Practical Questions to Ask Your Player's New Coach

When you learn that your child is getting a new hockey coach, all kinds of questions to ask probably spring to your mind. You might want to know, for example, if the coach believes in giving all players equal playing time or makes this decision based on merit. You might also want to know what the coach’s policy is on discipline and things like missed practices.   

And, while those are all good questions to ask, don’t forget that the most practical and simple questions are often the best and will tell you a whole lot about this new and important person in your child’s life.

Ask About Past Playing Experience    

Almost all coaches start out as players themselves. So, if you want to learn about the coach and his on-the-ice credentials, ask about his experience as a player.

He might have been the star of the hockey team in high school or college, or he might even still be playing in an adult league. You’ll never know unless you ask!

Ask About Coaching Training or Certifications

Once you know about the coach’s past as a player, take some time to learn how he’s prepared to become a coach.

Did he go to school for physical education or exercise science? Or, maybe he has taken specialized training or certification programs.

Ideally, you want a coach with both education and real experience. But, at the very least, you want a coach who is willing to take steps to become even better with time. As long as you have that, don’t judge too harshly just because there are no fancy credentials attached to his name.

In fact, if you can spend less time judging and more time just focused on getting to know the coach, you’ll probably find that, regardless of past experience, this is a person willing to help your child to succeed in sports. And, really, what else could you ask for?