I am a competitive athlete. I dislike losing. Unfortunately my level of talent never matched my dislike of losing.
I was fortunate enough to coach hockey with some very knowledgeable and talented hockey people. What I know about the game, I learned from these Coaches and was observant enough and asked questions. Along the way I was able to retain the how’s and why’s. I never wanted to be the smartest person in the room, I just wanted to be the most observant. It was from those observations and the learning’s from my colleagues that I developed my Coaching style, which was person first, athlete second.
Right now the Ottawa Senators are under going a major change. A Coaching change was made about 10 games ago and the players are really struggling with it as are the Coaches.
A team is a collection of individuals who each bring their own beliefs, doubts, fears, and insecurities to the organisation. Each player has their goals and those goals drive their effort and commitment to the organisation. The Coaches and the players are trying to connect to each other. If the player coach connection does not happen something has to give. Well, the coaching change has already happened so that only leaves player movement. If the Coaches do not see and feel that connection, they will seek that connection elsewhere. Right now there is a struggle of trust happening. The Senators have had it their way for five years and were basically held unaccountable for their play. Now under new Coach Jacques Martin he is holding them accountable under his system and because they are not winning the trust factor is very low between Coaches and players.
In today’s competitive sports environment, trust is the currency of coaching. Players who do not trust their coaches will build barriers psychologically and will resist their influence. To me it appears that this team is looking in the rear view mirror where the view is smaller rather that the windshield which has a much wider view.
The difference between the best players in the world and everyone else is much simpler than you think. It comes down to self-belief and trust.The best have the ability to believe in what they have inside and have learned how to build their belief, develop it and trust it.
Right now the Senators players are still looking in the rear view mirror and what we know about those mirrors is the objects get further and further away as you move forward.
That is how their season is looking like now.
Time to trust it guys!
Until next time!
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Between The Ears 