This week in the PAC

Headed to Washington DC to present at the local annual USA Hockey Coaching Clinic's, which is required that all bench coaches involved with USA Hockey maintain a certain level of certification. This is a great way to build relationships, learn from our mistakes, give back, set goals, encourage debate and discuss disagreements. From the clinic's I have attended and presented at my impression is that the coaches are there because it is required.

In creative positions like athletic coaching, when there is little to no choice it can cause people to become suspicious, defensive and resist from the very beginning. The other pearl I found was once the coach has met the requirement which is basically just showing up, they have a choice which is to decide how they want to spend their time at these clinic's.

Your choice, or is it?

"When I was a little boy, my parents told me what to do, and scolded me when I didn't. When I went to school my teachers told me what to do, and caned me if I didn't. When I joined the army, the sergeant told me what to do and God help me if I didn't, so I did! When I got my first job my boss told me what to do too. So when I reached a position of some authority, what did I do? I told people what to do, because that is what all my role models had done. That is true for most of us, we have been brought up on telling and we are very good at it."

Athlete's Education

Identify the learning process while educating your athlete's. 

1. Ego motivated athlete is more concerned with proving himself to others rather than improving himself or others. These athlete's are easily identified in the weight room with "how much can you lift" on the field with "over complected celebrations and trash talk. And they can be very difficult to coach because they tend to be preoccupied. 
2. Task/goal motivated athlete this athlete loves progressive tasks,  fiercely competitive, focus on achievement, feel successful when they gain skill and knowledge while thinking about how to get better at tasks. 
3. Team motivated athletes learns and performs best when they interact with groups of people, they don't enjoy working independently or focusing on topic's separately from the team.  
4. Learning motivated athletes enjoy practice and becomes aware of his or her skill set through continuous practice. They set out to seek knowledge and awareness of there skill, i.e. faster times, performance in the gym, wins and losses.... body awareness and team or sport awareness. The learning motivated athlete steers clear of anyone trying to pull them down or people that have a negative outlook on themselves and others. 

A State of Health Coaching Youth Sports

Early specialization = early drop out

Lack of confidence in playing skills = withdrawal from activity

Lack of physical education k-12

Kids under train and over compete

Long competitive youth seasons with increase risk in injury

Limited experienced and knowledgeable coaches

The best most experienced coaches teach the best athletes

Parents under educated in the athletic development process

Youth progress to the next level without acquiring the proper skills 

Coaching what is it?

Sport coach, bench coach, strength coach, conditioning coach, skills coach, rehab coach and so on... What is the principle behind coaching athletes, is it different with each coaching group? Are there general rules and concepts? I find a ton of information on the how to apply techniques, tactics, rehab, performance programs, sports specific with some general thoughts, cues and ideas but no real meat and potatoes. What does coaching athletics mean to you?