Hey Coach,

Many of you are getting an email from me for the first time.

SAVI Basketball’s mission is to revolutionize the way basketball is taught and played.

One of the ways we do that is with our weekly podcast: The Hours.

This past week, Mark and I discussed The 7 Principles of a Master Coach: The Art of Coaching.

It’s a great episode–even if you’re not a basketball coach.

In it, we discuss how most coaches fail at least 4 of the 7 principles.

These aren't fluffy concepts. They're measurable principles with clear pass/fail benchmarks. Mark and I rated ourselves on camera—and we each failed at least two of them.

Here's what you'll learn in this episode:

• The 70% rule most coaches violate (and why your practice structure might be the problem)

• Why small-sided games create better athletes than full scrimmages—backed by research from talent hotspots around the world

• The 3-10-30 principle that eliminates overwhelm and accelerates player development

• How to coach like a guide instead of a dictator (and the simple test to know which one you are)

You can watch it here (or read more about it below the video):

This episode breaks down the exact framework we use at SAVI Basketball and TOC Coach to develop both players and coaching mastery.

Principle #1: Let the Rice Cook 

Stop coaching everything you see.

There's an ancient Chinese proverb: "Talk doesn't cook rice." Every time you stop play to correct something, you're taking the lid off and preventing progress. We teach you the optimal play-to-talk ratio (hint: you're probably talking way too much).

Principle #2: Create an Anti-Fragile Environment 

If your practice breaks every time a player makes a mistake, your system is fragile.

Three-man weave? Fragile. Defensive shell? Fragile. Learn how to build practices that embrace messiness and turn mistakes into momentum.

Principle #3: Use Small-Sided Games 

The best soccer players in the world didn't grow up playing 11v11.

The best tennis players didn't start on full courts. Research from talent hotspots proves that modified games create three critical advantages: more reps per minute, higher intensity, and better skill transfer.

Principle #4: Narrow the Focus 

If you coach everything, you coach nothing.

The 3-10-30 rule keeps practices tight: three teaching points maximum, games under 10 minutes, get them playing in 30 seconds. Master coaches know what to ignore.

Principle #5: Plus-One Coaching 

Only add one thing at a time.

Your players don't need to know every possible counter and adjustment before they start playing. Give them one concept, let them explore it, then layer in the next piece. This is how you accelerate learning without overwhelming anyone.

Principle #6: Coach as a Guide, Not a Dictator 

Here's the test: If you got hit by a bus during a game, would your team be better or worse?

If they'd be worse, you're joy-sticking too much. The best coaches make themselves increasingly unnecessary because they've built players who can think and problem-solve on their own.

Principle #7: Build Systems for Long-Term Development 

Are you coaching for the win on Friday or the player's success seven years from now?

Most youth athletes quit before they play varsity—not because they get cut, but because they stop loving the game. The greatest threat to their success isn't talent; it's burnout.

Your Challenge:

Rate yourself honestly on all seven principles.

How many do you pass?

Mark and I both failed at least two. The goal isn't perfection—it's awareness. When you know where you're falling short, you can get intentional about improving.

Want help implementing these principles?

Join TOC Coach—our free community for coaches of all sports focused on leadership, culture-building, and coaching mastery.

No trial period. No credit card.

Just 500+ coaches committed to getting better.

👉 Join TOC Coach for free

Already coaching at a high level and passing all seven? I'd genuinely love to talk to you about opportunities with SAVI.

Stay SAVI,
Tyler

P.S. One tip from the episode that changed everything for me: Record yourself coaching.

Use a small Bluetooth mic and listen to a practice in your car. You'll hear things you never realized—how much you say "um," how negative you sound when you think you're encouraging, how little you use names.

It's uncomfortable, but it's the fastest way to coach yourself.