First Loss, Lessons Gained

Not every game can be a win.

That is something that every team must learn early in the season, and depending on team, it can be a hard pill to swallow. That walk to the dressing room after a hard fought loss is seldom fun. Heads hanging a little low, sticks are tossed with disappointment into the corner, the dressing room can get a little bit silent. Like any sport, hockey is a competition, and winning games is part of what every team strives for.

This was the scene after our game this weekend, the kids first loss of the young season. And the first one can be harder than most. Obviously no one is truly happy with a loss, but defeat can often teach better than a win.

We start off by giving the floor to the players, ask them what they though of the game. The kids are smart, often pointing out either why the think the other team came out on top and not them. Some blame the referee (easy scapegoat) or the dirty play of the other team. Perhaps surprisingly, very rarely do we hear "they were better than us" or "we just aren't good enough".
It is our job as coaches to bridge the gap between weaknesses and improvements. The loss exposes weaknesses that may not have been visible in a win, and will usually the next practice will be geared towards helping the team improve in this area.

Some of the most valuable weapons that a team can possess cannot be taught by any drills though. The success of the team depends on them. No matter how hard their parents push them, or how skillfully they are coached, they are the ones out there on the ice playing the game. No one else. Proper coaching and supporting parents are obviously important, but to see the kids grasp the fact that it is in their hands is always a pleasure.

It's a lesson that will serve them well all through life, but it can also be the difference between a winning and a losing season.