Coaches, your role is not to win every hockey game, but to
make hockey a fun and rewarding experience and teach the kids
basic skills, systems and strategies of the game over the course
of the entire season to each and everyone of your players.

Give positive feedback when good plays are made but identify
errors when you see them and explain your corrections to the
player(s) who make the error.

If your players and team can improve from the start of the season to
the end of the playoffs you have done a very good job of coaching.

Remember, the kids are there trying to have fun, not to be yelled at.
It is your responsibility to ensure they have fun by providing a stress
free learning environment both at the rink during games and at
practices either at the rink or in an off- ice school gymnasium setting.

Try to give each player equal ice time is a goal that should be followed.
However, the exception to equal ice time occurs during penalty killing
and on some power plays, or in the last 2 minutes of a close game
or tournament where the coach is allowed to use his best players to
try to win or tie the game.

This is a rule most Minor/Youth Hockey programs use around the world.

Coaches as well should encourage hard work, skill development and
provide positive feedback to each player.

Winning or losing is not that important at this early stage of their young
hockey careers but fun and skill development is priority number one.


John Shorey

Author – “Hockey Made Easy”

www.hockeymadeeasy.com