Jan 02, 2017 | Jason Brown | 1504 views
Wayne Gretzky Tourney
Congratulations to all players and parents for a superb week of holiday hockey. A big thank you to all from the coaching staff!
As we all witnessed this past week, our team has the potential and skill to beat EVERY team in our division and most of all improve as we may have to alter our game plans as we go.
We are the team others worry about playing!!!
To the Parents:
To let you all know, I talk to all players about decisions I make after every game, win or lose. This includes, altering lines, altering positions, changing goalies or shortening the bench to some times 2 lines. (this is not house league so not all players will receive equal ice time as position assignments and responsibilities alter)
These choices some times weigh heavy on a Head Coaches shoulders but are always made in the best interest of the ENTIRE TEAM not one or two players. This week showed how some players listened and some misunderstood and that is OK with me, they are young and learning.
That being said, I need support of parents to explain to them that although they wear the jersey with pride and earned a spot on the team, some times other players work better together in certain circumstances and in order to win they may miss a shift or two with their original line mates.
They are also asked about effort and listening, both at 100% (again i know they are young but we are teaching them responsibilities as well as athletics). We can only ask for 100% effort and if we get something its better than nothing.
What they hear post and pre game may not be getting to your ears but rest assured in knowing that reasons are given to them for my decisions, you or they may not like it them but if we were in last place it would be heartbreaking to them, you, and my fault.
This sport is not always fare to the individual but it is a game, and winning a game is usually better for all. Hence why I asked at the very beginning of the season not to discuss the game immediately after in order for them to forget any bad plays they or a team mate may have made. Usually they forget the entire game and want to play mini sticks lol.
That being said, I have heard some comments from parents (yes from our team but also from others regarding our parents) about children other than theirs and how they play. They are on the team, not you, let them make mistakes and screw up, some of them are very hard on themselves all ready and don't need to hear form Mom or Dad how horrible their team mate or friend is at times. We have already seen animosity in the dressing room and its caused by parents not kids.
Our team is doing great, yes we need improvement but we are learning. When the kids listen to us they play from their heart as they want to please the coaches, teammates and of course you. Lets keep the positives up and negatives down in order to start instilling some confidence and visualization in our players so they can move up the ladder and become the Number 1 team they are.
To the Players:
Keep digging deep'
Keep trying hard
Keep pressuring the other team
Keep thinking about your position on the ice
Keep passing when you can or should
Keep remembering that you are part the same team, WE ALL WIN AND LOSE TOGETHER not just one person
Keep having fun
Keep in mind you now have 15 other brothers and a sister!
Keep smiling