The Power of Team

How to maximize individual development and team performance

Hi there,

You don’t have to choose between development and winning - you can have both.

“The genetic fitness of humans is as much a consequence of group selection as individual selection. We survived and thrived because we work together for common goals and because individuals will sacrifice themselves for those goals. We are one of the very few mammals that do this. Team sports are one of the most common ways we learn what the path of evolution required: to seek to triumph and yet be ready to sacrifice; to want to succeed for ourselves but also remain within the group and seek its success. Sports make us more human because they echo the process of our evolution”

-Excerpt from The Coaches’ Guide to Teaching, by Doug Lemov

A coaching challenge we all face is teaching players to give up some of their individualism for the greater good of the team. We all want selfless athletes that are willing to put the team first.

Grit Stickers

At Brock University, we give out “Grit Stickers” to our players when they achieve a combination of 5+ hits and blocked shots in a game. Players are also encouraged to nominate a teammate for a sticker based on a “significant team first action”. It’s fun to see how excited 21-25 year old’s get about a stickers.

We want to bring awareness and celebrate when a teammate blocks a shot, finishes a check or does some other action that requires personal sacrifice for good of the team. Nobody blocks a shot for themselves. It hurts and it’s not fun. They do it for the success of the group.

The grit sticker is a way to direct attention toward actions that build our identity and help our team win.

Discipline

Playing with discipline is a willingness to do what the team needs. Discipline is eliminating avoidable penalties, playing within the team structure with good habits and controlling your emotions.

Discipline requires awareness and focus; two skills that can be elusive when under the stress of competition.

Here is a an awesome clip of Mike Tomlin on the sidelines reinforcing discipline. He says, “Hey, look man. Sometimes we gotta put the personal pride aside when the cause is bigger than you”.

To develop awareness and focus you need to direct the attention of your athletes toward the details and habits that matter. Some common areas worth considering include:

• Not retaliating or arguing with officials

• Short shifts and changing with your line mates.

• Backchecking through the middle of the ice.

• Stopping at the net.

• Stick on the ice.

• Communication on the ice.

In order to execute with discipline in the game it should be practiced in the training environment. For example, you can’t expect players to avoid unnecessary penalties if infractions are allowed in practice.

Sweep the Sheds

The New Zealand All Blacks rugby team is known for their culture principle of “sweeping the sheds”. It means that they leave places better than they found it and will literally sweep the “sheds” (locker room) after the game. When your leaders and coaches are willing to load the bus, pick up pucks, clean the locker room etc. it creates a strong model for how your team behaves. It’s not about your individual rank, it’s about the team.

Brock Badgers High Performance Hockey Seminar

2025 date to be announced.

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
Coaching Project
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