The Hours

🏀 TRY SAVI BASKETBALL FREE FOR 7 DAYS Get access to our full course library, weekly live coaching calls, and a community of coaches working through the same questions. https://www.skool.com/savi-coach We pulled up Iowa State vs. Houston on Synergy and broke it down live — no prep, no pre-watch, just two coaches watching film and calling what they see. What came out of it goes deeper than any one game. We found a clear pattern that shows up at every level: teams spend most of their practice time running actions. But winning games requires something different - the ability to recognize and punish advantage once you have it. There's a gap between those two things, and most coaches aren't training it. In this episode we break down ball screen coverages, transition offense, constrained games, lock left principles, inbound sets, and what separates a SAVI coach from a reactive one. If you coach at any level and want to think more clearly about how you watch film and design practice, this one is for you. 🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of The Hours. 🏀 TRY SAVI BASKETBALL FREE FOR 7 DAYS Get access to our full course library, weekly live coaching calls, and a community of coaches working through the same questions. https://www.skool.com/savi-coach 📩 JOIN THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Coaching notes, practice tools, and episode breakdowns delivered to your inbox every week. https://savi.beehiiv.com/ 📱 Follow us on Instagram: @SAVI_coaching Reid Ouse: Catalyst Basketball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachouse X: https://x.com/reidouse YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Wsd8qI0nAv53L6Lv3q6tw CHAPTERS: 0:00 – Cold Open: Coaching From Aggression 1:39 – Welcome to The Hours + What We're Doing Today 4:10 – The SAVI Lens: How to Watch Film Like a Coach 5:29 – Live Film Breakdown Begins: Off-Ball Defense and the Stunt and Hunt 8:13 – The Most Important Question: Did the Action Create Advantage? 15:15 – How to Use Constrained Games to Train Defensive Scenarios 23:23 – Ball Screen Coverage Hierarchy: Blitz, Switch, and Drop 27:47 – Play Fast Without the Ball, Play Slow With the Ball 29:22 – Transition Offense: Why Neither Team Is Cracking the Shell 36:43 – Inbound Sets: 1-4 Flat, Flare Screens, and Scoring Off the First Pass 42:18 – Three Takeaways from the Film: Pace, Dominoes, and Coaching With Aggression 45:18 – Actions vs. Advantage: What These Teams Did Well and Where the Gap Is Stay SAVI! Subscribe for more weekly coaching insights, practical tools, and drills that translate to wins. https://savi.beehiiv.com/ The Hours is a podcast for basketball coaches at all levels who want to think, teach, and lead better. Hosted by Mark Cascio and Tyler Coston of SAVI Basketball, each episode goes deep on the things that actually move the needle - practice design, offensive and defensive concepts, player development, culture, and the craft of coaching. #BasketballCoaching #LateSeasonBasketball #OffensiveBasketball #BallScreens #CoachingTips #BasketballStrategy #HighSchoolBasketball #CollegeBasketball #SAVIBasketball #PracticeDesign

SAVI Basketball Membership 7-day free trial: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach Late in the season, most coaches try to fix too many things at once. In this episode, Mark and Tyler break down a simpler, higher-leverage approach: identify your best action, identify the coverage hurting you most, and decide — do you prevent it or punish it? You'll also learn why coaches revert to the same tools under pressure, how to build offensive vocabulary that actually transfers to games, and how the Hedgehog vs. Fox framework can sharpen your late-season game planning. Whether you're a high school, youth, or college coach, these are ideas you can take into practice this week. 🏀 TRY SAVI BASKETBALL FREE FOR 7 DAYS Get access to our full course library, weekly live coaching calls, and a community of coaches working through the same questions. https://www.skool.com/savi-coach 📩 JOIN THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Coaching notes, practice tools, and episode breakdowns delivered to your inbox every week. https://savi.beehiiv.com/ 📱 Follow us on Instagram: @SAVI_coaching CHAPTERS: 0:00 – Introduction & What It Means to Peak at the Right Time 2:44 – Fox vs. Hedgehog: How to Narrow Your Late-Season Focus 5:16 – Why Coaches and Players Revert Under Pressure 6:32 – The Three-Step Framework for Hunting Advantages 14:27 – In-Game Adjustments: Observe and Remind vs. Pre-Scripting 16:20 – How to Prevent a Coverage: Ram Screens and Angle Flips 19:28 – Isolation vs. Action: What to Run When You Have to Score 21:11 – Player Type Matters: What LeBron's Late-Game Struggles Teach Us 33:33 – The Fox Mindset: Why the Best Coaches Are Curious About Everything 41:20 – Wrap-Up: Pick One Thing and Go All In Stay SAVI! Subscribe for more weekly coaching insights, practical tools, and drills that translate to wins. https://savi.beehiiv.com/ #BasketballCoaching #LateSeasonBasketball #OffensiveBasketball #BallScreens #CoachingTips #BasketballStrategy #HighSchoolBasketball #CollegeBasketball #SAVIBasketball #PracticeDesign

SAVI Basketball Membership 7-day free trial: https://www.skool.com/savi-coachWhoever has the highest standards in your program should be leading it. If that's not you, that's a problem—and your biggest opportunity for growth.In this episode, Mark and Tyler break down why standards matter more than schemes at the end of the season, how to identify who's really holding the line on your team, and why you should focus on the middle 80% instead of the bottom 10%. Plus: the Water Test, a story that will change how you think about commitment.This isn't about being tougher. It's about being clearer.🏀 Try SAVI Basketball Free (7-Day Trial): https://www.skool.com/savi-coach📧 Get Weekly Coaching Notes in Your Inbox: https://savi.beehiiv.com/ 📚 Dick DiVenzio's Books:Stuff Good Players Should Know https://a.co/d/0i7H7UNa Smart Moves https://a.co/d/0ec1lijq Runnin the Show https://a.co/d/08y9Y7Jz 📱 Follow us on Instagram: @SAVI_coachingCHAPTERS:0:00 – Intro: What's Your Highest Leverage Thing Right Now?0:54 – Standards at the End of the Season3:08 – Who Has the Highest Standards in Your Program?5:30 – The 10/80/10 Rule: Where to Focus Your Energy7:47 – Cut Bad Teammates, Not Bad Players11:27 – The Pain of Not Changing Has to Be Greater13:00 – The Water Test: Do You Want It as Much as You Want to Breathe?17:25 – The Water Glass Effect: Stop Holding Dead Weight18:01 – Spacing Is the Highest Leverage Move You Can Make19:17 – Share This Episode, Grow the GameStay SAVI! Subscribe for more weekly coaching insights, practical tools, and drills that translate to wins. https://savi.beehiiv.com/#BasketballCoaching #PracticePlanning #BasketballDrills #YouthBasketball #HighSchoolBasketball #CoachingTips #BasketballTraining

Stop overcomplicating your practices. In this episode, we break down a "Four Quarter" basketball practice plan designed to eliminate distractions and build game-ready toughness, pressure defense, and high-volume shooting.Ready to simplify your coaching? Get instant access to our SAVI Basketball Membership with a 7-day free trial. Unlock our full classroom of courses, weekly live coaching calls, and exclusive community support here: https://www.skool.com/savi-coachMost coaches try to fix too many things at once and leave the gym wondering if they actually got better. We discuss how to use "the process of elimination" to prioritize what your team needs right now, whether it’s disruptive full-court pressure or hitting a 200-shot daily goal.In this video, you’ll learn:How to structure a 4-Quarter Practice Plan to maximize game-like transfer.The difference between Pre-Practice (building habits) and Prime (high-level teaching).Specific small-sided games like 3-on-4 Keep Away and Streak Shooting to build mental toughness.Why a "neat and tidy" practice plan is often less effective than one that addresses immediate team needs.Chapters: 0:00 - The secret to a good practice plan 1:09 - Improving practice through the process of elimination 2:01 - Challenge: Practice WITHOUT offense, rebounding, or layups 3:42 - How to get every player 200 shots per practice 5:52 - Elements of the 4-Quarter Practice Plan 8:06 - Pre-Practice: Tune shooting and defensive stance vitamins 10:05 - Prime: Teaching the trap and recovery 13:00 - Priming toughness: The Tough One-on-One drill 14:32 - Quarter 1: 3-on-4 Keep Away game 15:39 - Quarter 2: 4-on-4 Passing out of a trap 16:50 - Quarter 3: 5-on-5 "And One" (Press & Press Break) 17:31 - Quarter 4: Streak Shooting and Crack Back/Skip Backs 19:57 - Final thoughts: Coach the team you have, not the one you saw at a clinicStay SAVI! Subscribe for more weekly coaching insights, practical tools, and drills that translate to wins. https://savi.beehiiv.com/SAVI Shooting Tune Up Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTqP8AYSjLg&list=PLzZDMmtdN3QO2_JQLRHcXtUUu2dsBxdVl Youth Shooting: https://youtu.be/8R219feDhGk?si=EE-sAe_KKHt0W1kw #BasketballCoaching #PracticePlanning #BasketballDrills #YouthBasketball #HighSchoolBasketball #CoachingTips #BasketballTraining

Why do players struggle to execute in games what they can do in practice? The answer isn't more reps, it's understanding the difference between recognition, decision-making, and execution.📧 Get weekly coaching insights in our newsletter:: https://savi.beehiiv.com/Tyler sits down with Kyle Koszuta, a former Division I basketball player turned professional pickleball athlete, to break down what he's learned about skill development by going from never playing pickleball to pro in 15 months. Kyle shares the three-step framework (recognize, decide, execute) that's transforming how he trains, and how it applies directly to basketball coaching. You'll learn why most players think their problem is execution when it's actually recognition, how to coach aggressive mistakes vs. bad mistakes, and why your press break fails even though you've practiced it 100 times.Try SAVI Basketball Membership (7-Day Free Trial): https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/aboutWatch WNBA legend Debbie Black Breakdown How to be a Lockdown Defender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CQE3Wb930c Kyle's YouTube Channel (That Pickleball Guy): https://youtube.com/@thatpickleballguySLAM IT Hydration (Use Code: KYLE10): https://slamit.com/ CHAPTERS:0:00 - Introduction: From Basketball to Pro Pickleball2:34 - Getting on the Right Bus: Coach K's Story7:10 - Why Kyle Left Basketball Coaching11:02 - The Decision to Go Pro in Pickleball18:14 - What Pickleball Taught Me About Coaching23:27 - Coach Players Into Aggressive Mistakes25:17 - The Timeout Trap: Adjustments Players Can't Execute29:01 - The Three-Step Framework: Recognize, Decide, Execute36:00 - "Don't Gamble" vs. "Make Better Decisions"42:11 - Why Pressure Compounds Over Time45:48 - Closing Thoughts#basketballcoaching #coachingbasketball #basketballpractice #playerdevelopment #pickleballtraining #youthbasketball #highschoolbasketball

In this episode of The Hours, Tyler and Mark break down one of the most powerful yet underutilized coaching tools. The best coaches don't just demonstrate perfect execution—they show corrections in real-time, create contrast between wrong and right, and let their athletes see the learning process unfold. This builds buy-in, accelerates learning, and creates a culture where mistakes become opportunities.Chapters0:00 - Introduction & The Trap Young Coaches Fall Into 0:53 - Welcome to The Hours 2:14 - Show Improvement, Not Perfection 3:53 - Check for Understanding & Give Redos 4:54 - Staff Development Through Showing 9:32 - Show Don't Tell in Film Sessions 11:33 - Applying Show Don't Tell to Scouting 13:04 - Teaching Culture: The 1-2-3 Game 14:16 - Modeling vs. Telling 16:48 - The Scorebook Story 17:29 - Action Challenge: Plan Your DemosReady to level up your coaching? Join the SAVI Basketball Membership for weekly live coaching calls, exclusive courses, and a community of coaches committed to getting better. Try it free for 7 days: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/about📧 Get weekly coaching insights in our newsletter: https://savi.beehiiv.com/🎙️ This is The Hours - deep conversations on the things that actually matter in coaching.

Your filter into practice might be killing your gym before you even blow the whistle.Most coaches walk in scanning for mistakes. That means your players feel like they're failing before they even start. In this episode, we break down the 6-to-1 encouragement ratio—why it matters, how to implement it, and what changes when you commit to looking for the good first.This isn't about being soft. It's about being smart with how you coach.Join the Art of Coaching Challenge (Free): https://www.skool.com/toccoach/aboutSAVI Basketball Newsletter: https://savi.beehiiv.com/Try SAVI Basketball Membership (7-Day Free Trial): https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/aboutABOUT THE HOURS:The Hours is a podcast for basketball coaches at all levels. Each week, Mark Cascio and Tyler Coston sit down for real conversations about how to be a better coach, teacher, and leader.If you're a youth coach just starting out or a pro coach looking to win at the margins, this is where we spend more time on what actually matters.CONNECT WITH US:Newsletter: https://savi.beehiiv.com/Instagram: @SAVI_coachingMembership: 7-day free trial available: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/about#basketballcoaching #coachingbasketball #basketballpractice #youthbasketball #coachingphilosophy

Coaches talk too much. Players learn too little. This episode fixes that.In this episode of The Hours, Mark Cassio and Tyler Coston break down one of the most powerful (and misunderstood) teaching tools in coaching: The Plus One Principle.If you’ve ever:Overloaded your players with feedbackWatched practice look good but games fall apartFelt like you’re “teaching” but players aren’t improvingThis conversation is for you.The Plus One Principle is simple: 👉 Teach one thing 👉 Let players apply it 👉 Then — and only then — plus oneWe unpack:Why most coaches try to build the entire house at onceThe three most common teaching mistakes coaches makeHow simplicity actually speeds up learningHow to use Plus One in practice, player development, film, and shootingWhy “intangibles” are not soft — they’re trainable skillsThis isn’t about running better drills. It’s about becoming a better teacher of the game.Our mission is clear: We’re here to push back against traditional, toxic coaching and help coaches create environments where players actually learn.If you’re a youth coach, high school coach, college coach, or pro — this applies to you.🔗 Want more support?Join our SAVI Basketball Membership (7-day free trial)Subscribe for weekly conversations that make you a better coach. Stay curious. Stay simple. Stay SAVI.

Welcome to The Hours podcast by SAVI Basketball! In this episode, Tyler and Mark dive deep into the 10 Levels of Coaching, a framework designed to help you identify exactly where you are in your career and what you need to do to reach the next stage. Whether you are just starting out or leading a championship program, understanding these levels will help you decide where you can become the best coach possible. If you’ve ever felt like you were just "reacting" to problems rather than building a program with intent, this episode is your roadmap to leveling up. 🏆 Join TOC Coach for FREE: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about 🏀 Join SAVI Basketball with a 7-Day Free Trial: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/aboutKey Points & Timestamps[0:00] Intro & Backgrounds: Meet Tyler and Mark, the consultants behind Savvy Basketball.[1:13] The Assistant vs. Head Coach Debate: Why humbling yourself to be an assistant early in your career can lead to reaching higher peaks later.[7:10] Stage 0: The Grasping Coach: Characterized by lack of systems and reacting to problems as they break.[9:00] Stage 1: The Searching Coach: Knowing there is a better way and intentionally seeking out mentors and systems.[10:50] Stage 2: The Defining Coach: Identifying what truly matters and establishing a clear program identity.[12:00] Stage 3: The Stabilized Coach: Implementing systems that automate processes and make the program feel "easier" to run.[15:11] Stage 4: The Prioritized Coach: Learning the power of "No" and focusing on the 3 things that have the greatest impact.[17:24] Stage 5: The Systematized Coach: Creating through-lines where culture and X’s & O’s are perfectly aligned.[18:22] Stage 6: The Simple Coach: The ability to verbalize deep understanding in seconds rather than minutes.[21:12] Stage 7: The Adversity Coach: Intentionally producing challenges and training players to thrive in "messiness".[24:23] Stage 8: The Victory Coach: Systems are so dialed in they operate independently of the head coach.[27:00] Stage 9: The Identity (Transformational) Coach: Impact that outlives your presence and a purpose higher than winning.[28:47] Recap & The "Leap": Why the jump from Grasping to Searching is the hardest and most important step.Action Items for CoachesSelf-Audit: Review the 10 stages and honestly identify which stage you are currently in. Remember, you can be at different levels for different areas of your program (e.g., Stage 5 in culture, but Stage 1 in X's & O's).Practice the Power of "No": To move toward the "Simplify" stage, look at your current drills or plays. If they don't fall into your core principles, have the courage to remove them.Train for Messiness: If your team freezes without complete instructions, start giving limited information and letting them "figure it out" to build adversity-tested "Jungle Tigers".Seek a Mentor: If you are in the Searching stage, find a coach or a system (like Savvy Basketball) to help you define your path.

In this episode of The Hours, host Mark Cascio sits down with longtime friend and high school coach Travis Uzee (St. Amant High School, Louisiana) to discuss the evolution of his program. Coach Uzee shares his "coaching superpower"—accountability—and how it serves as the bridge to success on both ends of the floor.The conversation dives deep into Uzee’s transition from traditional set plays to SAVI’s conceptual offense and the Lock Left defensive system. Discover how shifting focus from "developing plays" to "developing players" has dramatically increased his team’s skill level and shooting confidence. Whether you are a veteran coach or just starting your conceptual journey, this episode is packed with "in-the-trenches" advice on practice planning, defensive rotations, and building a culture of toughness.🕒 Key Points & Timestamps[0:00] Introduction: Coaching superpowers and the value of in-game feel.[9:15] Shifting to Conceptual Offense: Why Coach Uzee moved away from the Flex and Brad Underwood systems.[12:30] Developing Players vs. Plays: How conceptual basketball has "dramatically" improved team skill and shooting.[16:45] Practice Planning Secrets: Using a "game sandwich" and leaving 15 minutes of space for what the team needs most.[22:10] The Lock Left Journey: Successes and struggles in Year 1 of the Lock Left defense.[25:30] Matching Up in Transition: Advice for coaches implementing Lock Left for the first time.[29:45] Going "Full Psycho": Using disruptive inbound defense to create easy turnovers.📝 Action Items for CoachesLeave Space in Practice Plans: Intentionally leave 15–20 minutes of unplanned space in your schedule. Use this time to address immediate needs (e.g., rebounding or shooting) or end early to leave players with "juice" for the next day.Focus on Accountability: Use campus and program accountability as a direct bridge to on-court discipline.Teach "Matching Up" First: When installing Lock Left, ensure your back-end defenders (Nail and Goalie) understand they must match up with specific threats before finding their zone spots.Implement "Psycho" Inbounds: Increase defensive disruption by having the defender on the inbounder prioritize deflections and physical pressure to force turnovers.

🏆 Join TOC Coach for FREE: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about 🏀 Join SAVI Basketball with a 7-Day Free Trial: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/aboutWelcome back to The Hours Podcast, presented by SAVI Basketball! In this special mailbag episode, Mark and Clare dive into the SAVI member community to answer burning questions about team transformations, defensive troubleshooting, and building program culture on the road.Whether you're struggling to move from a 4-out to a 5-out offense, or you're wondering how to apply "Lock Left" principles to your existing defensive scheme, this episode is packed with "information plus transformation." Mark also shares personal insights from his current season, including how he defines victory beyond the scoreboard and how he manages travel standards for his team.

🏆 Join TOC Coach for FREE: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about 🏀 Join SAVI Basketball with a 7-Day Free Trial: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/aboutWelcome to an experimental episode of The Hours, where Mark and Tyler try out a "simulcast" live film session, breaking down a recent Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Golden State Warriors game. Join them as they watch the action, discussing high-level conceptual basketball offense, defense, and the nuances of decision-making on the court. Beyond the ball, the duo dives into tangential—and sometimes essential—topics like leadership, aliens, and crypto. Get ready for in-depth analysis of sets like "Horns," "Split Action," and "Blast Series," all while keeping track of a spontaneous $10 prop bet!This episode is highly recommended for YouTube viewers to follow along with the visual breakdowns.

🏆 Join TOC Coach for FREE: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about 🏀 Join SAVI Basketball with a 7-Day Free Trial: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/aboutMark and Tyler from SAVI Basketball dive into the coaching trenches to tackle a common challenge: designing a practice plan that drives immediate, noticeable improvement. Using the fun, high-stakes game of "Start, Bench, Cut," they go back and forth proposing three practice solutions for critical team objectives like improving toughness, creating better spacing, developing ball handling, and increasing finishing/rebounding efficiency. Get rapid-fire ideas, deep-dive strategy, and the simple truth behind what will actually move the needle for your team this week.

🏆 Join TOC Coach for FREE: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about 🏀 Join SAVI Basketball with a 7-Day Free Trial: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/about Join Mark and Tyler of SAVI Basketball as they review Tyler’s highly acclaimed 7-Principle guide for youth coaches, reframing it as The 7 Principles of a Master Coach applicable to coaches of all sports. Inspired by the development of their Art of Coaching course and their partnership with JP Nerbun and TOC Coach, this episode breaks down core philosophies designed to transform your coaching approach from dictated to developmental. Learn how to foster an anti-fragile environment, maximize player reps, and prioritize long-term growth over short-term wins. Use these principles to self-rate your coaching mastery!

Join SAVI Basketball 👉https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/about to help revolutionize the way the game is taught and played.Coaches, welcome to a special episode! Instead of our usual format, Mark Cascio and Tyler Coston invite you to sit in on a live consulting call with a few members of the SAVI Basketball community.We dive into the real, in-the-moment problems coaches face, dissecting film and providing actionable solutions for a team struggling with isolation offense and needing a clear system for transition defense. This episode focuses on the key concepts of Spacing before Advantage, Advantage before Shot and using "training wheels" to build a conceptual, free-flowing offense. If you're heading into the season and want to transform your offense from random hero-ball to a stacked-action system, this is a must-listen.

Join Mark and Tyler for a special Mailbag episode of The Hours podcast! Celebrating over 600 members in the Savvy Basketball community, they tackle listener-submitted "smart questions" that show effort and application. This episode dives deep into coaching philosophy, from youth development to high-level defensive strategy, emphasizing principles over prescribed plays and function over form.Get ready for an in-depth discussion on how to teach modern basketball, why reacting to your opponent means you've already lost, and how to improve shooting effectively mid-season.💡 Key Points & TimestampsYouth Coaching: Spacing with Non-Shooters (4:12)Crucial Principle: Spacing is for passing, not for shooting at that level.Third graders can shoot from distance, but they need to be taught a system that generates power and functionality over traditional form shooting.Head Coach Problem: Utilizing Capable Assistants (14:38)Recommendation: Ask the assistants to write their own job descriptions and identify their "areas of genius".Example roles: Scouts, running practice sections, shooting coordinator, game subs, driving competitiveness, extra work/gym-opening.Disruptive Defense: Guarding Stagger Screens in Lock Left (19:03)A coach asks how to guard stagger screens in the "Lock Left" defense.The Goal: Disrupt timing by making the ball "go to jail" (forcing the ball handler to the left side/sideline).The 5-Step Savvy Coach Checklist:Why do you care? Focus on what you can do, not what they do.Check the math. Is this action truly hurting you, or did one play just feel bad? (Look at percentage of possessions and points per possession) .Rewind the tape. What happened before the stagger screen that allowed them to run it? (The on-ball defender didn't make the ball go) .Create your problems (e.g., getting better on the wall, rebounding) rather than fixing theirs (stagger screens).Shooting: Function Over Form (44:20)Observation/Fix: Players often have feet that are too narrow and a ball load position (Position 1) that is too high (chin-level), limiting their ability to transfer force from the ground.🎯 Action Items for CoachesRedefine Winning: If you coach youth, evaluate your practice plans. Are you coaching for long-term development or short-term wins? Use the Big/Small/Big perspective.Assign Autonomy to Assistants: Ask your assistant coaches to write their own job descriptions detailing their roles and areas of expertise to give them ownership.Stop Reacting to Opponents: Apply the 5-step checklist. Before defending an opponent's specific action (like staggers), check the math to see if it's a real threat and rewind the tape to see what your team did (or failed to do) to allow the action to happen.Teach Functional Shooting: Do not start with form shooting close to the rim. Adjust foot width and ball position to generate maximum power first. Do not move in if a player can't reach—force the functional adjustment by shooting from the desired range (or even further back).

Join Mark Cascio, Claire Murphy, and Tyler as they dissect what's wrong with most traditional coaching clinics and celebrate the success of their first-ever annual SAVI Coaching Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona! They share why their clinic was so impactful, from deep, intentional conversations to a focus on holistic, identity-based coaching over simple X's and O's.Then, the "Dream Team" breaks down key takeaways from running a youth basketball practice together, offering immediate, high-value action items you can apply to make your practices more effective, engaging, and transformational. Learn how to be "messy" with high standards and why the preparation and debrief are the most important parts of your coaching week. #SAVIcoach SAVI Basketball 7-Day Free Trial: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/about🛠️ Action Items for CoachesEvaluate Your Clinics: Next time you attend a clinic, evaluate if it offers extended mentorship/follow-up, allows for interactive engagement, and has a connected, focused curriculum.Hold High Standards for Response: Implement a clear, predetermined consequence (like a technical foul) for poor mistake responses (frustration, eye-rolling) to enforce the "next play" standard in your gym.Apply the Plus-One Debrief: During practice, observe many mistakes but only coach one or two things in the post-activity debrief. Resist the urge to give concurrent feedback or address everything at once.Prioritize Prep and Debrief: Cut practice short by 15 minutes if needed to establish a process where you spend time preparing objectives and debriefing with your staff after every session.Identify 3 Objectives: For your next practice, identify 3 clear, measurable objectives (e.g., "get open in space," "rebounding," "hunting nines") based on your game data, and let your staff (or use the Savvy community) suggest drills to achieve them (631, 636).Simplify and Clarify: Check if your players can articulate your offensive objective in a clear, concise phrase. Also, ensure your players can trigger an action/play with speed and on their own; otherwise, it's a useless play.

Mark and Tyler from are back to finish the "Building the Best Coach" tournament bracket and decide which attribute is the undisputed champion of coaching excellence! In this jam-packed finale, the hosts complete the first round with debates that pit System Design against High Energy, and Recruiting against Player Roles.The competition quickly whittles down to the "Core Four" of coaching excellence—a grouping that shifts the conversation from bracket fun to a serious discussion about the foundations of a powerful program culture. Get ready for a controversial upset where Relationships challenge High Standards, and an intense championship debate that separates the short game from the long game. Don't miss the final, hard-fought pick for the single most valuable skill a coach can possess!📝 Action Items for CoachesIdentify Your Weakness: Use the "Core Four" (Relationships, High Energy, Communication, High Standards) to identify your most prominent area of weakness and commit to intentional development in that area.Implement the Rule of 3, 10, 30: Challenge yourself to give players no more than 3 instructions in any setup, keep the explanation under 10 minutes, and get them moving in 30 seconds or less.Choose Your Champion: Listen to the final verdict, then head to the comments to tell Mark and Tyler who you would pick as the ultimate winner!SAVI Basketball Community 7 Day Free Trial https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/aboutTOC Coach Community 7 Day Free Trial https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about

Welcome into The Hours! Mark and Tyler of SAVI Basketball are back with another bracket tournament, this time tackling the monumental task of building the "Perfect Coach." In Part 1 of this two-part special, the hosts kick off the 16-attribute bracket by seeding and debating the most crucial skills and qualities a successful basketball coach must possess, ranging from Practice Design to Communication and High Standards. Tyler shares an incredible anecdote about their 7th/8th-grade girls' squad's 60-point swing in two months, highlighting the power of SAVI Basketball's process-driven approach over mere outcomes. The discussion emphasizes that skills like system design and relationship building are the critical inputs that ultimately transform a program's culture and success—the outputs. Tune in to see the initial seeds, the intense debates, and Mark and Tyler's takes on the most undervalued coaching attributes.📝 Action Items for CoachesReflect on Your Inputs: Assess your coaching program's "inputs" (practice design, communication, systems, relationships) rather than dwelling on the "output" (wins, losses, or culture).Define Player Roles Concisely: Practice communicating a player's core role and superpower to them in a clear, concise way, emphasizing how that role serves the team.Audit Your Community Engagement: Consider what you've done in the last nine months to build community support with parents, admin, and boosters. If the answer is "nothing," start right now.Join the Conversation: Comment on who you think is the early favorite to win the bracket after listening to Part 1!SAVI Basketball Community (7 day free trial): https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/aboutTOC Coach Community (7 day free trial): https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about

Join Tyler in this episode of The Hours Podcast as he sits down with renowned basketball teacher Edward Leblanc! Edward is an innovative mind known for helping players and coaches achieve their full potential, and in this episode, he shares his revolutionary insights on player development, skill acquisition, and what really moves the needle for young athletes.Edward Leblanc brings a game-changing perspective to the court, challenging the conventional wisdom of chasing constant AAU tournament participation. We dive into the most effective ways young players can spend their time for maximum personal growth. Leblanc argues that time is a player’s greatest asset, and often, that time is better spent on deliberate individual skill work (like shooting & ball handling), free-play/pick-up games, & expanding basketball knowledge through film, books, and podcasts, rather than the extensive travel and downtime associated with many tournaments.This episode is a masterclass in separating high-impact activities from low-impact participation. It’s an essential listen for coaches and parents who want to foster resilience, coachability, and a high Basketball IQ—the non-tangible skills that are the foundation for long-term success. Learn which core skills truly pay off at the next level and hear the inspiring story of a seemingly unassuming janitor who profoundly shaped Edward's journey.⏱️ Key Points & Time Stamps(0:00): Introduction to Edward Leblanc—PGC Basketball Director and innovative teacher of the game.(4:15): Time as a Player’s Greatest Asset—Why the ROI on early, constant tournament play is often low.(7:30): High-Impact Activities for Young Players—Prioritizing individual skill work (shooting, ball handling) & free play over structured games.(12:50): The "Free Play" Advantage—Creating a low-pressure environment for skill mastery & decision-making without fear of substitution.(17:05): The Timeless Skills That Matter—Identifying shooting, reading the floor, and ball security as keys for advancing to higher levels.(21:40): The Foundation of Success—Discussing the importance of coachability, leadership, and resilience as critical non-tangible skills.(31:15): Curriculum Development Insights—How PGC designs its teaching to provide secret 1% enhancements that unlock breakthroughs for athletes and coaches.✅ Action Items for CoachesRe-Evaluate Tournament Time: Encourage players (especially those below the Sophomore/Junior year) to trade some tournament weekends for individual skill-building blocks focusing on high-rep shooting and ball-handling.Facilitate Free Play: Actively promote or organize open-gym/pick-up opportunities. This builds player creativity and decision-making without the pressure of a team environment.Prioritize Fundamentals: Dedicate practice time to the "timeless skills" like teaching players to read the floor and improving position-specific ball security.Teach Resilience: Develop drills and culture that treat mistakes as learning opportunities, emphasizing that bouncing back with determination is a crucial skill.Learn More about Edward & Court Sessions: https://www.skool.com/courtsessions-basketball-8784/aboutSAVI Basketball Community Membership: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/aboutTOC Coach Community Membership: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about