Too Many Cooks In The Kitchen

Multiple Coaches "Coaching" Behind A Youth Bench Serve To Confuse Players--Head Coach Should Be Directing All Activities!


By Paul Lubanski

I have to chuckle when I witness three, four, five or even six adults behind a hockey bench (saw six at a high school contest last week!) And, this applies regardless of the level of play--NHL on down.

I challenge anyone to provide me with even ONE reason why  highly paid and supposedly knowledgeable head coach would want or need two, three, four or five additional coaches on the bench with him/her. Yes, devoid of aid, it would translate into changing the forwards,defense, addressing the officials and implementing any line-matching and/or PP or PK strategy on their own.

Whoop-de-doo.

You see, most of the younger generation does not realize this, but from the early 1920's through much of the introduction of the modern era (1970's), ONE INDIVIDUAL coached the entire NHL contest. Take a peek back at old footage" Jack Adams,Billy Reay, Punch Imlach, Toe Blake and even a young Scotty Bowman managed a complete game without two or three assistants contstantly chirping in their respective ears.

Please tell me when the game had changes so significantly. When did it become so sophisticated that one person could not "coach" their club for the entire game?



I'll try and answer my own question with this simple response: IT HASN'T. Yes, the game moves a bit faster. Players are larger in stature and generally in superior physical condition. But I would submit to you that beyond a few rule changes, (i.e TWO REFEREES--are you kidding me--that is fodder for another column!) the CORE game remains the same. Defending in your end is tantamount and doing so will lead to a transition game that can and will generate offensive chances.

Don't get me wrong. It is a cool gig if you can secure a coaching job at the Major Junior, collegiate or professional levels. But, I would argue that ownership--and taxpayers--have lost their collective minds, in many cases, by committing the dollars that they do to head coach, yet surrounding him/her with all these assistants. (Don't get me started on the 10+ coaches we tax-payers pay our State of Michigan high profile football programs!) One handles the PK, one the PP, another specializes in-even-strength analysis,another may handle face-offs and still another works the break-outs. Kid of funny if you ask me, and totally unnecessary.

Oh, and since when does a team at any level require a stop-watch on the bench? If a player is allowed to abuse ice-time privileges to the extent that an actual timing-device has to be present, it is likely time for that player to move on to another club.

And by the way, who exactly receives the blame  when a team falters, the co-coaches or the head coach? Or the credit when the team is on-a-roll?

With all that said, I am finally getting around to the reason for my column this week: As a youth coach, your main goal must be to attempt to keep your message as clear and consistently succinct as possible. And to do so, you must be the PRIMARY conduit. Throughout both practice and game play, it is incumbent upon you to be 100 per cent involved. You should design the drills, oversee said drills and make all necessary "on-the-fly" adjustments from both the offensive and defensive perspectives.

Doing so will serve to make your team more comfortable and thus likely to perform in the manner in which you dictate on a more regular basis. Remember, this is youth hockey for gosh sakes! DO NOT feel intimidated or pressured into feeling that you need someone else to influence critical game-play decisions.Of course, I do understand that there be some that may be a bit more prepared to take this approach.

Fine. For those that can admit that they require more time, strive to work your way into a mindset and ultimately a comfort that allows you to say. "I am the boss and I alone will make all of the crucial decisions."

You see, certain individuals have already determined that you deserve to be the "head coach."

Hence, it is now up to you to fulfill your defined duties and obligations...so next game, I'll be looking for you to be situated in the middle of the bench calling ALL of the shots in as confident and as encouraging manner as possible.

And, hopefully, the big-time "paid" coaches at the highest of levels will be watching and learning from you sometime in the very near future.

You can do it...we all can.

Best of luck.


Paul

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