In this episode of The Hours Podcast, Mark and Tyler of SAVI Basketball dive into Part 2 of their series on special situations in coaching. They challenge coaches to not only have a pre-determined philosophy for these critical moments but also to actively "test and teach" it to their teams. This episode moves beyond late-game scenarios to cover situations that happen every single game, including pre-game, halftime, and post-game management. They use real-world examples to illustrate how small, well-prepared adjustments can make the difference between a win and a loss, emphasizing the importance of staying true to your team's core principles.

Key Points

(0:23) Test and Teach Your Philosophy

(7:02) Pre-Game Special Situations

(12:16) Halftime Management

(14:45) Post-Game Routine

(17:47) Why Teams Lose Big Leads

(20:50) How to Play When You're Down

(23:40) When to Call a Timeout

(26:51) In-Game Substitutions

Action Items for Coaches

💥Document Your Philosophy: Create a clear, written philosophy for common special situations, including pre-game, halftime, and late-game scenarios.

💥Practice with Purpose: Don't just walk through plays. Run them in a way that simulates the pressure and competition of a real game.

💥Use Frameworks & Routines: Implement a consistent framework for your pre-game and halftime speeches (e.g., "Start, Stop, Keep"). Establish a predictable routine for players to follow before, during, and after games.

💥Get Your Sub Plan Ready: Know in advance who you'll sub in for different end-of-game situations (when you are up vs. when you are down).

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