I think the first time I heard the profound quote “Don’t hate the player, hate the game” came watching the high-level TV show, Laguna Beach on MTV as a young whippersnapper. Right now, Kevin Fiala is getting some hate his way for these comments:
Here’s a comment about Fiala from a notable hockey guy:
The first two statements are true.
The last one is the one to focus in on for the rest of this piece.
Before Kevin begins speaking to the question, he says he’s going to echo what ‘Juice’ said. So Kempe also brought it up. That’s 2 players talking about it.
And if you don’t think those 2 are talking to 2 others at lunch, and those 2…
The point is, Kevin is the ‘fall guy’ for most likely 50% or more of his teammates who also have the same opinion.
The other argument is that Fiala should ‘grow up’ and the Kings players shouldn’t be addressing this issue in the media.
Fair. On the surface level.
But let me ask you this question…
What if this is their only outlet?
What if the coaching staff isn’t ‘inviting feedback’?
We learned in physics that energy can’t be created or destroyed, so if the coaches don’t want to hear from players, where are their thoughts to go?
Maybe it’s not a sign that the player is an ‘asshole’ but that the coaching staff is not open enough to hear the players’ opinions. Don’t hate the player, hate the game… And the game is the environment, culture, and communication structures currently in place.
On the surface, we will be quick to blame the player.
Looking deeper, there is a reason why it’s happening exactly as it is… Even if Kevin Fiala is ‘broken’, so is the culture. And it starts with the coaches. One question my coaching mentor asked me when we were working together with the junior team was:
How might this be our fault?
Does wonders to refocus from being a victim and blaming the players to shift back to an ownership mindset.
Sidebar to consider upon conclusion.. If Fiala is an ‘asshole’, do you know who might be really good at recognizing a coach who has the same qualities?
Ever heard of the profound statement, ‘It takes one to know one’?
Food for thought.
Culture and communication !