Establish An Identity For Your Team

COACHES: Establishing An "Identity" For Your Team Can And Will Lead To A More Harmonious Environment And A Consistency Of Effort!


By Paul Lubanski


So today's blog post is designed to aid coaches (at all age groups and levels) in developing an effective team mantra or "rallying-cry."

In other words, a catch-phrase that carries a specific, simple and powerful meaning that can be firmly implanted into the hearts of all of your youngsters.

Hence, it can be utilized to focus (or re-focus) a team prior to a game, throughout one or even most critically--when in the midst of a lapse-in-effort situation.

I do realize that this 2011-2012 season is already well underway--but there is no time like the present for something as important as a concept like the afore-mentioned to be implemented.

So, feel free to select and adopt from the list below. I only ask that you report back to me via Hockey Weekly and outline the success your club attains post utilizing one! I would be pleased to make your good news part of a future column that all our readers can discuss, share and enjoy.

• S-T-U-D :   Speed, Toughness, Unselfishness, Discipline
• F-F-F:   Focused, Fast, Furious  ("Furious" as in pace-of-play, not mind-set on surface!)
• S-O-S:   Support, Outnumber, Smother
• H-C-D:   Heart, Commitment, Desire
• C-B-M:   Clean, But Mean
• A-T-B-M:   Always-Team-Before-Me

Best of luck.


BONUS TIPS

• Once you've settled on your moniker, have inexpensive shoulder-sized patches created with the letters clearly visible--and sew one on each player's jersey.
• For second year Bantams and older: consider having them visit the local Children's Hospital and "adopt" a young patient that the team can "bond" over and become buddy's with and regularly see/contact. Obviously, this sort of effort will allow your team to begin to build and internalize a more mature frame-of reference that teaches them that there is more to life than who wins or loses a youth hockey game. And, this common "bond" will create a tremendous potential camaraderie amongst your players--not to mention--brighten the life of a very, ill child.

Check out Paul's Puck Pathways consulting service today!





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