Really illustrates the difference that a coach can make. No, a coach doesn’t tell the team to play slow, or to not go to the front of the net offensively, or to turn the puck over at the blue lines.
But it depends on the clarity and reinforcement of the messaging. If it is clearly and repeatedly stressed that the team needs to turn it up ice quickly, instead of continual D to D passes, then you will get more of that desired behaviour. If they are continually reminded to get to the front of the net and gets shots at the net, that will happen.
So if one coach isn’t clear in the message, and if it is not constantly focused and reinforced, then those behaviours won’t occur with consistency.
After one game, most of us can identify particular actions that Sutter feels are important.
And that doesn’t even get into the bigger picture of culture and accountability.
Coaching matters.
|