Tips for Youth Hockey Coaches

Being a youth hockey coach can be incredibly fun…but it can also be incredibly challenging and frustrating as well. Coaches often get upset when things don’t go as planned with a game, when players don’t use the skills they’ve been taught, or when a system they’ve worked hard on just doesn’t seem to be working.

While frustration is normal with any sport, youth hockey coaches can feel better and be more effective at their jobs if they remember a few key tips.   

Celebrate the Good

First things first, all coaches are encouraged to celebrate the things their players do right and the things that go well. There’s so often a tendency to dwell on the negatives and on what needs improvement that the good often gets overlooked.

Don’t be that coach who’s so busy yelling at his players that you forget to praise them too. After each game, say a whole lot more about the good than the bad. Remember, these are kids you’re dealing with, and they thrive on praise and encouragement a whole lot more than criticism.

Keep it Simple

Another big tip is to keep systems as simple as possible. Even the most skilled young players are still young players. They’re often not good at remembering overly complex or difficult strategies.

Thus, remember who you’re dealing with and keep systems as simple as possible. It will save you and your players a whole lot of frustration and anxiety.

Don’t Set Your Expectations too High

As a final word of wisdom, coaches must keep their expectations in check when it comes to their young players. First, they have to make sure they are not projecting anything, like their own unfulfilled aspirations, onto their players’ shoulders.

Then, they also have to ensure they’re not setting the bar too high. This isn’t to say that coaches shouldn’t believe in or expect great things from their players, but they should keep their expectations within reason given the age of the children they’re dealing with.

Being a coach is filled with just as many challenges as being a player. However, keeping these tips in mind can really help you to overcome these challenges in your own life.

Teach Your Players to Trust Themselves

If you’re a hockey coach, then you probably know all too well that there is nothing worse than forwards quickly attacking the blue line. When that happens, your players have to make the tough decision to stand up at the line or to all move to one side.  

Of course, they’re likely to do what you have asked of them and trained them to…but what should you train them to do?     

While it would be nice if this question had an “easy answer,” the truth is that all you can really train your players to do is to listen to their instinct…to go with their gut. Sometimes, the thrill, confidence, and success that can go along with stepping up on the blue line is amazing. Other times, though, it’s better to minimize risk and take the safer route. As a coach, though, all you can do is teach your players how to trust their gut and then allow them to make the decision for themselves when the time come.

While this may be easier said than done, you can do your part to help your players develop confidence in their abilities and in their understanding of the game. Teach them how to “read the ice.” In other words, show them what each action or event is likely to lead to. Teach them to quickly be able to summon all the possibilities when something happens on the ice, to assess the situation, and to make a judgment call. This ability will come in handy many times on the ice…and many times in life as well.

Teaching your players to trust themselves and make their own decisions takes time, encouragement, and regular effort, but it is something that will pay off, both for you and for them, in the long run, making it infinitely worth it.

Know Your Child's Coach

Think back to when you were a kid. Chances are that you were probably allowed to do plenty of things on your own. Like, maybe you could play outside by yourself or even walk to the local park on your own. Whatever the case may be, there is a good chance that you had a lot more freedom than the kids of today.    

These days, most kids have what are known as “helicopter parents.” These are parents who watch their child’s every move, who know where their kids are at all times, and who are often there with them.

Today’s ever-vigilant parents, however, are often not as concerned as they should be about who is interacting with their children on a regular basis and who they let into their children’s lives. While they won’t let a child go on a long bike ride alone, today’s parents will often send their kids off to a sports practice without knowing anything about the coach or assistant coach.

This is foolish- much more foolish than letting your child play outside alone! So many parents just blindly assume that any coaches or others working with their children have been properly background-checked and are safe and trustworthy. And, while this is sometimes the case, it isn’t always true!

Make sure that, if your child is spending time around a hockey coach or any other adult, you know the details of that adult and his or her background. You should also know what methods the school or other organization uses to “test out” individuals and make sure they are safe and trustworthy around children.

This kind of thing is far smarter and more practical than worrying about your child’s every move or where your child goes to play. Make an effort to worry and tend to the things that matter. This is the best way to keep your children truly safe!

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Why Do Some Hockey Coaches Use Blue Pucks?

Does your child’s hockey coach insist on using blue pucks? Or maybe you’ve just seen these pucks in play before and wondered why they were blue. Well, believe it or not, there is a reason that some coaches insist on blue pucks for young players.   

See, these blue pucks are not just different in color from standard black pucks. They are actually different in weight, weighing in at two ounces under the basic 6 ounce black puck. Coaches who utilize this puck thoroughly believe that using a smaller, lighter puck makes for easier, more effective, and more age appropriate play for young kids.

And, while many embrace the blue puck and feel like it just plain makes sense, others worry that it won’t provide the same strength training as a heavier puck.However, this isn’t necessarily true. People in favor of the blue puck argue that it will help kids to first develop proper shooting skills and stick handling skills, while also strengthening them at the appropriate pace and intensity level for their smaller size.

Supporters of the lightweight blue puck also feel that it will help goalies, allowing them to more easily keep their heads up, improve accuracy, and defend all areas of their territory. Plus, since the blue pucks have become commonplace, improvements have been seen in both goalies and regular players alike.

If your coach isn’t using a blue puck for your child’s team, he’s not following USA Hockey standards, and if he is or if he’s giving it a try, don’t knock it until you see the results. Many people, even those who were at first skeptical of the blue puck, have now come to support it.

Remember, at the end of the day, you want what’s best for your child and what is going to help him to develop skills at an appropriate and safe pace and level, and most agree that the blue puck helps kids to do just that!

Signs of a Bad Hockey Coach

Being a hockey coach isn’t easy. Coaches have to deal with parents and their complaints and worries. They also have to spend extra hours practicing and working with their team members, and the pay typically isn’t all that good. Some coaches are even volunteers, working full-time jobs and juggling coaching duties at the same time for no pay!

Obviously, not everyone is going to be cut out for this (sometimes thankless) job. There are, however, a rare few who absolutely love what they do, despite some of the difficulties involved. Hopefully, if you are a coach, you fall into the “good coach” category. If you’re a parent, then hopefully your child is working with a good coach. If not, there are some easy ways to tell if a coach is off his game and not doing his job to the best of his ability.

A bad coach is....

1. Insensitive to the players’ feelings: Kids, as they say, will be kids. That means that young players are never going to behave perfectly all the time. Even when they’re misbehaving, however, a good coach is still concerned for their feelings. Instead of disciplining a child loudly in front of others, he will take the child aside, gently explain what was done wrong, and let the consequences for continued bad behavior be known. There is never any value in purposefully embarrassing a child and making him or her feel bad in front of others.

2. Critical without being constructive: Part of a coach’s job is to analyze what the players are doing right and what they’re doing wrong. The difference between a good coach and a bad coach, however, is that a bad coach will simply point out the mistakes and make the player feel bad for them while a good coach will provide constructive criticism that includes suggestions on how to improve without shaming the player.

3. Focused only on winning: No one likes to lose, and everyone likes to win. For coaches, though, winning should not be their main focus. Instead, their focus should be on helping the players to have fun, gain valuable life skills from the game, and to improve as athletes. All of these things, as well as the safety and overall well being of the players, have to be put ahead of winning.

4. Focused only on specific players: There are always going to be some players on the team who are better than others. A bad coach allows these players to become the “stars” of the team. He will give them preferential treatment in everything from games to rule-breaking. Skill should be encouraged and celebrated, but good coaches know how to find value in every member of their team and how to avoid playing favorites, which only breeds resentment among the players.

If you’re a coach, hopefully you haven’t noticed any of these traits in yourself. If you have, it’s never too late to turn over a new leaf or to admit that coaching might not be right for you.

If you’re a parent and you’ve seen these bad behaviors in your child’s coach, it may be time to look into finding a different team- one with a positive, supportive, passionate coach- for your child.

A Hockey Style Life

I played hockey when I was a kid...a long, long time ago. At the time, I thought I was going to become a professional hockey player, and so did my parents. We had big dreams for my future stardom. Things didn’t turn out quite the way I (or we) planned, and I’m the first to admit that. However, as the current hockey coach for my son’s team, I’m okay with that. I don’t resent hockey, and if I had it to do over again, I’m not sure I’d change anything; I’m glad for all that hockey taught me.

To be fair, I had a pretty good run of it. I was featured in the Hockey News Junior Ratings back n the 90s. The sport led me to play in lots of exciting games, take part in tryouts with famous athletes, and above all else, gave me the confidence and self-awareness needed to be what’s considered a

“successful person.”

I am pretty darn happy with the way my life turned out, even if it didn’t quite line up with my original goals, which included being the next Wayne Gretzky and winning the Hobey Baker Award.

What ended up happening to me, in a nutshell, is that I fell in love with the sport, had a lot of fun and excitement playing it, never made it big, and still love it. I credit the fact that I’m not resentful to my parents and coaches, who always made the game about fun and passion and who took a “whatever happens happens” attitude.

Also, my parents and coaches always encouraged me to pursue other interests and activities; in essence, they wanted me to be a well-rounded person, and I think I am. I have a beautiful wife and a wonderful son who I wouldn’t trade for anything...even a professional hockey career.

I think I am living proof that, with the right attitude, it doesn’t and shouldn’t matter whether a player ends up going pro or not. That should never be the focus. When the focus is on the right things- having fun and developing passion and work ethic- you can let the cards (or the puck) fall where they may and still come out the other side happy and better for the experience of being a youth athlete.

                                                                               - Anonymous Hockey Dad

Interacting with Your Childs Hockey Coach

Next to you and the other parent in your child’s life, no one is more influential than your child’s hockey coach. This is someone whom your child spends a lot of time with and whose personal mission it is to help mold and grow your child into a successful athlete. Because the coach plays   such an influential role in your child’s life, it only makes sense that you would want to get to know him or her.  

It’s important to make sure that the coach’s values, beliefs, and philosophies as they relate to sports and athletic training are in line with the values, beliefs, and philosophies you want your child to take to heart and put to practice. If there’s a serious disconnect between the person you hope your child becomes and the person your coach hopes your child becomes, your child probably needs a different hockey environment.

A good coach will take the time to introduce himself to parents at the start of the season. He will also be direct when questioned about his coaching approaches, beliefs, and philosophies. You and a coach don’t have to agree 100% on everything, but you should agree when it comes to how losses are handled, the goal of the team, what the coach wants children to get out of being on his team, and other important matters such as these.

Ideally, a coach will be focused on building skills and sportsmanship rather than on winning and will treat players with respect and kindness at all times, win or lose. Remember, though, that just because a coach says he believes in something doesn't necessarily mean he practices what he preaches. Attend a few practices and games to see if your child’s coach is really all that he says. Also, make sure your child knows he can speak up if he ever feels mistreated or threatened by his coach. Listening to your little one, staying in contact with the coach, and “checking in” at practices and events from time to time can ensure you’re happy with the instruction your child is receiving.

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Top Tips from Top Coaches

There are few events more revered in the coaching world than the annual Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) breakfast. The 2014 breakfast featured such top-notch coaches as Jim Thompson and Randy Shaver. The coaches in attendance were asked to share their thoughts on how to build a positive team atmosphere and commitment among players. Not only did they share specific strategies they

themselves had employed but they also gave some general tips. Some of the gems they shared included:

l  Always emphasizing positive compliments with players. Coaches should compliment more than they criticize!

l  Publicly thank assistant coaches and others who make playing possible.

l  Get to know each player individually and use the knowledge gained for person-specific coaching and encouragement.

l  Create big-picture team goals as well as individual level player goals for each player.

l  Celebrate every goal or milestone reached, no matter how small.

l  Tailor coaching to each player and his individual goals and wants; know each player’s reason for playing.

l  Challenge the team daily.

l  Create expectations for each player and for the team as a whole.

l  Set goals for each practice.

l  Smile and be positive.

l  Pay attention to player reactions and emotions and act accordingly.

l  Be consistent as a coach.

l  Don’t make excuses.

l  When a goal is reached, set a higher/harder to achieve goal. Never stop striving for betterment.

l  Communicate with players, parents, and every person or organization involved in players’ lives.

l  Focus on building a strong team and team environment, not on winning.

These goals might seem basic, but they are actually quite hard to achieve. However, the only thing you can do, as a coach, is to do your best each and every day and to try to keep these strategies and tips in mind. Will any coach ever be perfect? Absolutely not. But the difference between a good coach and a bad coach is constantly striving to be better.

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