“That Coach Gets It”

Recently I had an amazingly insightful impromptu 5 minute discussion with a coach.

We aren’t going to name names or anything, but let me tell you one thing, their team and players have the right person for the job.

I’ve always been intrigued speaking with coaches and picking their brains, just shooting the shit and talking hockey.

Every discussion I’ve had over the years I’ve learned something new and learning about “today’s” player and getting into the minds of those that coach is vitally important because it adds another layer of knowledge which I can apply to my role as a scout.

Being self-aware and knowing the pulse of your hockey club is a critical trait to possess for any coach.

The coach in question understood right away after working with the group that they couldn’t extend and go deep, they had to go back to basics and traditional fundamentals to re-teach and refine.

Most coaches these days would have doubled down and continued on their way trying to implement complicated systems in hopes that the players would “figure it out” on the fly.

Going back to the basics and taking pride in teaching concepts and how to play the game the right way will serve their players extraordinary well moving forward.

Sure there might be some tough days and short term struggles, but by the end of the season that group of young players will no doubt have come the farthest and developed the most and be ready to make the jump to the next level.

I walked away from that discussion thinking, “that coach gets it.”

You see that coach put all of their own expectations, philosophies and aspects of the game they wanted to establish and incorporate aside because they had the best interest of the players in mind.

In developmental leagues and levels coaches walk the very fine line of winning and developing. This coach understands that aspect incredibly well, but still made the decision to refine before extending, and in doing so established their team’s identity while allowing and promoting individual player development, now that’s phenomenal coaching.

That coach gets it!