In our uber-structured and organized sporting culture, kids don’t have a lot of ownership in what they’re doing. They are told what to do, how to do it and when to do it. As a result, it shouldn’t surprise us if our players don’t just take the initiative to do stickhandling exercises in the garage or shoot pucks with a buddy at the local rink. Why would they? Everything they’ve done in sport has been dictated to them. 

Similarly, during practice it is not a shock to see a coach have players move from the left corner to the right corner (to do the same exact drill on the other side) and all the pucks are still huddled together on the left side. An assistant coach often jumps in and helps move the pucks so the drill won’t be delayed, a task I bet any Squirt player could, at the very least, help complete.

What’s the solution to this problem? Instituting player ownership of the team’s success. For example, players should be responsible for the smooth and effective running of practice. When cones need to be moved, pucks cleared out of the zone or nets adjusted, players, even at the youngest ages, are more than capable of helping out. 

Having our players do these relatively simple tasks is incredibly important for a few reasons. First, it provides them with ownership for a team’s success. It is their team after all. Second, hockey players – just like the rest of us – are more motivated to do something when we have a stake in it. Finally, taking responsibility for running practice is just the beginning. There is so much more we can do as coaches to provide players with ownership of their teams. 

Players can be delegated the responsibility of making sure the locker room is clean after practice and games, ensuring all players are ready on time for games, helping resolve player conflicts on the team, leading pre-game dynamic warm-ups and much more. At the Bantam and high school levels, players can be given greater ownership for their teams and even their community associations. High school players can help design and implement mentorship programs or fundraising drives. 

Sport doesn’t just intrinsically provide youth athletes with leadership skills and character. We need to structure our sports in such a way that they are incubators for these positive outcomes. Does your team or association provide player’s with ownership or is everything run by the adults? 

Josh Levine is the Assistant Coach of the Bloomington Jefferson Girls Varsity Hockey team and owner of The Fortis Academy. Fortis works with youth associations to implement skill development programs with all teams, from Mites to Bantams. The program includes parent education seminars, coaching clinics and Fortis skill-based practices. If you’re interested in learning more, shoot Josh an email atjoshletsplayhockey@gmail.com. Follow Fortis on Facebook and Instagram.

Photo: Christine Wisch