The Five C's Of Coaching

COACHES -- TODAY  Paul Lubanski Offers A Clear And Concise Coaching Blueprint -- It Is A MUST READ For ALL ICE Hockey Head Coaches And Their Assistants!


By Paul Lubanski

Of course, I fully acknowledge that we are smack in the middle of our wonderful summer respite but I felt obligated to help set the table for a prosperous and successful 2012-2013 by offering the following effort to my colleagues in the youth hockey coaching fraternity... so please enjoy:

The Five C's Of Coaching

Coaching youth hockey in the new millennium is at best an extremely difficult undertaking.

Why?

Mostly because unrealistic parent and player expectations can often be more than a bit unnerving to the young or inexperienced volunteer coach. Many times said coaches find themselves unduly exasperated and they just walk away, and that is sad.

If you are experiencing these frustrations, hold on. Don't give up just yet. There is help on the horizon in the form of today's blog-post.

I am referring to the"Five C's Of Coaching," a sort of blueprint for the feeling "overwhelmed" coach.

It simply outlines what I feel are the most basic (AND ESSENTIAL) ingredients that make up a good hockey coach, and the information is offered in an easy-to-read and digest fashion. My personal guarantee is this: If you incorporate the bulk or all of the following in your personal coaching personality/repertoire, you cannot fail--irrespective of wins and losses compiled at season's end.

You see, if you do not realize by now that your success (perceived failure) as a youth coaching volunteer is NOT predicated solely on tallied victories vs. defeats, well, then her's hoping that the balance of this column will.

Again--please enjoy.

CHARACTER: A successful coach has a strong one, and has little trouble conveying its importance through his/her everyday actions.

CONFIDENCE: Top coaches must exude an almost cocky-like presentation (yet grounded) in all encounters with their respective teams/opponents.

COMPASSION: The very best leaders are emotionally wired in a way that allows them to genuinely offer empathy and even sympathy at appropriate moments while interacting with players, and their families throughout the course of a season.

CULPABILITY: If you are a youth coach, YOU MUST BE ABLE TO ACCEPT responsibility for the perceived "failures" of your team during competition. It is YOUR fault that the team possibly wasn't prepared psychologically or physically, NOT some nine-year-old boy or girl's, REGARDLESS OF THE LEVEL...HOUSE OR AAA!

CONSTRUCTIVE: Elite level coaches lead and teach in a manner that ALWAYS remains positive and uplifting. YOU MUST, AT MINIMUM, subscribe to this coaching axiom. If you are unwilling or unable, then yes, it may be time to consider walking away.

BONUS "C" - CONSISTENCY: The finest coaches I've encountered are able to determine early on just what style they would prefer their team to play. You must do the same, and avoid flip-flopping regarding the style put forth. If your message remains clear and rarely wavers, the team WILL respond accordingly.

Best of luck.

Paul Lubanski

CONTACT Paul via:   holdfasttodreams@rocketmail.com






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