You’ve been dreaming of this day for as long as you can remember. The crisp air, the beautiful game, and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with coaching youth hockey – it’s a dream that many of us can share. Now that you’re a hockey coach, here’s how you can bring that dream to life and inspire your players to greatness!
Table of Contents
Teach The Right Way
One of the first things you’ll learn as a hockey coach is that you teach by example. You teach your players how to act, how to play, and most importantly, how to value the game. You want your players to see that you not only enjoy the game but you also take your responsibilities seriously and work hard at being the best coach you can be. The same goes for the parents who are watching their kids play. They’ll see how committed you are to teaching and learning and it will inspire them to be as involved as possible.
Use Technology
With each new generation comes a new way of doing things, and that includes staying connected to kids through technology. While face-to-face contact is still the best way to teach your players, it’s not the only way. You can use technology to engage your players and hold their attention. One of the great things about technology is that it allows you to tailor your lessons to exactly what your players are interested in. Instead of forcing them to sit through a soccer lesson, you can have a hockey lesson delivered right to their phones.
Get Professional Help
Another important thing you’ll learn as a hockey coach is that even though you might be the best teacher and role model there is, you still need help. You don’t just learn how to teach hockey – you learn how to be a better coach. The same goes for managing players, motivating them, and dealing with parents who are concerned about their kids playing hockey. Even though you have the perfect plan and vision for what you want your players to learn and achieve, sometimes you need an extra set of hands to help get things done. That’s why it’s important to seek out help from people who’ve been there and done that. Professional help can be just what you need to move forward and inspire your players to greatness.
Set Up Regular Practice Routs
You can also set up regular practice sessions for your players. Besides getting them acclimated to the pace of practice, you can use these sessions to work on improving their skills and increasing their game. While it’s important to have high hopes for your players, it’s just as important to be realistic about their potential. A regular practice session will help you determine what skills your players need work on and what areas of their game they need to improve on. It’s also a good idea to use these practice sessions to introduce new and exciting concepts to your players so they continue to engage with the sport.
Be Confident
Another important thing you’ll learn as a hockey coach is to be confident when giving instructions and praise. You want your players to believe in you even when things get difficult. Confidence is an important ingredient to having a successful coaching career. It will get you far in life, so make sure you develop it!
Be Careful With What You Eat
In the same way you want your players to work hard and improve their game, you want their parents to be careful about how they eat. While it’s important for your players to enjoy the fruits of their labor, it’s also important they maintain their ideal body weight. You don’t want to ruin your players’ careers by making them over or underweight. The same goes for your own health! Eat the right way and get plenty of sleep and you’ll do great things for your coaching career!
Bringing the joy of the game to children is one of the most important things you’ll ever do. You’ll teach them to respect their surroundings, work hard, and have fun. Most of all, you’ll teach them that they can do anything if they put their mind to it. Every parent and kid dreams of having a coach who inspires them to be the best they can be, but now that you’re one of these inspiring coaches, they’ll have the chance to make those dreams a reality!