The Ottawa Senators have under gone a much anticipated Coaching change. Most fans agree that this was long over due. The players came out in November in support of DJ Smith saying how much they liked playing for him, which is different from saying they trusted him and his ability to Coach. At that time I remembered a line from the movie Miracle when Coach Herb Brooks says ” I am your Coach, not your friend”. He said that because he knew that he would have to cut some of these players and did not want to have friendship cloud his judgement in doing what was best for the team.
The Senators hockey club is at the point now under new Coach Jacques Martin where they are trying to win awareness. The first time I heard this phrase was listening to a podcast hosted by Dr. Bhrett McCabe and he was speaking with his former Manager at LSU Skip Bertman. Bertman has won 5 National Championships and going back to back in 1996 and 97. He is regarded as one of the best College baseball managers of all time.
Winning awareness involves so many things. It involves preparation, investing in yourself, personal discipline and trust. Over the coming weeks the Senators are going to experience so many things under Coach Martin. As much as they thought they were prepared for a game, they were not. Shifts will become shorter, more intense, and with a much higher tempo. He will put players in situations, invest in them so down the road they and the team will be better and finally there personal discipline will be tested. The coaching staff will have to get the players mentally equipped to play at a competitive level, as of this moment they are not. Finding a way to bridge the gap between where they were under Coach Smith and where they need to be is critical. Today’s generation of athlete is counter intuitive due to technology. They have all the answers in the palm of their hand. Just consider how much the I Pad is being used between shifts. You may think they are reviewing their shift and chances are they probably are, but did you ever consider that they are evaluating the Coaching and whether it is good!
Coaching changes happen for a reason. Things happen incrementally, it does not happen overnight. Eventually all these increments come together and a new voice needs to be heard. IMO loss of trust has happened and when that occurs Coaching changes happen.
As much as Coaching is perceived as an X and O thing, so much depends on building trust between players and Coaches.
Trust is the cornerstone of every team . It is based on human relationships. Trust is essential. Without it, social groups and teams can’t function properly.
Until next time.
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Between The Ears 