Get busy planning your season now or don't complain about being simply busy later. 

Most coaches have other obligations in the offseason, not the least of which being simple recovery. Family time, travel, and simple rest are crucial when the season is over, and that doesn't even account for the fact that most people still have a regular job that doesn't slow down just because the weather is nice. 

Coaches who grind during the season often see the work rewarded one way or another, but at what cost? What if you didn't have to feel burnt out by Christmas time next year? 

A simple season plan can be your guide when the mental load starts to feel heavy. Imagine having a resource you could check on that told you exactly what to do and when. Wouldn't it be nice to remove the guesswork? Especially if you're the one who created the guide in the first place? 

That's what Michael Dundas preaches in the first chapter of The Coaches Site's Minor Hockey Foundations course. Start with organizing your approach and that seasonal plan will become the blueprint for the entire season. Once that's in place, you can feel free to tweak as necessary while applying your personality every practice and game. 

After Michael's lesson, the course gets into communication, practice planning, and even bench management. These lessons are best learned in the summer when the pressure is low and the sun is high!

Explore the entire Minor Hockey Foundations course here.