Motivation

[tommy gunn]

Anyone have any ideas as to how to get the captain and assistants to take more responsibility for the team leadership?

[Kevin]

Hi Tommy,

Can I ask what age level you work with? Great question though - I'd love to hear some responses from the others.

-Kevin

[tommy gunn]

I coach a midget "A" team. I have had meetings with the C and A's to try and encourage them to be examples in attitudes as well as work ethic. I feel they respond quite well, but it seems I have to remind them before every game.

[Kevin]

Hi Tommy,

I'm a big fan of giving captains tasks that require them to be leaders...even if it's in a small way. Little things can make a big impact and will help them to grow (hopefully). One example would be having your captains lead a team stretch/warmup before games. This forces them to lead the group and in many cases helps build confidence as leaders.

Also, in my experience, kids at this age will need constant reminders - remember, they're still kids...midget aged players have so much going on and changing in their lives, their attention span is often shorter than coaches would like.

Hope this helps some.....

-Kevin

[Jpatric]

In addition to the great suggestions above, I also give captains/asst.captains the opportunity to give their thoughts on what we need to improve on and what we did well after a game. They stand in front of the team to do this. All others can have their input but captains input is mandatory. They often see the same things you see and can lend immediate credibility to your assessment.

[Chris Barth]

I am a first year again coach. It has been many years since I was in the position I now find myself, deal with 13 players in the age gourp of 11 & 12 years of age. I find my team with a he/she won't pass to me so I won't pass to them attitude. Any suggestions on motivating the group to work together as a Team.

[Kevin]

Hi Chris,

When I face these issues, I find the best way to address them is in practices. If you give them competitive drills where they're forced to pass, it often times transitions into game scenarios. One of the drills I use for this is 3 on 3 Pass Between Cones:

http://www.hockeyshare.com/drills/drill.php?id=107

Of course I'm also a fan of having a one-on-one conversation with the players in question. I always try to make sure players are clear on what I expect - it prevents a lot of confusion.

Hope his helps! I'd love to hear what others have to say on this topic as well.

Best,
-Kevin

[deryck]

This is always been a difficult area when coaching at the Midget Rep level. I'm also the head coach of a midget rep and what I have beside making the C A's in charge of the pre game off ice warm is to make them the go to people when problems between the coaching and a player or a play with another player. I use the terminology of one of cooperation. As the head coach I'm the COE my is the upper senior managers the C A's are the middle management and the responsibility is to lead the players and instruct them in what we as upper management tells the to do even if the C A's think its the most stupidest thing going, they will do it with a smile and encourage everyone else on the team. And last when I hand out the C A's I tell them that. I give them the letters and I will take them away if they do not rise up to the duties that come along with them. Deryck

[HockeyDad04]

Seems like most rules really require C's and A's and as coaches we assign them- 99% based on the team vote. The true leaders are usually not the lettered ones but those kids you can count on in every situation but don't get the on paper majority vote. My son is never bothered if he doesn't get a letter- less of a target thus decreasing performance pressure and he can play his game. That in itself is pure motivation to the bench.

JMO

as for motivation- assigning regular tasks sounds like a good plan. If they aren't into it- they aren't the right players.

[linkman]

I think also that coaches may look at the more skilled players as possible Cs and As.
Look at the characters and the players that speak out as better contenders. At the start of the season when i have a lot of new players, i stand in the middle of the room and say a few words about who i am etc. I then sitdown and say "right now its your turn". You will soon learn who your leaders are by who wants to stand up. I agree with previous comments, my Captain will run the pre stretch before the game.

[Buzzrock]

What I did with my captains was before the first practice of the season I handed each one a copy of the NHL rule book. I told them that they were my leaders and they needed to understand their responsibilities to the team, the coaches, the sport and their families. If they weren't able to do this they were to resign right on the spot.

Whenever the team was together off the ice, I would talk to the entire team about the game, leadership, goal setting, education, community and family. My captains were responsible for the water bottles and pucks. If they didn't bring them or assign them to someone else to bring and there was no water or pucks, we worked without them.

My captains were responsible for pre-game talks after the coaches had their talk with the players. The captains were also responsible for any off-ice disciplinary matters that had to be addressed such as letter writing or organizing a team apology. (We had a couple of those)

Basically my captains ran the team. They were not selected by other players. They were selected by the coaches. There was no team vote so that took out any favoritism. In addition, before I selected my captains I met with each player and his parents. Found out what their leadership ability was and if they were capable of having the responsibility.

This was for a Bantam "B" team. It sounds like a lot, but it paid off. We developed leaders as well as responsible kids.

[onechance]

There are a couple of things I would like to suggest here. First I would let the parents pick the C and A's. (I am coaching the A peewee team in our organization this year). I stress that I dont want the most skilled players but the best people for the job. Of course I coach in a smaller organization so I dont know how this would work in a city situation where everyone doesnt know each other. I also tell the players it si an honour to be a C or A and they have a large responsibilty. They are encouraged to talk to the team in the room from time to time also.

[coach_jay_p]

For the MOTIVATION, you need to regroup your TEAM for a COMMITEMENT, a GOAL. This is not who are the C ou A make the biggest difference, is the WAY to the GOAL the staff choose for the TEAM. Choose the RIGHT WAY! Your KIDS want to only PLAY hockey not competitionate, don't try to make 100% technical drill because they are slower. Fun drill, scrimmage 1-1 battle, make them happy! You know you have THE HOCKEY TEAM, they want to WIN every time they touch the ice? Go ahead for given more they want. But reminder the hockey it's a GAME.

JayP
coach_jay_p@hotmail.com
Together Everybody Achieve More

[icejack]

In addition to the great suggestions above, I also give captains/asst.captains the opportunity to give their thoughts on what we need to improve on and what we did well after a game. They stand in front of the team to do this. All others can have their input but captains input is mandatory. They often see the same things you see and can lend immediate credibility to your assessment.

that's an approach that works!

[SYDNEYSTEELERSMIDGETA]

One coach that my son had at this age bought a trophy the player with most assists every game took the trophy home untill the next game.

I had one player his father was paying him a dollar a game. When I found this out and talked to the father things changed. I told the father if you want to pay him try paying him for assists instaed. It cost the father more money when he started doing it this way...lol

Art




I am a first year again coach. It has been many years since I was in the position I now find myself, deal with 13 players in the age gourp of 11 & 12 years of age. I find my team with a he/she won't pass to me so I won't pass to them attitude. Any suggestions on motivating the group to work together as a Team.

[SYDNEYSTEELERSMIDGETA]

In my first two years of coaching I let the players vote on the C and A's. Both years in a row I had to take the C away from the player that received the most votes. Now each and every year we as the coaching staff pick who receives the letters. We start the season and tell the players in a few weeks we will pick the C and A's so we get a feel for the leaders.

I coached my son for two years and he never had a letter on his sweater and he understood why. He could play the game but he was not a leader on or off the ice and know that he is done playing and is 19 he talks about when he played. He always says how much fun he had and that we never heard about him playing all the time.

Things seem to work out for the good in the end.

Art



Seems like most rules really require C's and A's and as coaches we assign them- 99% based on the team vote. The true leaders are usually not the lettered ones but those kids you can count on in every situation but don't get the on paper majority vote. My son is never bothered if he doesn't get a letter- less of a target thus decreasing performance pressure and he can play his game. That in itself is pure motivation to the bench.

JMO

as for motivation- assigning regular tasks sounds like a good plan. If they aren't into it- they aren't the right players.

[jhoran]

I tend to go back to my boot camp days with my captiains. If they are there because they have been voted in by the team chances are they are viewed as leaders by the kids. From there it is about holding them accountable. The captains know if they are late a punisment for them will be more sever for them than other players.

They also know they are responsible for the team, as the the teams leaders if the team is not correct wether they are late or talking when the coaches are. it is the captains that are punnished. I will disipline the captians for the teams mistakes usually twice, if the team is still not getting the message and the captains are trying to correct the problem I will turn the team over captains for punishment.

If the captains know you are seriouse about this they will step up or step aside.

[coachrickvaile]

My thoughts are that the coach needs to keep a keen eye in mass practice and a few early practices as well as in the room and around the rink. You will find a character player whether they are the best or the weakest on the team. Then give them some responsbilty but not to much, do not add too much pressure and take it upon yourself as a coach to help them as much as possible without making them feel like they are not needed. A fine line for sure but it can be done.

as for the peewee passing problem I like to use dryland to help this out. pair the kids off that do not like to pass to each other and have them do partner drill together and keep a closer eye on them, be positive and get them working together. This is the toughest thing to deal with as a coach in my experiences and can take a ton of time and a lot of patience to get it right. good luck to both of you.


I do agree with the other post as every little thing helps in one way or another.

[maccraken]

We have let the kids pick the Captains in the past but the coaches get a vote too; with four coaches we look to get the ones with the most leadership for us and from them to have the letters on. We need a C and A to speak to the refs;
We teach respect and by respecting the ref and the rules rather then have a coach brow beat and yell I usually get the ear or my point across.
next is leading the team; they must do it!! and agree or it comes off; help with pucks ; listen ; encourage. Practice is the time you have and need their attention most; so give them back some fun when they practice well; let them wind down with their drills ( captains drills) they pick the last 10 mins of practice for fun drills; shoot out , race to puck, 3 on 3 nets in the middle scoring race, scrimmage,etc...their choice..at the end of the year our team picked skating lines even...
respect them they will give it back...