What are the best types of questions to ask to get players thinking?
This is a simple concept with many nuanced layers. We are going to cover learning, reflection, coaching evolutions, and more.
Every coach wants to get better. Yet, figuring out how to get better can be a challenge. That leads to a few questions:
- What are we missing?
- What are we not thinking about?
- What should we focus on?
What we are doing when we ask those questions to ourselves is the golden ticket.
What are we trying to do?
When coaching, what are we trying to do?
Simply put: improve our players!
How we do that is multi-faceted, but all of the ways share a consistent thread – players making it their own. How they do that is through reflection.
The power of reflection
Reflection is an important element of learning and improving. Think back to where we started this journey. We started by asking ourselves questions and reflecting.
Without our reflection, we cannot make the lesson(s) we are learning personalized and then execute on them well. Within reflection there is growth. Our lessons become engrained and personalized so we can execute well going forward.
A good example would be my team’s mistake protocol.
- Admit the mistake
- Apologize for the mistake
- Learn from the mistake
- Press on
The key is to learn from the mistake, but you must reflect in order to learn.
The evolution a coach
Legendary coach Wally Kozak was on the Hockey IQ Podcast and mentioned the evolutionary journey all great coaches travel.
Step 1 – Yelling
This is the stage where a coach usually starts because they are fresh off a playing career and are in a player’s mindset. This is similar to playing a video game and moving players around with a joystick.
Step 2 – Telling
This stage occurs as a coach learns more about the game. There is an understanding of the game beyond the player’s capabilities. Coaches give all of the answers to the players. This robs players of their ability to problem solve and have a depth of knowledge that transfers to all levels of the game.
Step 3 – Asking
The is the stage where a coach begins to understand how their players best learn. Coaches engage the player to think and come up with answers that work well for them and their skill set. They will need some cues as they don’t have a point of view outside of their own or lack the depth of knowledge you possess after years of studying the game.
Be curious, not judgemental
We have all heard the phrase,”I don’t know why ____ is doing ____.” This may be around the rink or at the grocery store and in everyday life.
If judgemental, you’ll write off the player, and your coaching effectiveness plummets.
Rather than that, we should shift our mindset to curiosity. If curious, you ask more questions. This allows us as coaches to understand the player and help them from their lens and their level of understanding.
Instead try asking ____ why they are doing ____. Curiosity over close-mindedness.
Parent-coaches can be the best coaches
Parent coaches may lack hockey knowledge, but this doesn’t eliminate their ability to be great coaches. The longer you’re around the game and coaching, the more you’ll realize that the best way to become a better coach tomorrow is to ask questions.
Without a playing career to fall back on, parent coaches can be some of the most effective and even better than coaches with a playing background. They are curious and can ask questions to players. Knowing the answers is not required!
Better question asking
While the simple answer to the article title is “Ask more questions,” you can see there are many nuances and deep reasons as to why.
Heck, I got this far for you to finally realize that I haven’t been doing what I’m preaching. Well, don’t you worry! I have a question/reflection for you.
- What are the best types of questions to ask to get players thinking?
- How can you alter your coaching to ask more questions?
- Why is question asking so important in the learning process?
Feel free to share your answers with me on Twitter @CoachRevak.
