Feature Story
Team concepts (part III )
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
In the first two parts, we have covered
what I would call the physical aspects:
• Responsibilities in each zone
• Enforcement of responsibilities
• Effort
• Defensive orientation in each zone
• Playing a short game
This week, we will go over the more
psychological/mental aspects of team concepts.
To have players maximize the team game –
and their own – they need to feel good about being part of the team. They need
to know that all (or at least almost all) players are working towards the same
team goals. No doubt that there will be individual team goals mixed in with
these team goals. It is important for individual goals to exist — but
they must fit in with the team goals. For example, one player can’t be trying
to average two goals per game (over the season) at the expense of proper
defense on his part. The team would likely suffer. At the same time, it is good
to have players wanting to score.
A coach must be able to “sell” the idea
that good team concepts will result in more success and everybody will score
more and give up less. The top scorers will still likely be the top scorers —
and the defensemen’s critical plus-minus stats and goaltenders critical save
percentage will be better than ever.
There has to be respect and love (at
least like!) on the team. The respect is most important. Respect is
earned by responsibility and effort items. Players don’t have to be big point
producers to contribute a great deal to the team. For example, while Mark
Parrish, of the Minnesota Wild, does score some number of points, he is well
respected for his tough work in front of the net that helps others score (even
when he doesn’t get assists). Wes Walz was highly
respected for his coverage of opposition top forwards – and a great plus-minus
record.
Coaches have to teach team players how to
respect each other. It is important to identify and point out the items that
create respect — and to not over “idolize” the scorers. Scorers need to be
recognized, of course; they are the stars of most games. But sometimes scorers
get away with poor performance in other areas — and are not as valuable to the
team as it appears.
It would be good if players liked each
other, too. Most times, however, “respect” breeds “like.” Coaches have to be on
the lookout for bad relationships on their team. They have to watch for small
groups that exclude others; older or bigger players picking on lesser players.
These are the things that can poison good overall team play. Players that don’t
feel good about each other or have grudges don’t play well together.
One of the most critical aspects of good
team play is fairness. This comes from the coaches. Coaches need to actively
monitor each other to make certain they are not leaning harder on some players
or are giving some players “free passes” — i.e., letting them have lesser requirements
or responsibilities. There will always be some jealousy on teams, but that
needs to be kept to a minimum and also kept passive (so the jealousy is not
acted out in bad ways).
Coaches sometimes are the biggest killers
of team play. Even things like proper preparedness for practices and games, and
having good practice plans are important for players to feel good and therefore
want to contribute to the team effort. Wanting to contribute is the key.
Then, if the coaches give them the tools and the plan, they will try to do what
they need to do.
The last item is confidence. Again,
coaches play a big role in this concept. Players can’t feel good about
themselves and the team if they don’t have good feelings of confidence. If a
coach tells the team and its individual players that they can and will
— and praises them when they do — it is much more likely they will have better
overall team feelings and performance.
Negative coaches seldom have happy
productive “TEAMS.” There is no doubt that there must be criticism and other
negative things by coaches, but it must be done in careful doses.
It also must be done by the coaches.
Players cannot be allowed to criticize other players, referees, opposition
players/coaches. This breeds wide discontent.
Coaches even need to monitor their
handling of referees. Being vocally
negative with referees gives bad messages, including excuses for team’s poor
performance. Good overall positive team play reinforced by all coaches is
generally going to be the most productive approach.
So to recap, team concepts are not only
how players/teams play, but enforcement of effort and responsibility items by
coaches. In addition, it is creating an environment of confidence and positive
play by coaches so all players can do their best. Then the team will do its
best.
Coaches can assume that this will
happen if they just have a large number of good players. Sometimes it is harder
to coach a team of stars than a team of “average” talent players. It takes a
great deal of thinking, preparation, education by coaches to do a good job with
a team.
I am always baffled, for example, by
coaches who think they can make up their practices as they go — i.e., no
practice plans. They grossly underestimate the amount of effort that it takes
to have a good practice.
The same is true with team concepts. It
takes hard work and planning to have a good
John Russo, Ph.D., is founder and
director of the