Barbara Nelson, Myers Park HS, NC, Former Head Girl’s Basketball Coach
Coach Nelson retired with 804 career wins and nine state championships.
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Full video on Glazier Drive: Designing Efficient & Effective Practice Plans
DAILY PRACTICE ESSENTIALS
Every practice must include player development — whether 15 or 30 minutes — to ensure players are genuinely improving over the course of a season, not staying stagnant from November to February.
LEADERSHIP & CULTURE
Build leadership opportunities into every practice. Include at least one drill where coaches stay silent and let players struggle, communicate, and self-correct. Culture shouldn’t be just locker room talk — hold players accountable in practice for the values you preach, whether that’s teamwork, hustle, or communication.
TEACHING METHOD
Use a whole-part-whole approach: show the full concept, break it into pieces, then reassemble it. Whatever your method, be consistent. Hold players to excellence in executing your system — don’t let them get away with half-effort.
COMPETITION & ADVERSITY
Keep score in almost everything. Team vs. team, team vs. clock, individuals — it all counts. If you’re not building adversity into practice daily, you won’t know how your team will handle it in a game.
PRACTICE DESIGN & ADAPTABILITY
Read what your team needs each day. Stay on schedule — if a drill isn’t clicking, apply a consequence and move on, revisiting it the next day. Build in some “fluff” that can be cut if needed, and always protect the non-negotiables.
STAFF & REVIEW
Give assistant coaches specific responsibilities and let them teach daily. After practice, have them send you a quick note on what went well, what didn’t, and what should be in tomorrow’s plan. That after-action review keeps everyone invested and improves your next session.
