EP24: Bayer Giants Leverkusen's Secret Weapon: Ecological Dynamics with Felix Engel

In this episode, Alex Sarama is joined by Felix Engel to discuss his experience with ecological dynamics and the CLA (Constraints-Led Approach) in coaching. He shares how he first came across the CLA and wanted to find a more effective way to train his team. Felix emphasizes the importance of creating intentional learning environments and being observant as a coach to make necessary changes. He and Alex delve into the benefits of differential learning and how the CLA has been used at the professional level. They close by discussing changing coach education to an interactive process and the utility of using questions as a coach.  Learn about player development with our FREE activities book. Inside, you'll find 50 activity diagrams for your workouts and team practices: https://transformingbball.com/small-sided-games-book Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/  Key Takeaways: 3:10 - The CLA isn't free play; its intentional manipulation of constraints 11:16 - Differential learning can complement the CLA by infusing variability in closed environments allowing players to explore there movement landscapes 17:46 - An effective coach is someone who can transfer the intentions of how the team wants to play from practice to the game 19:15 - The CLA can be successfully implemented in professional sports teams 25:30 - Felix's experience at the transforming interactive coaching clinic People Mentioned: Wolfgang Schollhorn https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wolfgang-Schoellhorn Thomas Tuchel https://fcbayern.com/en/teams/first-team/coaches-and-staff/thomas-tuchel   Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball