A View From the Side

A new monthly feature from Andy Jackson, our Coaching Guru. Please tune in to read the "Great Ones" words of wisdom.

 

 

The Mad March Hare

No this ain’t a reference to the hair style of the coach, but an indication that Spring is upon us. For hockey this is a clue that the season is coming to close. Promotion and relegation battles will have been fought, thoughts of a wet Summer and the fear of pre-season already rumbling in the pit of your stomach.

But before we dine and present the awards let us just perhaps have a moment’s reflection. Let us think about the season and consider the following advice comments in the Sheff Bankers Men’s 1 st XI in the national league match programme -

 

Brendon Koolan	Enjoy training and train hard. As long as you have got the best out of yourself you have won.
Gareth Auker	Team ethic is the most important thing.
Andy King	The best players do the simple things perfectly so concentrate on the basics.
Darius Virabi	Keep it simple and do as I say not as I do.
Jonny Clark	Learn the basics , forget the fancy stuff.
Russell Power	Being a good athlete makes the game a lot easier. Work on all aspects of fitness when your young!!!
Richard Major	It’s all about leg work.
Tristan Gilbody	There is no such thing as a badly timed tackle.
Lee Toulson	Go hard or go home !!!
Paul Walker	Wash your kit after ever game.
Steve Andrews	Practice and master your basic skills first if you have ambitions to play higher, the tricks can come later
Pete Ellis	Always work hard for team.
John Hamilton	Always go reverse!!!
Danny Dunn	It’s all hockey love.
David Smith	Just keep doing what you are doing
Ray Everitt	Start with beer before moving on to spirits

These are guys who are sitting pretty at the top of National North and hopefully as you read the “advice” quotes they have been promoted.

The point I want you to focus on is, even within the humour, we have an underlining message. If you want to enjoy your hockey you need to work on four key areas – athleticism, decision making, commitment and technical skills. Without these four areas your development and enjoyment will be limited. So as the season draws to a close, think have I achieved all I can against the four principles? If not then make that your goal for the future.