Have More Fun

Fun > Energy > Effort > Improvement > Winning

Author

Tyler Coston
March 01, 2022

Do you want to play a game? We’ve all been asked that, and it builds some excitement. We know we have a chance to win, to compete and it’s gonna be fun.

For example, “wanna race?”

Every human on the planet understands this - in every race there’s a winner and there’s a loser. In fact, racing is the best speed training. Why? The desire to compete pushes people to give their best effort. By adopting a games approach to training, you’ll see better results. Not in how orgaized it looks to an outsider. Not in how few mistakes are made. But in the actual improvement of the players and transfer to competition. That is why the majority of all we do with our SAVI systems, SAVI Coaching and SAVI Academy uses a games approach. The results will astound you.

In our Race and Space offense, winning the race from end to end is the first and most important game we play. It establishes an offensive advantage that you’ll keep the entire possession. That’s the first principle of Race and Space, as coaches sell out on this first game, it’s helping programs score more points, develop better players, and have more fun. Offense is fun, here’s how you can keep it that way👇.

SAVI Principles

  1. Simplicity Wins. When we complicate a game we slow it down. When we control the players, we remove the joy. When we talk too much, and put in too many rules, the game isn’t fun to watch, coach, or play.

  2. Adversity Strengthens. When games are hard, when they are full of mistakes and look messy. That’s what growth looks like. We must redefine the win. We aren’t trying to “look” like a good coach. That’s self focused and zoomed in. We are trying to help athletes improve. That’s zoomed out and others focused.

  3. Victory Defined. You have to define your win, know it in your bones and tell it to your team and stakeholders. If you define your win by the scoreboard, you’ll perform but not grow. If you define your win by long term development, you’ll see compound interest over time.

  4. Identity Commits. The massive growth a SAVI coach sees is at the end of the journey. It takes persistence and belief to chop wood without seeing significant results for days or even weeks. But, you don’t cut down a tree by chopping in hundreds of different spots. You have to hit the same spot over and over. Choos who you are becoming and commit to the daily process of chopping wood.

Application

Every coach wants to play more in transition. Every coach knows that you get more efficient shots in transition than you do against a set defense.

 But, what we often forget is basketball is a game of opposites.

What are the hardest things to teach your team to do? I’d bet that transition defense made the list.

The things that are the most difficult to master, you must be great at the opposite. You must make the opposing coach PROVE they have taught transition defense. Race first and race always.

The things that are the most difficult to master, you must be great at the opposite. You must make the opposing coach PROVE they have taught transition defense. Race first and race always.

The best teachers build systems that develop:

  • Skills - identify and improve what players do most

  • Roles - clarify constraints and objectives

  • Reads - make better decisions faster

A SAVI (savvy) coach knows that playing fast and getting a quick shot isn’t the goal. Getting a good shot is. When your system includes skills, roles and reads, your players will thrive. The effectiveness of your offense always comes down to what types of shots your offense is generating. The team that creates better shots over the course of a season will be more successful.

Truth Time

I created SAVI Coaching to revolutionize the way the game is taught and played. North American coaches are too complex and come from a long tradition of control. Here’s how you grow.

  • As you simplify and eliminate complexity your team’s execution improves.

  • A player led team will outperform a coach led team.

  • When players feel empowered to lead, play fast and free, they have more fun. When they have more fun they are more engaged in the process.

  • Players that enjoy practice give better effort and get better results.

Here to help, Tyler

Want to learn more about how we do this in the Race and Space offense? Join our free webinar March 26th!