If you’re newer to this community. I’m very much a coach who focuses on:
Player Relationship
Player Development
“Score Takes Care of Itself”
So during this interview with an ECHL team, I was very keen to know their philosophy in these 3 areas. So my questions to them were in these buckets.
Here is what I learned.
Player Relationships
When it came to the question on player relationships, he said something to the effect of “firm but fair.” Stressing the firm.
In a recent study I’m making up, 70% of the coaches who have described themselves as “firm” in their interview with a team, hockey association or AAA program… Yell at their players a lot. What they say vs. what they mean doesn’t align.
Firm is the acceptable answer in an interview that lets most people’s guard down. Firm gets you hired in an interview. When it really should be the other way. It was a red flag for me.
Firm is a tactic to be deployed in certain circumstances when the relationship with the player is strong enough. Firm is not a default setting. And “fair” doesn’t exist. Everything is based on perception when dealing with players. Being firm all the time will make them grow tired of you and your message.
Player Development
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