Good Coach Bad Coach

Nothing is perfect. If you don't run into a couple knuckle heads each year, you're probably not getting out enough. This goes for coaches too. You'll inevitably run into a bad coach now and then. It happens, and can be very frustrating if you find your alternatives limited. Hopefully there are more good coaches then bad in your life. I've seen valiant attempts to correct these problems made by USA Hockey, US Lacrosse, and the OMHA in Canada. Education and strict guidelines seem to be the best tool to limit the amount of poor to bad coaching in both hockey and lacrosse. A few can still slip through. There can be a difference between poor coaching and a difference in philosophies. I've learned to bite my lip and keep most of my opinions to myself. It is not as easy as one might think. Coaches tend to be super critical of each other. A difference of opinion doesn't necessarily make for a bad coach. I've been fortunate enough to surround myself with excellent coaches, managers, and helpers. The most important point to me about coaches, is why are they coaching. Is it for the kids, or the ego? The question boils down to whether you are giving back to the game, or just using the title for less then honorable reasons. Hockey and lacrosse have been extremely good to me and my family. I don't think I can ever completely pay back what these sports have done for us. It's brought my family closer together and we have made many friends through these two sports. I hope I have made a positive contribution to each team and player, and I expect all those around me to contribute in a positive way. I ask the players to give 100% and I expect myself to do the same. It's not about the outfit, it's not about winning titles. It's all about teaching your players to learn the game, love the game, reach their potential. My oldest boy graduated from high school this past week and is going on to college. He's a very good young man, and I think I owe a little to hockey, lacrosse, and many of his coaches (sometimes it was me) for what a fine young man he's become. His mom, my wife, did the hard work keeping us all in line and sane through all these years. Moms deserve a lot of credit they often don't receive. Same goes for the dads.
I was extremely impressed by his varsity lacrosse coach these past two years. There may be a few clinkers out there coaching, but there are also some pretty good ones out there too. I heard my father say this when I was just starting out coaching and I really didn't think too much about it until I was working with other coaches. "Challenge your team, challenge your players, and most of all challenge yourself-you'll be amazed at what can be accomplished if you work hard and give people a chance" I must say, I have been amazed many times. Anyone can pick a team. You have to work to make a team. Like everything in life, there is good and bad. You have to learn to skate around the cones, not through them. Keep your head up and you'll do alright. Focus on the positive and keep moving forward.