Being coachable is more than listening.

The last two practices with my 12U team have been a good reminder of that.

As coaches, we tell players all the time that they need to be coachable. But sometimes I think we need to do a better job explaining what that actually means.

It’s not just looking at the coach when they’re talking.

It’s not just saying, “Yes, Coach.”

It’s taking what the coach is telling you and actually trying to apply it.

It means being willing to make a change, even when it’s something you’ve been told before. Even when it’s frustrating. Even when you think you’re already doing it right.

That’s where the real coachability shows up.

And this goes both ways.

As coaches, we need to be coachable too. We need to listen to our players, adjust when something isn’t working, and be willing to admit that we don’t have all the answers.

I don't expect 12-year-olds to get everything right. They’re going to make mistakes. They’re going to get frustrated. That's part of being 12.

But I do expect them to be willing to learn.

Because at the end of the day, my job isn't just to make them better hockey players.

It’s to help them learn how to take feedback, handle adversity, make adjustments and keep getting better.

Those lessons go a lot further than the rink.

P.S. They may or may not have skated to help reinforce the message. 😎🤣