Wednesday, January 23, 2008

SOME COACHES ARE IDIOTS

One of our goalie school students contacted me this past week to say he wanted to quit hockey because of his coach.

The coach has played him in THREE games this season (this is House League), out of 20+ games. When he asked the coach "why" the reply was "see the banners hanging there, I won those because I play the best players".

OMG what an idiot!!!!!!!! First off, this is HL hockey, everyone should play equally. Secondly, it isn't about the coaches ego (if you coach to impress folks with wins, banners and trophies - you coach for the wrong reasons!!!). I can't believe (OK, I can, I see it often enough...) the mentality of some of the coaches in minor hockey.

For all of those coaches who read this, listen up; it's about the kids first and foremost, they are there to have fun, regardless of the level you play at, its a game, let them enjoy it. Secondly; if you coach only to win, you are a complete fool and should not be allowed to coach! Minor hockey is about development, that is the job of a minor hockey coach, to develop his players to improve their hockey skills, to improve their social skills and to improve their life skills. it is simply NOT ever about winning at all costs.

I tell my teams right from the outset that they will learn respect for themselves, others and their coaches, they will learn to play better. I also tell them the game is more fun when you win and they will win more games if they become better at of all the other things because they will learn how to be better people and better players.

Volunteer coaches are generally great people with their hearts in the right places, but sometimes they should be fired because they simply don't get it or understand that their only reason for being there is to help the kids enjoy the game.

We run a FREE coaches program (Coaches Seminar; How to Teach Goaltending) and we stress all of the above and we also make it clear that goalies and players who learn to be better at the game of ice hockey and better at being part of a team that is committed to a common goal, will always improve and have fun.

1 comment:

Ms. Conduct said...

Hooray! A goaltending blog! Thanks for this. Please keep it up!