Oh, how quickly weekends can remind you what coaching youth sports is really about.

On Saturday, my 12U team gave zero effort in their game. No compete. No urgency. Just skating around with no thought and no purpose.

So, on Sunday, they were held accountable.

The first 15 minutes of practice were spent skating. Then, when players chose to watch the Mite group at the other end instead of paying attention during a drill adjustment — back on the line. And at the end, poor passing earned one more round.

I’ve seen plenty of posts saying “bag skating isn’t the way anymore.”
But here’s the truth: it’s not about skating them — it’s about accountability.

If players aren’t held accountable to their team, their habits, and their effort, they’ll never grow. Sports aren’t just about developing hockey skills; they’re about developing life skills — discipline, focus, and ownership.

Coaches can’t care more than the players do. Sometimes the hard lessons are the ones that stick. 🏒💪