Control is for Amateurs
How to maximize individual development and team performance
Hi there,
You don’t have to choose between development and winning - you can have both.
“You are the leader of the organization. You set the tone and the message. You are the example of the culture 24/7. You got to hire really good people and trust that they are going to do their job.”
-PJ Fleck
In the late 2010’s I joined a small group of coaches at Northwood School in Lake Placid, NY. We were there to give presentations, share ideas and connect in the off-season. Among the group was the legendary coach, Bill Beaney. Coach Beaney won 8 NCAA D3 National Championships as the Head Coach at Middlebury.
Coach Beaney started his presentation with a quote I will never forget:
To get control you have to give up control
Giving up control is not giving up your responsibility as the leader. When done well, it is a highly skilled approach to motivating your people. At the heart of this idea is the self-determination theory.
Giving up control can be a scary thought. Here are some ideas to create space for autonomy in your team. You can take these thoughts and apply it to all facets of your organization. You will be thrilled at how well they perform with an opportunity:
Share the responsibility of practice planning and execution with assistant coaches. Give them a segment to run on the ice. Can they handle the warm up every practice? Can they run the whole practice, giving you the time to coach individuals or connect 1:1 with players?
Include players in the idea generation of practice planning. What are their favorite drills? What do they want to get better at?
Have a player led station in practice.
Use individual development time where players are tasked with finding a partner or small group to work on a skill together.
“That I could control the outcome of everything”
-Geno Auriemma, on the lesson he needed to unlearn
Brock Badgers High Performance Hockey Seminar
I am excited to announce that the 3rd Brock Badgers High Performance Coaching Seminar is on May 31st, 2025
Learn, share, and connect with coaches, scouts, managers and industry professionals from all ages, genders, and levels on the campus of Brock University in the beautiful Niagara region.
Speakers include coaches from Professional, CHL, USPORTS, NCAA and industry experts.
Click here for the 2023 and 2024 agenda including speakers and topics.
Purchase the video of all presentations from the 2023 and/or 2024 seminar for just $74 (CDN). Email me directly at tmanastersky@brocku.ca for details.
Cheers,
TJ Manastersky
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