head coaching career.

As I thought about my 16 years career as a varsity basketball coach, I realized there was a clear before & after that corresponded with that date.

That transformation was captured in these 3 changes:

• Players enjoyed practice more - players come to practice to PLAY basketball. Using games-based coaching made my practices more fun. Players wanted to be there.

• We were able to shorten our practices - because almost everything was a competitive game, we were working on offense & defense simultaneously. No longer did we work on various parts of the game in isolation. This allowed us to be more efficient with our time.

  (An ancillary benefit was that even with shorter practices, our players were in better shape, as they were constantly playing).

• We won more - in the 3 prior to 2013, I won about 48% of my games. In the 12 seasons after 2014, it was 73%. Why? 2 primary reasons

  • Games-based coaching leads to better game transfer for players. The stuff we did in practice started carrying over to games.

  • Games-based coaching made me a better coach. Every day I was getting reps coaching in game situations. Those extra reps made me better come game night.

That was my experience. But the benefits don’t stop there.

Here are 7 other benefits of The Game Based Training System With Nate Sanderson:

7 Benefits of the Games-Based Approach in Basketball Coaching

1. More Intensity and Effort

• When practice mimics the game, players compete harder.

• Adding defense and competition naturally raises effort levels.

• Players push themselves because they want to “win” every rep. There is no substitute for competition.

2. Smarter Decision-Making

• Basketball isn’t just technique — it’s perception and action. In other words, it’s not just about knowing how to do something. It’s also about knowing when and why to do something.

• In games, every shot, pass, and drive is a decision based on defense.

• The games-based approach forces players to recognize situations and make better choices on the fly. Players become better at this through the countless reps this approach provides.

3. Faster Skill Development

• Players learn faster when challenged in live situations - “the game is the best teacher.”

• Instead of perfecting moves in isolation, they practice adapting those moves against pressure. That shows them what REALLY works & what doesn’t.

• Mistakes become feedback. Success sticks because it happens under real conditions.

4. Higher Player Engagement

• You avoid the 3 L’s - laps, lines, & lectures!

• Everyone plays. Everyone is involved.

• Small-sided games keep players active, competitive, and locked in.

5. Better Transfer to Games

• Traditional drills often break down on game night because they lack context. Players don’t know how to apply technique in competition.

• Game-based drills replicate what players actually see on the court.

• Skills developed in practice transfer directly to real competition.

6. Builds Creativity and Problem-Solving

• Random, unscripted situations force players to figure things out. They become adaptable & unfazed by changing situations.

• Players become more independent — they don’t need a coach to tell them every move. Contrary to what some seem to think, this is a sign of great coaching - when they DON’T need you.

• In tight games, that ability to solve problems under pressure is the difference-maker.

7. Prepares All Levels of Players

• Varsity athletes might play 2-on-1 plus 1 to create tougher reads.

• JV or youth players might start with simpler 2-on-1 or 1-on-1 drills. Youth players might play against a defender holding a ball or who can’t jump.

• You can scale difficulty to fit every player, every age, every gym.

The Chaos of Competition Is the Best Classroom

If your players are sharp in drills but struggle in games, it’s not effort — it’s environment.

By using a games-based approach, you create practices that mirror the chaos of competition. Players build confidence, sharpen their decision-making, and play with more intensity.

Who wouldn’t want to coach in a way that does that. So what are you waiting for? Get going with The Game Based Training System With Nate Sanderson today!

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