14. THE PLAYER'S VIEWPOINT
 

14.1 Organisation

  • The coach must be on time to practice and games.
  • Practice should be organised with a target for each session.
  • The coach should have skills to be worked on and maybe drills for them.

14.2 Communication

  • The coach must be able to teach - Eg explaining a new skill and then showing them how.
  • The coach must be able to motivate players - especially the younger ones. Often in this sport the young teams end up playing experienced teams and being beaten. The young teams need to realise that winning isn't everything so they do not become demoralised.
  • The coach should be able to pump up the team before a big game. (Not that important.)
  • Players need to feel good about themselves - the coach should set achievable goals.

14.3 Personality

  • The coach should be his or her self.
  • Patient.
  • Must have the respect of the team.
  • The coach should be a friend yet someone of higher authority - someone you don't get cheeky to.
  • The coach must be committed.

14.4 Discipline

  • The coach must be disciplined and bring it into his team's game.
  • If players in the team are not disciplined, then some sort of
  • punishment should be given - being careful not to isolate or demoralise players.

14.5 Skills/tactics

  • The main aim of a school hockey coach should be to install the basics of the game - getting players to understand the basics first.
  • I believe the coach should make sure individuals should be able to:
  • to turn both ways
  • pass the puck
  • receive the puck

Before moving on.

  • Team oriented moves such as drawing the man and passing are very important.
  • When teaching skills the coach should explain when to use them.
  • Tactics should emphasise team play rather than individual play.
  • The coach should decide on an easy formation that people understand.
  • The coach should emphasise positioning in the formation.
  • It is very important that the coach understand the skills, tactics and formation.

14.6 Analysis

Another important skill for a coach to have is to be able to analyse an individual to see what is going wrong. For example if a person is flicking the puck and it keeps going to the right, the coach should be able to work out why.

Jeremy