Fake Fundamentals

Fake Fundamentals dares to ask why. Why do coaches teach the same defensive closeout today as was taught before the adoption of the three-point line when roughly 40% of NBA field goal attempts are from behind the arc? Why do parents, coaches, and trainers view individual practice as important and fundamental, but small-sided games as just play, when the game is played with teammates against opponents? Why do instructions and drills persist through generations with little to no supporting evidence other than anecdotes from a famous coach or influencer? This is not a book of drills or instructions. Fake Fundamentals challenges your preconceived ideas. Coaches hang on to the drills and instructions of their playing days. The nostalgia is cloaked in concerns about fundamentals, mistakes, and the right way to teach and play the game. The game evolves. Why not the common coaching instructions and drills? I visit practices today that are exact facsimiles of my practices when I played in the 90s. We were not allowed to shoot three-pointers freely. We never used on-ball screens. Why are practices the same 30 years later? This book (and series) is not for everyone, but for open-minded coaches looking to have their beliefs challenged to discover the best approach to developing players, skills, and teams.