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 Coaches

Reflect 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/about

TOC 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 Coaches

Re-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/about

SAVI Basketball Community Membership: https://www.skool.com/savi-coach/about

TOC Coach Community Membership: https://www.skool.com/toccoach/about

Welcome back to The Hours Podcast, presented by SAVI Basketball! Hosts Mark and Tyler are fresh off program clinics and dive straight into the trenches of coaching philosophy and defensive installation.

In this must-listen episode, they break down the common barriers coaches face when transitioning to a conceptual system like the Lock Left Defense (which they successfully installed in just 90 minutes!). They tackle the critical challenge of unlearning deeply ingrained defensive habits—from the archaic "choppy feet close-out" to the ineffective "hands up" mantra.

Discover the difference between playing man-to-man and executing a system, why your players must genuinely love your defense, and the true power of holding a seemingly small standard like "Knees and Noise." This episode is a masterclass in intentional coaching, offering practical ways to elevate your practice standards, teach with clarity (Show, Don't Tell), and empower your defense to force turnovers and bad shots by strategically "making the ball go."