The Power of Pre-Practice (Coach K Lessons)

Hey Coach,

When I visited a Duke practice under Coach K, one thing stood out more than anything else: the pre-practice.

Before the whistle even blew, players were already running the show—locked in, competing, and holding each other accountable.

That’s exactly what Mark and I dive into in this episode of The Hours.

Go watch it here.

Pre-practice is where culture gets built. It’s how you make every minute in the gym count.

We break down:

• How to shift drills into pre-practice so practice itself is sharper.

• How to build a “your time, our time” mindset that players buy into.

• Why player-led warmups set the tone for ownership and accountability.

• How themes like “Mamba Mondays” turn warmups into competitive growth.

This isn’t just about saving time—it’s about creating a player-led environment where athletes take pride in preparation. That’s the foundation of a winning culture.

Take it, try it, and then share the episode with another coach who could use the spark.

Stay SAVI,
Tyler

P.S. Last month, we added 32 new coaches to SAVI Basketball! It was one of our biggest growth months ever.

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