I drove up to the University of Minnesota to watch a couple of spring practices that were open to the public a few years back.
Growing up in Michigan, I heard he was hired at Western Michigan but didn’t know much about him.
As I got into coaching, I watched a documentary and some YouTube footage of Coach Fleck, and I was hooked on his culture. I wanted to see what practices looked like.
It didn’t disappoint.
The biggest thing I noticed at practice was what he outlines here, it’s called “praise the model.”
Praise the Model
When something happened behavior-wise that far and away exceeded the standard, they praised the model. You don’t miss those moments.
Praising the model isn’t “praise everyone.”
4 quick points made by Wade Gilbert explain why they choose the former.
False praise can do more harm than good. It is the worst thing a parent or coach can give.
If you want to praise kids, it should be genuine and earned. If the praise isn’t earned, don’t say anything.
Praise should reinforce the positive things that they’re doing and that they can control, not things that are dependent on how other athletes perform.
It’s okay to point out another player on the team, or on the opposing team, who had a great game. That helps teach your child how to handle losses and wins more gracefully, as well as highlighting positive behaviors and actions.
I felt more energy and enthusiasm at the practice than I’ve ever seen on an ice rink.
This idea has been an undercurrent in their culture and has helped them build up quickly.
Not everyone was on board and some players have jumped ship. But he’ll tell you his culture isn’t for everyone.
There is still correction and teaching going on, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows but on a sliding scale, they lean towards praising the one person that does it to the highest standard over correcting every single person that does it wrong.
Observe the team. Find the model. Praise the model.
Seahawk Similarities
Pete Carroll talks about it in a similar way in this clip:
A couple of ideas on your way out
From where you are, how can you apply this even at 1%?
Where might this fit into your coaching style? (on ice, in meetings, informal setting, team meal, etc)
Can you try this for a whole week and split test it against your current way of coaching?
Interested in more P.J. Fleck? Check out a documentary called Into the Fire on him. 4 part series is very good.
Here’s the first episode