How to choose the right coach
I rely on many experts to help me continue to learn and change what can work for the athletes I coach - fellow coaches, psychologists, kinesiologists, athletes, colleagues and mentors. It’s important to always stay open to feedback and be willing to change so you can learn something you didn’t know - “hey, you never know!” I consider myself a student and a teacher. My martial arts background gave me these skills which allow me to take a sport like hockey, and bring together the laws of physics and other parallels of movement.
There is a lot of noise out there trying to convince parents that a certain method or guide will improve your player’s performance. What method is best? How do you [as a parent] decide what will work for your athlete? Here are my top 5 tips:
Get personal. You know your child best, but you also need to know the coach's philosophy, approach, and vision to develop the trust critical to helping your player. Trust allows the athlete-coaching relationship to overcome many dynamics that are inevitable when you play sports. This support needs to be consistent and surround the athlete as they develop.
Trust your gut. We are all different - pain threshold, mental capabilities, spatial awareness, etc. When you build trust, the parent and coach can work together to meet their athlete where they are at, not where the parent expects them to be. That is a very important distinction.
Go all in. When you are confident with 1. and 2., go for it and be all in for the benefits of seeing your player grow. Not every practice and game will be a personal best, but if you develop trust in the process with your coach or mentor, opinions won’t matter as much. Even what you hear from friends or social media, you’ll eventually tune out because you will have developed a foundation that is consistent for you and your player. Remember, don’t let the noise and opinions make you doubt your decision(s). Others will always think the “grass is greener” with another coach or program, so let them.
Maintain key performance indicators (KPIs). KPIs establish goals and help change habits - whether you are creating a new one, eliminating a bad one, or understanding what is in your control to do what is best for you. Keep track of your progress and establish goals you can monitor yourself against.
Enjoy the process. Enjoying your process is a major indicator of success. Don’t limit your potential by your attitude. Love what you do. The endgame does not exist for those that achieve greatness. Great people like Elon Musk and Warren Buffet did not stop at earning a billion. Money is not happiness, progress is. Find the sport or career path where your happiness is in the grind and milestones that never end.
See you on the ice…
