Choosing the right skills coach can be a difficult task. In today’s digital world, everyone seems to be selling you the magic bullet to make you or your child a better hockey player. Web page after web page throws volumes of information at you, stating why their program is the best, and why others aren’t. Science, pseudo-science and lots of buzzwords and concepts are thrown around. Pretty graphics, testimonials, Instagram videos and commanding language all try to sway you to their product and away from others. So how do you decide where to spend your hard-earned money? After all, you’re investing in your players future, whatever their goals might be.
I know, now you’re waiting for me to tell you why I’m the best option. But that’s not what this article is about, because I might not be. Yes, that’s right. I can boast about how quickly my clients improve their speed, their results on the ice and their greater achievements, but in the end it’s not about what I can offer, it’s what is best for you or your young athlete. Of course, I’m running a business and would love for everyone to choose to work with me, but if we truly want to develop great athletes and great people, we have to recognize that each player is very different, and has different on and off-ice needs.
You see, I come from a bit of different background. Yes, I was an elite speed skater and high-level hockey player, but what a lot of you don’t know is that I was once a teacher. When I was fresh out of graduate school, I took a position in inner city Denver Public Schools work with at risk ninth and tenth grade at-risk kids in an alternative program. My adolescent psychology courses had prepared me much more than the teaching certification, and I first-hand learned just how different each kid’s needs are from a mental and emotional standpoint. And in my opinion, that is first and foremost what needs to be considered before the bottom line.
What does this have to do with choosing a skills coach? It depends on your athlete. Maybe your kid has had the same skating coach for years and feels like he or she has a great relationship that coach, gains confidence, and has succeeded as a result. Maybe there is someone new, or perceived as better, on the scene that all their teammates are working with. That doesn’t mean you have to follow the crowd, or even try the new person (even if that’s me 😊.)
As adults, we have the maturity to be able to look at the “Xs and Os” and decide analytically at what programs and coaches we think will produce the best results. Obviously, this is important, and you don’t want to spend months and years with a coach where you see minimal gains, no matter how much your child seems to enjoy it.
My point, however, is that we don’t often take a step back and to look at the larger impact a coach or situation has on a child. Maybe your kid is already the fastest on his team, and you think he would be better suited to spend time on a skills coach instead of their skating coach. Yet, your kid is continuing to get faster, stronger and their overall game is improving with the confidence and support they are getting from that coach. Maybe you feel like your kid could use a bit more focused help, but they love their “one-stop-skills-shop” coach who does a little of everything, is engaging and you’ve seen a change in his or her passion for the game that you want to keep. Even that stoic, drill-sergeant that runs complex drills might be just what your kid needs to feel he or she has that mental toughness to execute in games.
To further complicate things, maybe there isn’t just one coach that your kid can benefit from. Maybe your teenager equally likes two coaches, with two different focuses and styles. It doesn’t have to be exclusive, where one coach is “right” and the other is “wrong.” Anyone that gives you that ultimatum or tells you you’re not allowed to work with anyone else doesn’t have your child’s best interest in mind. Most of us know that we are just a part of your child’s development, and you may at some point stop the sessions altogether in lieu of something different. And that’s fine. Someone with your child’s best interest in mind will always welcome them back when and if they want.
This is the point in the article where I’m supposed to give you the “right” answer, but the right answer is different for everyone. Do your due diligence, ask other parents and peers, give a new coach a chance (unless the experience is harmful or negative) and see where your kid grows and thrives as a person, not just as an athlete. After all, youth coaches should be in the business of building integrity, character and drive that transfer well beyond the ice. And we all should be in the business of helping these young people develop the confidence and self-esteem that are critical for their well-being and success.
If this was just a bit too touchy-feely, that’s ok too. Like I said, everyone is different and every kid is different. We all have seen what the past couple of years have shown us in various degrees of coping and adapting to an uncertain world. The bottom line is, you know your child best. Don’t let fancy advertising, negative comparisons or egos get in the way of making the best decision for your young hockey player, whatever that may be.
