Leaders earn followers. Colin Powell tells the story about being a new Secretary of State and inviting the President (Bush I) to a briefing at State before a Mexico visit. He entrusted the presentation to two junior staffers he didn't know. This was his opportunity to show trust in the staff...and they delivered.
Consider how to treat everyone well, if not the same.
Credibility
Coaches earn credibility. Street cred doesn't come with a title. The coach needs to be able to 'read the room', lead, teach, and add value. Provide value to the team and mutual respect follows.
Gen Z
Generation Z (Gen Z) is generally defined as individuals born between 1997 and 2012, making them 14 to 29 years old in 2026. Gen Z doesn't want to hear, "this is how it is" or "we've always done it this way." They want to know why and supporting reasons. Blind authority doesn't fit their worldview.
Teaching
Coaches have to know our stuff and find ways to communicate it to players. That could include analogy (Coach K's punch with a fist not five fingers) and teaching techniques like the Socratic Method. Brian McCormick's "three nos - no lines, no laps, and no lectures" makes sense to me. Practice time is precious.
Meet Them Where They Are
Younger players don't like to be 'singled out'. I had bought a black T-shirt to honor the "Practice Player of the Week," but learned out that wasn't going to fly. And it wasn't about washing it. In Anson Dorrance's Vision of a Champion, he shares a few principles. Young women are sensitive about being called out, about negative video, and about leading - not wanting to be called 'b*tchy'. Don't rediscover the wheel.
Mutual Support
Sometimes I'd gather the team, asking each player to share something positive about the girl next to her (not "I like her hair"), about how she plays. Players want to hear their name and they want positive feedback. I also sent periodic email to parents with the "sandwich technique" - two positives amidst an area for improvement.
Relationships are always a priority. They're a privilege and deserve to be treated as such.
Lagniappe. What belongs on our practice plan...
Things I Like To Include on a Practice Plan:
— Hoops Companion 🏀 Resources for Coaches (@Hoops_Companion) February 13, 2026
- countdown to next game/opponent
- practice # for season
- news/housekeeping items
- thought/emphasis of the day
- notes section for anything that pops in my head
- scoring/charting section
- top 3 things to accomplish for the day
Lagniappe 2. "“The reason that ‘guru’ is such a popular word is because ‘charlatan’ is so hard to spell.”" - Barry Ritholtz in "How Not to Invest"
