3 Ways to Maximize the Games-Based Approach in Your Practices
Early in my varsity coaching career, I asked one of my players why he thought our team struggled to finish layups in games. His answer was simple: “Coach, we never practice them like this.”
Yikes. That response was a gut punch.
He was right. We practiced layups in clean, scripted drills. I felt great because we made almost all of them. Unfortunately, that was all done with:
No pressure
No chaos
No defense
On game night, those same layups came with a defender chasing from behind or rotating over from the help side. Our practice reps weren’t preparing them for game reality.
That’s where games-based coaching comes in. Instead of running mindless drills, you put players in competitive, game-like situations that force them to read, decide, and execute under pressure.
Here are 3 ways to get the most out of a games-based approach from 3x State Champ Nate Sanderson, creator of the Game-Based Training System:
3 Keys to Running Effective Game-Based Drills
1. Progress Drills With Appropriate Challenges
Don’t just run one version of a drill. Adjust the level of difficulty so every player is pushed — but not overwhelmed. Using platform drills is a great way to do this.
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Start simple: offense with an advantage (e.g., defender trails from a chair).
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Level up: move to live 1-on-1 matchups.
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Add difficulty: introduce a second defender or restrict space.
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Final stage: make it fully live, simulating the toughest game scenarios.
Use the “Goldilocks” principle. The key is to meet players where they are. If it’s too easy, they don’t grow. Too hard, they shut down. The sweet spot is where they succeed just a little more than they fail.
2. Use Scoring Systems to Drive Competition
One of the easiest ways to make drills feel like games is to keep score. This creates intensity and teaches players to value both offense and defense.
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Reward offense: 2 points for a made shot, +1 for using a jump stop, or +1 for attacking the paint. Incentive whatever you want to see (offensive rebounds, scoring off cuts, etc.).
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Reward defense: 1 point for every stop. Tell a team they win the drill if they take a charge.
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Process points: For younger or struggling players, give points for advancing past a defender or getting into a specific area, even if they don’t score. This allows players to “succeed” even if they don’t score.
By keeping score, you automatically increase engagement. Every rep matters because players want to win.
3. Implement Constraints to Shape Behavior
Constraints are small rule changes that create specific challenges for players. They force players to adapt and develop new skills.
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Disadvantage defenders: Start them in a chair or flat-footed to give offense a head start.
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Reduce space: Shrink the playing area to make it tougher to score.
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Use time limits: e.g., 5 seconds to score forces aggressive, game-speed attacks.
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Restrict options: Limit post players to no dribbles, or require guards to get into the paint before shooting.
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Enhance defense: Give defenders pool noodles, pads, or extra players to simulate longer arms or contact.
The art of coaching with constraints is knowing how to tweak the drill so players must solve new problems — just like in games. The beauty of coaching with constraints is it allows you to address whatever issues your team (or individual players) are having with specificity and intention!
Quality of Practice Reps >Quantity of Practice Reps
If your players look sharp in drills but struggle in games, the solution isn’t “more reps.” It’s better reps.
By progressing drills, adding scoring systems, and using constraints, you create practices that mirror game reality. Players improve their decision-making, toughness, and confidence — not just their technique.
As Coach Nate Sanderson says: “It’s time to train like the game plays.”
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