The Power of a Coach

There’s no denying that youth hockey coaches have a tough job. Not only is their job physically demanding, but it also requires them to have a lot of patience and to deal with kids who sometimes don’t have the best attention spans or attitudes.

However, coaches also have a lot of power, often more than they realize. All coaches should strive to understand the great importance of their job and the ability they have to impact their players for life.

Motivation   

Perhaps one of the greatest “super powers” a coach has is his ability to motivate players. Motivation is an amazing thing. It can take a player with zero confidence and turn him into a champ in no time at all.

For this reason, coaches should strive to be encouraging of their players. This means praising what they do right and offering constructive criticism when improvement is needed. Coaches should also strive to motivate their players not just to win but to achieve their personal best and to continue growing and improving both on and off the ice.

Teaching Life Skills

People often think that a coach’s main job is to teach hockey skills. However, coaches do a whole lot more than that. They also teach basic life skills.

Leading by example and with their words and encouragement, coaches teach things like responsibility, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, the importance of hard work, self-belief, and never giving up. A good coach understands that hockey is about more than just skating and shooting. It’s about building character and teaching kids skills that they can use throughout their lives.

With great power comes great responsibility. No one should realize the truth of this statement more than a coach. Coaches must remember how important their jobs are and should use their power in positive, helpful, and responsible ways. After all, they hold their players’ futures in their hands.