About
Brian McCormick founded Playmakers Basketball Development League in 2009 after the positive feedback that he received for his books Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development (2006) and Developing Basketball Intelligence (2008).
McCormick has coached CYO, AAU, high school, junior college, college, and professional basketball and created the PBDL curriculum to bridge the gap between the more common technical practice (shooting, ball handling) and the typical team strategy practices (set plays, out of bounds plays, press breaks).
The PBDL uses the idea of random training as opposed to the more prevalent block practice to teach the important tactical skills that form the foundation of any offensive system. Whereas block practice leads to immediate performance improvements, random training promotes long term retention and transferability of skills from setting to setting. The PBDL is not just a season-long league, but preparation for the players’ next season, league, or program.
Playmakers: The Player’s Guide to Developing Basketball Intelligence reinforces the lessons taught through the PBDL and provides a resource for players to use as they move to their next team, coach, or league.
A six-week league is not enough time to teach, train and master every skill and concept. The PBDL goal is to introduce the concepts and train the skills to help players in the developmental process and to provide a learning-oriented environment for youth basketball players that bridges the gap between fun-oriented recreation leagues and more competitive club or school teams.