Some of my thoughts from the weekend games
Hello All,
I thought I would just comment on the weekend games
It was great to have Ansel and Trevor back in the lineup. Just in time too because David and Nolan were away.
I have been the convener for this age group for many years and it is good to see the teams so evenly matched. You may ask, if the teams are so evenly matched, what makes one team lose so badly one game then do well the next?
I have also been coaching the boys for years now. The Sharks are a very good team and they had a classic bad game and on Saturday.
The best word to describe it is momentum. At this age, once the boys feel confident and thinking they can get goals, they really try hard. Once one team gets behind or feels like they cannot win, they give up just a little bit. The combination of the two, trying a little harder and giving up just a bit is the result you saw Saturday.
On any given day we are as good a team, just not on Saturday.
Sunday looked like a different team but we had the same boys on the ice. We were more confident and we did not let the momentum swing. We kept their good players in check.
This is thrilling to me. I enjoy watching these young lads play as much as watching any level of hockey. Those small victories, like coming back from a big loss, are fantastic. Not because we won but because the boys were able to believe in themselves and not lose in the room even before we went out on the ice. Every player played with determination.
The other thing the Sharks did well on Sunday was passing. The other coaches remarked on how well our team was passing. This is the single hardest thing to teach and to learn in hockey. With the number of practices we get it is hard to get passing down but our guys are coming along.
So thanks to the Sharks for some thrilling hockey. Next weekend we have a rare full ice practice. I would like all coaches on the ice if possible. I will be doing break out drills with the lines and I would like to have the coaches in strategic places.
One other thing that is now working well is the players are there ½ hour before game time.
Thank you parents.
Please be there ½ hour before the practice on the weekend too.
I will use the time in the dressing room before the practice to go over the drills and coaching points.
Thanks
See you on the weekend