Reply To: Good Habits at Practice? The Art of Coaching!

Thanks for the posts, Coachy and DMan! I told Tom I would try to get things moving on the site (when I have time!) I am busy teaching skill academies in the mornings, doing some coach development and evaluation stuff for Hockey Canada / Hockey Alberta, private coach mentoring, plus working on writing a book about Smart Transitional Games… plus playing dad to two young 'uns!

DMan, After designing purposeful, game-like practices, attention to detail and holding people accountable (to help develop and reinforce positive practice habits) are probably the most critical action steps a coach can take – once he or she understands the game at a high level (and also understands, that he or she never "knows it all" – and is always seeking new experiences and knowledge!) This attention to detail includes teaching life skills and doing what you say you are going to do. I will relate a story below…

I remember I coached a Midget AAA team back in the mid-1990's. WHL scouts told me we didn't have much in the way of returning talent or incoming players. A pre-season poll picked us to finish out of the playoffs (top 4 made playoffs) in 7th place (out of 8 teams in the south division.) Fortunately, I had learned the importance of good practice habits and how to manage players in this regard based on working with Tom Renney and Mike Johnston for a year with Canada's National Men's team. They got a lot of mileage out of predominantly minor league players – some would say the team overachieved. But that is what great coaches do!

I presented my expectations to the kids trying out and told them they would all receive a fair tryout; detailed the process, etc. I didn't have any preconceived knowledge (other than what I found out from talking to the kids previous coaches) or history with any of the kids and their parents (baggage). In the first week, I cut two of my seven returning veterans – a 17 year old D and G. The D was voted the top D-man in the league the year previous as a 16 year-old and the G had put up excellent numbers. However, they didn't work hard, rested on their laurels, and tried to take shortcuts! I talked to them individually the first time I had issues with them (Strike 1); told them that wasn't the standard of performance I expected; and told them specifically how they needed to demonstrate better behaviour. I also told them that if the shortcutting happened again, or if they did anything to further harm my trust in them, that they would be released.

They both tried to shortcut the team run two days later. They hid in the bushes while all the other kids ran out to the turn around point and back. The two vets then rejoined the kids. Of course, all the other kids saw this… but so did the coaching staff as we always had someone at the turnaround point to watch… or we ran with them… or we watched from other vantage points. (Amazing how dumb the kids thought we were!) I met with both kids separately right after the run, asked them if they completed the entire run (which they both said yes), then told them they were lying as we had seen them cheat. Not only did they shortcut, they lied. Both kids cried and beg for another chance, but in my books, they had burned their bridge with me. Not only was it important to do what I said I would do, this sent a powerful message to the other kids trying out. They were waiting… wondering if I would 'see' the short-cutting and if I did, if I had the guts to follow up on my promises.

I did. It was easy. I didn't have to make a decision… I just had to uphold my word. When one clearly understands one's coaching philosophy and can articulate it, things fall into place.

This action made a huge impact on the other kids. They were pretty observant; following up on my words with action helped me be seen as someone who could be respected and trusted. The other kids toed the line all year, knowing I was a man of my word and I wouldn't put up with any guff. It wasn't all roses; we had our minor discipline issues like all teams do. But the kids knew I was punishing the behaviour – it was never personal – and it was for the betterment of the individual and team. Plus I had spelled things out in advance and followed through.

Ten years later, one of the kids that made that team, told me that my words and actions – to cut two significant vets – really set the table for the success that we had that season. He said the other kids were mad at the two short-cutters, and were extremely glad that they had been cut. Lonnie said that by doing this, the kids admired us and worked even harder to show that they believed in our message. He said it cemented out team chemistry and they were prepared to go into battle with me – and to give that little extra! He told me he still demands that his players do the same things that I asked Lonnie to do way back then – stop at the net to look for rebounds; come off skating – not coasting – on line changes; play your same puck in practice (don't pick up one that's closer or easier); finish your play… play until the whistle. (The funny thing was, Lonnie bought in SO well that a few times during the early part of the season, he caught himself skating past the net in a game – you could see the realization by his body language – and he stopped like he was going to get down on the ice and do 10 pushups right there and then! "Lonnie, get your ass back into the play!" I yelled, as the play was continuing up the ice towards our end, and once he came off, he would sheepishly apologize to me and the team for "doing a fly-by" and do the pushups on the bench!)

Lonnie went on to coach this same Midget AAA team, as well as a number of other minor hockey teams in the association, and even assisted me later with a university team for a year. He came full circle from player to coach to mentor and it was very gratifying to see him evolve – and what he told me about the team ten years previous really helped reinforce my understanding of the significant impact a coach can have.

We finished 4th in the south division that year (made the playoffs) but got swept in the first round by the team that would represent the west at the Air Canada Cup. Their coach, Dan MacDonald, is a former WHL, Junior A and college coach. He is also a teacher of 25 + years (who specialized in teaching the kids who were tossed out of the regular school system.) A great coach and someone who I have become friends with over the years. Dan is still teaching and coaching minor hockey. Lucky kids!

Two of our kids were listed by WHL teams. One just missed winning a Memorial Cup (got drafted by Florida) but has gone on to play several years in the AHL, a few seasons in the NHL and is making a good career for himself in Europe in the DEL. I still run into Mike every once in a while, and he has a similar story to tell about those two short-cutters – and how I helped him realize that he could play at a higher level if he worked hard (make him capable and confident!) He said that by holding him accountable to the little things, (which including me benching him for taking needless and unsportsmanlike penalties) that helped develop his consistency, which led to him wearing a letter in the WHL and beyond.

Several other kids went on to play Junior A and a few garnered scholarships or went to college as walk-on's. The best part was seeing that for the most part, they had a positive experience (I know not all of them liked me) and learned life skills. Sadly, a couple of them went a little sideways with drugs and booze later on after their junior careers. I still wonder and worry about one kid in particular as I hear he is struggling. (Our kids primarily came from a low SES district / tough neigbourhoods – lots of challenges, to put it mildly. But overall, they were great kids. I didn't dislike one kid.)

Finally… whatever happened to the two kids I cut? The all-star D made the top Alberta Junior A team that year right after I released him, but was eventually cut a month later – allegedly due to his poor work ethic. He ended up playing Midget AA as a 17 year-old… made the first all-star team (he was a phenomenal skater and had the hardest slapshot in the league in Midget AAA!) then went to play Junior A / Junior B as an 18 year-old. I don't know if he played after that – I heard he gained a ton of weight and was working in the oil patch. Sadly, the other kid played Junior B and was dealing drugs. I heard he allegedly died of an overdose a few years later – before he was 22.

Long story, but it is one that I will never forget as I learned a lot about the power coaches have… I hope you learn from it too!