The Role of the Coach
Chris DePiero
General Manager & Head Coach
Oshawa Generals
COACHING
A young swimmer asked her coach what it would take to win an
Olympic Gold Medal. The coach grabbed her swimmer and held her under the
water. The swimmer thrashed and fought but the coach would not let her
surface. Finally the coach let her swimmer up.
Coughing and gasping, the swimmer asked her coach why did she do that.The
coach replied when you get to the point where you want a gold medal as bad
as you wanted air, that is when you will get it.
This is a very demanding decade for minor hockey
coaches. As times get tough and money gets tighter,
parents will have to make sacrifices to allow their
children to play hockey. Therefore, the demands on
coaches will be greater and expectations will increase.
Only opening the gate and having fun will not be
enough. The key to this decade will be the ability to
teach.
Stan Butler
THE GAME
-
The
The
The
The
The
The
The
1940’s
1950’s
1960’s
1970’s
1980’s
1990’s
2000’s
–
–
–
–
–
–
-
WWII – Red Tilson
Leave it to Beaver
Peace and Love
Family Dynamics Change
Video Age
Participation Drop
Changing Demographics
RESPONSIBILITY AS A COACH
“Execution not excuses”
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KIDS DO NOT LACK CAPACITY, ONLY TEACHERS
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STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT – Electric Fence
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ASK YOURSELF WHY DO I COACH? DEVELOP A PHILOSOPHY
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RESOURCES – utilizing that which is available to us
-
CONTINUE LEARNING – if we think we know it all then we
are in trouble
ON THE ICE
-
Practice
- Games
OFF THE ICE
Fitness
- Mental preparation
- Counselor/Mentor
-
-
LEADER

TODAY’S ATHLETE
“MILLENIAL ATHLETE”
-
SHELTERED (helicopter parenting – Polysporin Commercial)
SMART (information age)
BUSY (overscheduled – multi-tasking)
MORE WORLDLY
REALITY STARS (My Space, Facebook, You Tube etc.)
LACK OF MENTAL TOUGHNESS???
SOLUTIONS
“TOTAL ATHLETE?”
1.
Help them understand adversity’s inevitable and helpful in the long run –
(maintain composure through adversity)
2.
Getting better is a long term process – (no easy solutions)
3.
Dozens of things are competing for your athlete’s attention
4.
Short attention spans (must keep their focus)
5.
Give them time for free play (lives are so structured)
6.
Empower them to fight their own battles (“Struggle and emerge”)
SOLUTIONS
1.
Help them understand adversity’s inevitable and helpful in the
long run – (maintain composure through adversity)
2.
Getting better is a long term process – (no easy solutions)
3.
Dozens of things are competing for your athlete’s attention
4.
Short attention spans (must keep their focus)
5.
Give them time for free play (lives are so structured)
6.
Empower them to fight their own battles (“Struggle and emerge”)

THE GAME AS IT
REALLY IS
-
Has the game really changed? Have players really changed?
-
Do we over think things?
-
We must be aware of our clientele…
-
SKATING, PASSING, SHOOTING…..BUT

WE RISE TO THE LEVEL
OF EXPECTATIONS
“External agitation, work, struggle, and deprivation
are imperative conditions from which no one
may escape, not even for a moment….In order
to really live one has to strive, make mistakes,
struggle, go astray, start and struggle and start
all over again.”
You will not get far using ‘old skates’----using old tactics, skills
and techniques. What was considered the weapon of the
strongest team yesterday today becomes accessible to all. It
is a fact that all teams try and learn from the champions.
That is why if the champion wants to remain at the top, he
must always be looking for some new ‘secret weapon’.”
Anatoli Tarasov