My Coaching Philosophy for Hockey
I had the chance recently to put together my thoughts on who I am and how I want to be as a mental peformance coach for hockey players. I assessed my core values and beliefs and was able to put together a coaching philosophy anchored on five main ideas. I will share it with you below. You can also find it on my "About" page.
Scott Schwertly's Coaching Philosophy
My coaching philosophy is rooted in a growth mindset. I believe all athletes have the potential to improve and develop, and I see my role as a coach to help them reach their full potential. I also believe hockey is more than just a sport - it is a powerful metaphor for life. Hockey requires belief, vision, discipline, and a commitment to excellence both on and off the ice.
I extract these values by focusing on the following five principles:
Unwavering Belief
A great hockey player has belief. He or she beliefs they have the skills and hockey sense to succeed on the ice. They do not just think it, they believe it with all of their heart and mind. As a coach, it is my responsibility to help every player develop a deep and unwavering belief in themselves by making sure they know they have everything needed to win within them. They will no longer require outside validation in order to succeed.
Unshakeable Confidence
A great hockey player is confident. He or she is able to rely on past successes, possesses a positive self-image, and prepares meticiously. As a coach, it is my responsibility to make sure every athlete is empowered by these three components of confidence. It means I create opportunities to celebrate the wins - small and big, I encourage positive self-talk and imagery, and I advocate for preparation in all processes on and off the ice.
Uncommon Optimism
A great hockey player is optimistic. He or she is intrinsically motivated because they have a geniune love for this great game. In a world where negativity prevails, I strive to create a team culture whichs values positivity, enthusiasm, and gratitude. I will not focus on the past nor the future, but on the here and now and what can be accomplished today to ensure a team culture of optimism prevails.
Unrivaled Discipline
A great hockey player is disiciplined. He or she knows discipline creates freedom. They also know consistency beats intensity. As a coach, it is my task to make sure my players understand the difference between having a proactive and reactive spirit with their skill development, training, practices, and goal setting. Proactiveness exists at the core of discipline. It is about planning. It is about intention. It is about getting results. Reactiveness is not a part of discipline and creates a life of constraints. A proactive mindset will always be the foundation of my players' thinking.
Untamed Passion
A great hockey player is passionate. He or she has a pure love for the game. As a coach, it is my duty to create a culture where this passion can thrive by building a positive and inclusive team culture where a deep sense of belonging exists. I want my athletes to feel like they can bring their entire self into the locker room and on the ice where their passion can emerge and stay vibrant.
Growth only happens when one is able to break the shackles of a fixed mindset. I believe I can help any athlete break through their personal limitations and achieve their full potential. By instilling the above principles into an player's heart and mind through patience, grace, compassion, and a fair and balanced leadership style - any athlete under my coaching will experience success both on and off the ice.
