The Minor/Youth Hockey season is winding down and I hope everyone had a fun filled and rewarding hockey experience this past year.

And with year-end banquets or team parties concluding the hockey season,
there's still one important task the coaching staff should consider completing.

Coaches, I believe it's important for you to give your players some feedbackas to their on ice improvement over the entire season and to identify a specific skill area they could work on over the summer months, if they plan to try out for a higher level or Rep. team next fall.

This does not have to be a long or complicated process, just some verbal
or written feedback on their overall skill development this past season.

At the same time coaches should also be soliciting feedback from the
players, or their parents as to their specific coaching skills and methods.

This will help you improve your approach to the game and could offer some valuable advice, ideas, or teaching suggestions for next season.

Receiving honest feedback from parents or players, both positive and negative is a very important development tool for coaching improvement and personal growth.

Questions such as those listed below, or coaches can develop their own
feedback questions based on the age and skill level of their players.

They could send an e-mail to their players/parents asking for feedback.

Scoring system: 1 = low, 5 = average and 10 = excellent

Possible Questions for your players or parents:

Coach's knowledge of hockey skills, systems and strategy___________

Ability to teach basic hockey skills and correct errors________________

Discipline and control of players during games and practices_______

Attitude toward players_________

Conduct and appropriate language during games and practices__________

Communication skills with parents____________

Related well with players of this age___________

Coach was on time and ran organized and up tempo practices_________

Explained game plan for opposing team________

Fairness and equal ice time to all players____________

Motivational skills___________

The Coaching staff made the overall experience fun for the players _____

Individual skill development of players over course of the season______

Team skill development over the course of the season___________

Team improvement over the course of the season_____________

Team building skills___________

Rate your child's improvement over the course of the season_________

Rate your child's fun/enjoyment level over the course of the season_____

Program was: Too competitive______

Well balanced_______

Not competitive enough____

Suggestions for next season______________________________

Today's a great time to start learning and improving your hockey skills for next season.

Coaches, players and parents can read “Hockey Made Easy” at their leisure over the summer and come ready to outplay the competition in the fall.

John Shorey
Author – “Hockey Made Easy”

www.hockeymadeeasy.com