THE BLOG

COACH DESJARLAIS

MARCH 25, 2023

It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year, it’s tryout season.

Where is my kid gonna play next year? Who’s coaching their team? Will my kid develop on that team with that coach? Who else is trying out?

I am entrenched in this topic every day, all day right now - just ask my wife. I could dive into each of the above questions with its own blog - and I will - maybe even a series of blogs. However, this article will focus solely on player development, and what that really means. If you genuinely care about the development of your child (on-ice/off-ice/culturally) rather than what level they play or who their coach is, then hopefully you can gain something from this short blog.

The reality is no one really knows what player development is because it has a million different meanings. Does it mean your kid will become a better player? Will they become better people? Is difficulty positive or will it set them back? Do you want your kid to be the best player on the team or the worst player? Will they only develop if you add an extra ‘A’ to their level? Will they only develop if they play for a certain coach?

23Hockey has given me a much-needed separation from the rigors of the political youth hockey landscape and allowed me the pleasure of doing what I love to do the most. Every training session includes kids from many different hockey clubs, different levels of experience and skill, and different reasons why they are attending. It is hockey at its purest form and a great reminder of the influence we can have on these kids. The end goal for 23Hockey will be to utilize the sport as a tool to positively impact their lives.

Based on my perspective and hockey experiences, this brings me to the topic of player development. I experienced extreme highs and lows as a player from my first game as a 5 year-old to my last game as a 28 year-old professional athlete. As I sit here 18 years removed from my last competitive game, I wish I could go back and talk to my younger self about my new-found perspective as a coach and mentor. When I played D1 college hockey at Bowling Green State University it was the first time I felt like hockey was a job instead of a game. I don’t feel like I played to my fullest potential due to my inability to handle pressure and the anxiety that came along with the game. At times, it was paralyzing, and I felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders every time I jumped out for a shift. Boy, do I wish I could go back and tell that 20-year-old to just enjoy the moment, it’s just a game and it goes by so fast. Unfortunately, when I look into the eyes of today’s youth players, they are carrying the same weight on their shoulders, and they are just kids.

I think we can all agree that player development encompasses a variety of elements. To me personally, the components below are the most important.

• Fun
  
• Enhancing the physical skillset (get uncomfortable).
  
• Develop a better understanding of the sport from a tactical standpoint (Hockey IQ)
  
• Overcoming adversity with mental resilience
  
• Surrounding yourself with the positive influencers
  
• Accepting responsibility and taking ownership of accountability.
  
• Control the controllables
  

Fun

This one is really simple. If kids are not enjoying playing hockey for any variety of reasons, then development will never even be possible. Have a real conversation with your son or daughter and make sure they still love the sport. Ask them why they want to play, what do they want out of the experience, and what are their personal goals? Parents, as difficult as this is for me to say, their gratification from youth hockey is way more important than yours. The goals you have for them may not line up with theirs. Collectively (organizations/coaches/parents) it's important we all set aside our egos and take the best interests of the kids to heart!

Hockey Skills

The best players in the world constantly work to improve their craft. Hockey is not a complex game and you do not need to reinvent the wheel as far as skill development. The absolute most important skill is skating, and anyone who tells you differently is lying. Consistent training and repetition will increase skating efficiency. Learn skating habits from coaches that understand the hockey stride and how to effectively use it in game situations. Incorporate pucks into your skating routine to mimic game play.

Work on puck skills to include stick handling, shooting, and passing. Passionate players practice these skills because it’s fun, not because they are trying to make a certain team. Play street hockey with friends, stick handle a golf ball, shoot pucks in the driveway. Practice with purpose, develop proper habits, and execute without thought when it matters most. Practice the skills that are difficult and uncomfortable. Don’t limit yourself to improving skills that are easier for you. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. Repetition turns into talent.

Hockey IQ and Tactical Skills

The biggest topic of discussion at the 2018 USA Hockey Level 5 Coaches Symposium I attended was how to create athletic minds and teach hockey IQ. The list of guest speakers included many current NHL Head Coaches including two-time Stanley Cup Champ Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning. My biggest takeaway was that the smartest hockey players typically have an advantage over the most skilled or fastest skaters that lack ice awareness skills and hockey intelligence.

Fortunately, we have all the tools at our disposal to help the younger generation of players improve this vital skill set. It’s proven that visual learning is the most effective tool, so I highly encourage players to watch videos of their games and practices. Watch how players react to situations on the ice and learn how to make smarter decisions with and without the puck. Develop the ability to anticipate plays by watching the body language of opponents and gain an edge by using your mind. Always try to stay a couple seconds ahead of the play.

The best educational tool for understanding and improving hockey IQ is to watch the habits of NHL players. Encourage your kids to watch certain players for their full shift even when the puck is nowhere near them. Watch the habits, study the movements, and translate it to your skill set.

Overcome Adversity (Mental Resilience)

Hockey is a game in which mistakes are made constantly, which in turn always presents opportunities. It’s the reason it’s the most exciting game on the planet. Hockey players deal with adversity every time they step on the ice, it’s a constant range of emotions.

Accepting mistakes and imperfections is part of being a great player. Having a coach that not only accepts mistakes but also encourages them is a recipe for success. Kids should develop a growth mindset, be open to new experiences and acknowledge in advance there will be setbacks along the way. Preparing for potential setbacks and accepting them as a natural course of development will reduce stress and anxiety and give kids the mental fortitude to handle adversity moving forward.

Surround Yourself with Positive People

Surrounding yourself with positive people (organizations, coaches, teammates) will significantly improve your development as a person and athlete. Positive environments promote motivation, energy and fun. Limit your interactions with organizational figures that promote negativity within a team or club and try to focus your energy on things you can control.

Success and development should never be measured by wins and losses. Youth hockey players should always compete to win but should never feel pressure to win. Years down the road, a youth hockey win/loss record will be irrelevant to the person or athlete you become.

Accept Responsibility (Be Accountable)

Hockey is a team game and success will always be determined by the group rather than the individual. If you seek success, it’s vital you uphold your responsibility as a member of that team and be held accountable for your actions. These skills will set you up for success in life way beyond hockey as well as earn the respect of your teammates and coaches.

As a parent or coach, do not pin blame on other kids on the team to deflect responsibility and accountability from your own child.

Control the Controllables

Every hockey player can control their attitude, work ethic, coachability, mindsets, emotions and reactions. To a young player it’s easy for them to get frustrated with the things they cannot control (ice time, bad luck, negative environment, losing, their opponents) but it’s a fight worth fighting.

If hockey players have a destiny or a goal, focusing on mastering the controllables will only enhance opportunities of achieving success.

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