Topher Scott

Too often, parents judge youth coaches by wins and losses or rankings. They are easy metrics, but do not show the true value of a young coach. Here is how we should be judging them:

1. Do they run a great practice
2. Did the team get better from September to March
3. Does my kid love the game and want to play for that coach the next year

That’s it.

Great job by @MinnHockey with this article, happy to contribute to showing how the state continues to adapt to the everchanging landscape of youth hockey.

minnesotahockey.org/news_article/s…

COACHES: Here's an unreal power play look from the Ducks using two players behind the net.

It's a Box + 1 with the low players below the goalline. With this look, they're able to get multiple defenders with sticks vacating the middle leaving the bumper player wide open for the goal. I think more teams, at all levels, should try this look moving forward.

Great job by Anaheim!

I have done a lot of team building with college teams. One group in particular really sticks out, and it all related to building accountability between players.

When the room polices itself and the standards are reinforced by the players and not the coaches, that's a recipe for a successful season. When the accountability comes from players - and not coaches, look out.

This team was in 8th place in January. Through discussion we figured out they were buddies, but not brothers. Not willing to have hard conversations and hold each other to the highest standards set.

After some exercises and some honest and direct dialogue, they bought in. No longer would they sit idle when a hard conversation needed to be had with each other.

That team went from 8th place to winning their league regular season championship a few months later. And nothing changed outside of their willingness to hold each other accountable. It was special to see.

We talked all about it on our latest podcast with sports conflict expert Bill Taylor.

I’ve been on the ice with a bunch of youth teams this fall. My daughter is also playing 8u. And with that, my thoughts on full ice hockey at that age have only been solidified more. Here’s why.