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- EP 110: Youth Coaches are Winning More with the SAVI Method
Hey Coach,
We've all been there, either as the coach watching your kids get demolished in the final minutes with no mercy, or quietly wondering if your own team should back off. It's one of those situations where the "right" answer feels obvious until you're actually in it.
Coaching is full of these gray areas. The moments where the rulebook doesn't cover it, where your gut and your values are both talking at once, and where the decision you make says a lot about why you coach in the first place.
This week on The Hours, we reacted to a viral Kendrick Perkins and Richard Jefferson debate that stirred up the basketball world, and we didn't just land on one side. We went deeper.
Key Takeaways
This is a systemic problem, not just a personal one. When a team is up 30 at the youth level, the league or organization failed first. Competitive imbalances that severe shouldn't exist — and that's a structural fix, not just a sideline one.
At the youth level, the goal is to fall in love with the game. Running up the score on kids who are still learning doesn't develop better players — it drives them away from the sport. Development has to come before winning.
Being up big is actually a coaching opportunity. It's the perfect moment to get your bench players meaningful reps, slow the pace down, and work on your half-court game. Turn a blowout into a practice.
Stop thinking in absolutes. Kendrick and RJ couldn't have a real conversation because they were both at 100%. The best coaches and communicators think in bets: what percentage do I believe this? That's how you stay coachable and keep learning.
Pressure defense isn't inherently wrong. Intent is everything. There's a difference between extending your defensive system and trapping to generate turnovers with the explicit goal of piling on. Knowing why you're pressing matters.
One Action Item
Next time your team is up big, call a timeout and make a deliberate decision. Don't just let the game play out on autopilot. Tell your players specifically what you want to work on (half-court sets, walk-it-up pace, getting bench players real reps). Use the moment intentionally. The way you handle a blowout reveals your coaching philosophy more than any close game ever will.
Stay SAVI,
-Tyler
P.S. This month inside the SAVI Basketball community, we went all in on youth coaching. We covered how to develop a youth program, how to develop your youth coaches, and how to specifically coach youth basketball the right way. If you're not in the membership yet, now is a great time to jump in, the first 7 days are on us. Join SAVI Basketball Here!
P.P.S. If you enjoyed this episode, like and subscribe on YouTube!