Reply To: Game Intelligence / Decision Training

[hockeygod]

Pavlovian Dogs, Whistles, Coaches and Players…

Yesterday, I asked the teacher responsible for running the session of Grade 7 kids to 'get rid of his whistle' during a warmup shooting drill – you know, the same static, stand around in lines and wait while another kid skates a pattern old-school boring hockey drill – then jump to attention when the coach blows his whistle – to signal to the next kid in line that it is finally his turn? (Can you detect my sarcasm yet?)

The teacher complied and guess what? The boring drill didn't fall apart. What do you think happened?

Here's more background: Before telling the teacher to get rid of the whistle, I told all the kids 'when' to go and that they had to make their own judgement 'when' to go.

After practice, I asked the teacher two questions.

1) "What did you (teacher) do when you quit worrying about controlling the drill with your whistle?"

2) "What did the kids do when you quit blowing your whistle? How did it affect the kids?"

Think about this on your own and feel free to post your own responses. Ask yourselves what you would do (as a coach) in this situation (Q # 1) and what would your players do (Q #2)? Better yet, try it and see for yourselves. There is no substitute for experience!

(I will answer later…)

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
"Great education depends on great teaching."