Open Letter to Coaches and Parents (posted on MLive)
I think everyone agrees that coaching styles, techniques, skill,
and personalities vary. Some are good, some are bad relative to
your point of view. As a goalie coach, I have the luxury of being
"within" the system, but off in my own little world of
blue ice. This offers me the opportunity to observe the interaction
between coaches and parents from a unique point of view. Here are
a few of my personal observations over the years.
Skilled and knowledgeable parents are the quiet ones.
Parents who TRUELY care about their players development are always
ready to help (even if they cannot skate)
Parents who graduated from the ESPN College of Hockey are the loudest
and most difficult.
Parents that do not understand the minute details of plays and systems
will profess more expertise than the coach.
50% of players goof off in practice. 100% of their parents think
the coach is an idiot.
10% of the players on the team work very hard, and get rewarded
with additional attention.
Every player will encounter a learning "plateau" during
a season where they flat line in development and play. Coaches understand
this. A child in this phase cannot learn new things. Its normal,
it changes, and learning continues. It happens to everyone. Some
parents unfortunately, do not understand this.
7 of 10 players lack the discipline to be quiet and listen when
a coach is explaining/teaching/talking. Information is missed, development
is reduced, the coach is blamed.
60% of parents believe that winning is important. 10% Believe that
it is all that matters... EVER!
Only 20% of parents and 50% of coaches understand that success is
measured in IMPROVEMENT, not win/loss record, Goals, or GAA. Improvement
is NOT constant, and is more erratic with younger players.
50% of parents will yell SHOOT when their child gets the puck at
the blue line and has 4 players and a goalie between him and the
net. 80% of kids (under 10) will actually hear this and waste a
shot.
80% of what happens on the bench during a game cannot be seen, or
heard from the stands. Yet at least one parent will question each
major decision without really knowing why it was made.
A bench is a BUSY place, there is a lot of thinking, lots of movement,
lots of quick conversations. Mistakes happen in this environment
at ALL levels of hockey. Miscues, half heard instructions, and down
right "oopses" occur. Relax, we aren't perfect either.
In the history of the NHL, no Mite, Squirt, or PeeWee has ever been
offered a contract. Relax, maybe next year.
90% of coaches really care a lot about kids. The 10% that don't
need to be removed.
75% of coaches that quit do so due to the constant barrage of conflicts
with parents over absurd arguments. ALL coaches consider retiring
at least once during each season.
-Author's name withheld by request
05/25/2004
Copyright © 2004-2005 Canton Amateur
Hockey Association
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