The Role of the CoachThe Role of the Coach

Chris DePieroChris DePieroGeneral Manager & Head CoachGeneral Manager & Head Coach

Oshawa GeneralsOshawa Generals

COACHINGCOACHING

A young swimmer asked her coach what it would take to win anA young swimmer asked her coach what it would take to win an

Olympic Gold Medal. The coach grabbed her swimmer and held her Olympic Gold Medal. The coach grabbed her swimmer and held her under the under the

water. The swimmer thrashed and fought but the coach would not let her water. The swimmer thrashed and fought but the coach would not let her

surface. Finally the coach let her swimmer up.surface. Finally the coach let her swimmer up.

Coughing and gasping, the swimmer asked her coach why did she do Coughing and gasping, the swimmer asked her coach why did she do that.Thethat.The

coach replied when you get to the point where you want a gold medal coach replied when you get to the point where you want a gold medal as badas bad

as you wanted air, that is when you will get it.as you wanted air, that is when you will get it.

This is a very demanding decade for minor hockey This is a very demanding decade for minor hockey coaches. As times get tough and money gets coaches. As times get tough and money gets tighter, parents will have to make sacrifices to tighter, parents will have to make sacrifices to allow their children to play hockey. Therefore, the allow their children to play hockey. Therefore, the demands on coaches will be greater and demands on coaches will be greater and expectations will increase. Only opening the gate expectations will increase. Only opening the gate and having fun will not be enough. The key to this and having fun will not be enough. The key to this decade will be the ability to teach. decade will be the ability to teach. Stan Stan ButlerButler

THE GAMETHE GAME

- The 1940’s – WWII – Red TilsonThe 1940’s – WWII – Red Tilson- The 1950’s – Leave it to BeaverThe 1950’s – Leave it to Beaver- The 1960’s – Peace and LoveThe 1960’s – Peace and Love- The 1970’s – Family Dynamics ChangeThe 1970’s – Family Dynamics Change- The 1980’s – Video AgeThe 1980’s – Video Age- The 1990’s – Participation Drop The 1990’s – Participation Drop - The 2000’s - Changing DemographicsThe 2000’s - Changing Demographics

RESPONSIBILITY AS A COACHRESPONSIBILITY AS A COACH““Execution not excuses”Execution not excuses”

- KIDS DO NOT LACK CAPACITY, ONLY TEACHERSKIDS DO NOT LACK CAPACITY, ONLY TEACHERS

- STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT – Electric FenceSTRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT – Electric Fence

- ASK YOURSELF WHY DO I COACH? DEVELOP A ASK YOURSELF WHY DO I COACH? DEVELOP A PHILOSOPHYPHILOSOPHY

- RESOURCES – utilizing that which is available to us RESOURCES – utilizing that which is available to us

- CONTINUE LEARNING – if we think we know it all then CONTINUE LEARNING – if we think we know it all then we are in troublewe are in trouble

ON THE ICEON THE ICE

- Practice Practice

- Games- Games

OFF THE ICEOFF THE ICE

- FitnessFitness

- Mental preparation- Mental preparation- Counselor/MentorCounselor/Mentor- LEADERLEADER

TODAY’S ATHLETETODAY’S ATHLETE““MILLENIAL ATHLETE”MILLENIAL ATHLETE”

- SHELTERED (helicopter parenting – Polysporin Commercial)SHELTERED (helicopter parenting – Polysporin Commercial)- SMART (information age)SMART (information age)- BUSY (overscheduled – multi-tasking)BUSY (overscheduled – multi-tasking)- MORE WORLDLYMORE WORLDLY- REALITY STARS (My Space, Facebook, You Tube etc.)REALITY STARS (My Space, Facebook, You Tube etc.)

LACK OF MENTAL TOUGHNESS???LACK OF MENTAL TOUGHNESS???

SOLUTIONSSOLUTIONS““TOTAL ATHLETE?”TOTAL ATHLETE?”

1.1. Help them understand adversity’s inevitable and helpful in the Help them understand adversity’s inevitable and helpful in the long run – (maintain composure through adversity)long run – (maintain composure through adversity)

2.2. Getting better is a long term process – (no easy solutions)Getting better is a long term process – (no easy solutions)

3.3. Dozens of things are competing for your athlete’s attention Dozens of things are competing for your athlete’s attention

4.4. Short attention spans (must keep their focus)Short attention spans (must keep their focus)

5.5. Give them time for free play (lives are so structured)Give them time for free play (lives are so structured)

6.6. Empower them to fight their own battles (“Struggle and Empower them to fight their own battles (“Struggle and emerge”)emerge”)

SOLUTIONSSOLUTIONS1.1. Help them understand adversity’s inevitable and helpful in the Help them understand adversity’s inevitable and helpful in the

long run – (maintain composure through adversity)long run – (maintain composure through adversity)

2.2. Getting better is a long term process – (no easy solutions)Getting better is a long term process – (no easy solutions)

3.3. Dozens of things are competing for your athlete’s attention Dozens of things are competing for your athlete’s attention

4.4. Short attention spans (must keep their focus)Short attention spans (must keep their focus)

5.5. Give them time for free play (lives are so structured)Give them time for free play (lives are so structured)

6.6. Empower them to fight their own battles (“Struggle and Empower them to fight their own battles (“Struggle and emerge”)emerge”)

THE GAME AS IT THE GAME AS IT

REALLY ISREALLY IS

- Has the game really changed? Have players really changed?Has the game really changed? Have players really changed?

- Do we over think things? Do we over think things?

- We must be aware of our clientele…We must be aware of our clientele…

- SKATING, PASSING, SHOOTING…..BUTSKATING, PASSING, SHOOTING…..BUT

WE RISE TO THE LEVELWE RISE TO THE LEVEL

OF EXPECTATIONSOF EXPECTATIONS

““External agitation, work, struggle, and External agitation, work, struggle, and deprivation are imperative conditions from deprivation are imperative conditions from which no one may escape, not even for a which no one may escape, not even for a moment….In order to really live one has to moment….In order to really live one has to strive, make mistakes, struggle, go astray, strive, make mistakes, struggle, go astray, start and struggle and start all over again.”start and struggle and start all over again.”

You will not get far using ‘old skates’----using old tactics, You will not get far using ‘old skates’----using old tactics, skills and techniques. What was considered the skills and techniques. What was considered the weapon of the strongest team yesterday today weapon of the strongest team yesterday today becomes accessible to all. It is a fact that all teams try becomes accessible to all. It is a fact that all teams try and learn from the champions. That is why if the and learn from the champions. That is why if the champion wants to remain at the top, he must always champion wants to remain at the top, he must always be looking for some new ‘secret weapon’.”be looking for some new ‘secret weapon’.”

Anatoli TarasovAnatoli Tarasov