How F-O-S-P Helps Your Team

By Paul Lubanski

As many of you have discerned by now, I am a firm believer in the use of simplified acronyms as season-long guides - or roadmaps, if you will - for coaches at all ages and skill levels.

I have personally created scores of those acronyms, and am proud to say many are being leveraged smartly and successfully by coaches from Mini-Mite through the professional ranks.

For example, years ago I introduced the acronym S-T-U-D, representing Speed, Toughness, Unselfishness & Discipline. I have been notified that hockey clubs hailing from as far away as Russia appreciate and utilize this idea in their coaching and playing style.

Today, I put forth a new acronym that is just as understandable, adaptable and applicable – F-O-S-P:

F-O: Face-Off(s)

S: Shift(s)

P: Period(s)

For example, a coach may orate enthusiastically prior to a contest, “Today, team, we dominate via the FOSP mantra!”

What the heck is he saying? Easy.

If we win possession of the biscuit consistently on face-offs, then we stand a great chance of winning the overall shift(s) and, ultimately, the period(s). It then stands to reason that the more periods we win, the higher in the standings we will finish.

Quite direct and elementary. Inarguable.

Now, of course, it is incumbent upon each of you as coaches to research, apply and teach the proper fundamentals required to insure that the F-O-S-P methodology has a chance to lead your club to the promised land. But that’s precisely why we all get the big bucks to coach youth hockey, isn't it?

I wish.

Feel free to contact me at Chicago Area Youth Hockey Blog for tips and advice that get you closer to that above-referenced goal. I do want to help.

Best of luck.

Coach Lubanski


Lubanski’s company ­– Wilderness Xtreme Sports – invents bold new takes on traditional sporting competition. See Paul star on YouTube in  “WILD GOLF: The Making of Wilderness Golf “  or visit www.wxsports.net.

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