NMDMHA COACHING PHILOSOPHY

Regardless of the age or level, there are 8 principles we feel you need to remember as a

coach when teaching the game of hockey in the NMDMHA program.

1. RESPECT IS EARNED NOT BESTOWED

2. BE AWARE OF THE EFFECTS OF NEGATIVITY

3. KEEP THE LEARNING PROCESS FUN

4. ALWAYS CONFIRM THEY ARE LEARNING

5. DEMONSTRATE AND TEACH TEAM BUILDING

6. DEAL WITH ADVERSITY IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER

7. BE PREPARED

8. COMMUNICATE

RESPECT IS EARNED NOT BESTOWED:

Remember a title is sometimes nothing more than just that. As a coach you are a

very important person in the lives of these young people and they need to build trust and

respect for you quickly. Once you have this from them they will be excellent students and

be willing to play hard for you, their mentor. Be consistent with your message, sincere

with your convictions and gentle in your delivery.

BE AWARE OF THE EFFECTS OF NEGATIVITY

Although we sometimes need to identify weaknesses in individuals as well as the

team, we need to remember that negativity can really damage confidence. Confidence is

the most important element we want to instill in these young people as it is the most

important quality needed to succeed in life. It is our job to protect it and nurture it. This

doesn’t mean we ignore areas for improvement, but rather we identify them, work with

them to improve, and once they have improved, reward them with praise because they

deserve it. If we can remove the fear of failing and build their confidence to try new

things, we can consider this an important achievement for them, as well as you, the

coach.

KEEP THE LEARNING PROCESS FUN

Much like those who love their work and don’t consider it work, those who are

having fun trying new things may not consider it school. Whether in a game or in practice

we don’t want this experience to be void of any fun. Ask the kids if they have favourite

drills or games and perhaps use this as a reward for good efforts in learning new or more

challenging drills. Try to keep practice drills similar to the game and how the game is

played. Reward for individual and team successes and don’t penalize for failure as you

may inadvertently teach them to never take chances. Understand that sometimes you have

to find success somewhere other than the scoreboard.

ALWAYS CONFIRM THEY ARE LEARNING

In school they give tests. In hockey we too can give tests. They may be verbal as

opposed to written but they still confirm whether or not we are getting the results we

want. Rather than tell the kids before the game what new plays or skills they need to

apply, maybe ask them or have them draw it on the board for the rest of the team. This

will tell you how successful you are at transferring what is in your mind into theirs and

whether or not a different approach is needed.

DEMONSTRATE AND TEACH TEAM BUILDING

Win or Lose, we do it as a team. This is a team sport, and they must get this from

their experience here. One way to demonstrate this easily is to make sure the coaching

staff operates as a team unto itself. If they see the coaching staff as fragmented they will

pick up on this and it will transfer down to them. Identify early each of your staff

members’ roles and work with them to deliver the best hockey experience possible for the

kids. Reinforce the need for the team to work together, and bring attention to any

successes that were a direct result of a team effort, that otherwise wouldn’t have been

possible. Deal with selfishness in a team member on a one on one basis to ensure they

may save face and not be centered out.

DEAL WITH ADVERSITY IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER

Like life, hockey is filled with adversity. Some teams have bigger players; some

times the referee’s judgment is in question, sometimes the ice is poor. These are adverse

things we have little or no control over. Adverse effects can be frustrating and can

generate a very intense and uncontrolled emotional response. They can also generate a

very intense and controlled frame of mind. They will learn in hockey that life isn’t always

fair, but what we also want them to learn is that if they respond in a certain way, they can

defeat adversity rather than submit to it. The teacher must have mastered this discipline

before he can expect to teach it to his students.

BE PREPARED

Whether running practices, dealing with parent concerns, or a temporary loss of

players, make sure you are prepared. This will give you the confidence you need to

demonstrate leadership and manage your team regardless of what situations may occur.

COMMUNICATE

This seems to be something we all realize as important but sometimes we aren’t

diligent enough in delivering. Remember communication should be an interaction rather

than a one way delivery. Make sure you not only communicate to the team, staff and the

parents your views, but that you implement a procedure for them to constructively

express their concerns or praises to you as well.

When we coach, how we coach is very important. The lessons and methods

we use and the manner with which we conduct ourselves will be examples for our

players. Maybe examples they use later in life and maybe when they coach. It’s an

awesome responsibility but also an awesome opportunity to touch the future, but

that’s what we do when we coach.