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- The Huddle - Edition 47
The Huddle - Edition 47
A weekly newsletter from The Coaching Dad.
The Coaching Dad
May 22, 2025
Intro
This Week’s Focus: Setting the Tone
Whether it’s your first season or your fifth, it’s important to remember: you are the thermostat for your team’s energy. Your words, your tone, your body language—all of it sets the temperature for how your players show up, feel, and respond to challenges.
Kids are observant. They watch your reactions when they mess up. They notice when your shoulders slump or when your voice sharpens after a mistake. And they respond accordingly. If you’re tight, frustrated, or short with your energy, chances are they’ll play that way too.
On the flip side, when you bring calm, clarity, and enthusiasm—even in tough moments—you give your players permission to stay steady and focused. It doesn’t mean you can’t be intense. But it does mean you need to be aware. Because the way you show up doesn’t just affect how your team plays—it affects how they feel about playing.
This week’s issue is all about coaching from the inside out: how your attitude becomes the team’s attitude, and what to do to make sure that influence is working for you, not against you.
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Lets go!
Insight of the week
Confidence is Built in the Margins
Stat to Know: According to a study from the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, coaches who maintain positive body language and composed emotional expression are linked to 2x higher reported athlete motivation and confidence levels.
That’s a powerful link. And it makes sense—because coaching isn’t just what you say, it’s what your players feel from you.
Here’s how to sharpen your self-awareness and keep your energy in check:
1. Know What You Look Like
Most coaches have no idea what they look like on the sidelines. Are your arms crossed? Are you pacing with a scowl? Are you giving a death stare after a turnover? These non-verbal cues say more than your words. Try recording part of a game or having a fellow coach observe your demeanor—it’s eye-opening.
2. Posture Speaks Loud
Open body language (shoulders back, arms relaxed, eye contact) tells your players: “I’m here, I believe in you.” On the flip side, if you’re constantly slumped, frowning, or disengaged, it signals disappointment—even if you haven’t said a word.
3. Use Your Voice as a Tool
Volume isn’t always effective. A calm but direct voice builds trust and respect. Save your louder energy for moments of true urgency or celebration. Otherwise, vary your tone intentionally—players respond better to cues that feel thoughtful, not reactive.
4. Control the “Face”
Your facial expressions are constantly broadcasting a message. After a mistake, a simple raised eyebrow might shut a kid down more than you know. Instead, aim for what we’ll call a neutral-supportive face—one that says, “We’re okay. Let’s move on.” That kind of steadiness is powerful.
In short: be the kind of presence you’d want behind you when the pressure’s on. Your composure will become their compass.
Drill of the week
Neutral Zone Defenders
Sport: Hockey
Skill Focus: Defensive awareness, spacing, and quick transitions
The neutral zone often gets overlooked in youth hockey—but teaching players how to own this area can make a massive difference. This drill is all about reading plays, anticipating movement, and taking pride in preventing clean breakouts.
Setup:
Use the neutral zone between blue lines.
Create two teams of 3 players.
Position cones at the sides to mark boundaries and simulate boards.
Basic Version:
Team A starts with the puck at one blue line and tries to pass through the neutral zone to break into the offensive zone.
Team B’s job is to intercept passes, clog lanes, and apply light pressure.
Switch roles after each round.
Coaching Points:
Emphasize stick positioning and spacing between defenders.
Teach players to angle attackers toward the boards.
Focus on communication between teammates—call out switches or open lanes.
Advanced Version:
Add a 4th defender to create 3v1 trap zones.
Allow attackers to regroup if turned back, adding decision-making pressure.
Add a “score” component where defenders earn points for stopping 3 entries in a row.
This drill builds defensive instincts and helps players understand that dominating the neutral zone creates transition chances—and stops the other team before they build momentum.
Coaching tip of the week
2-Minute Reset Before Practice
We all have days where we’re showing up flustered—work stress, parenting chaos, or maybe the carpool took way too long. The problem? That energy can bleed right into practice. Here’s how to hit the mental reset button so you show up as the coach your team needs:
1. Create a “Start Ritual” for Yourself
Before stepping onto the field, take two minutes for you. That could be standing still, deep breaths, a few quiet moments in the car, or even reviewing your practice goals. Let that ritual mark the switch from your personal day to your coaching mindset.
2. Do a Quick Energy Scan
Ask yourself, “What’s my tone right now?” If you’re rushing or irritated, it’s worth slowing down. Remind yourself of the purpose: kids getting better, having fun, and building life skills. A deep breath can reset more than just your heart rate.
3. Set a Mental Intention
Pick one phrase for the session ahead: “Be steady.” “Focus on connection.” “Have fun with it.” That word or phrase becomes your guidepost, especially when things get chaotic.
The best coaches don’t just plan the practice—they plan their presence. The calm, fun, encouraging version of you? That’s the one your team will respond to—and it starts with a short reset before the whistle blows.
Blog highlight
How Your Coaching Vibe Shapes Young Athletes
In the realm of youth sports, a coach's attitude isn't just a personal trait—it's a powerful tool that can uplift or undermine a team's spirit. As a coach, your demeanor sets the tone for practices, games, and the overall team environment. Let's explore how your attitude impacts your players and how to harness it for positive outcomes.
Equipment highlight
Light Up Response Tee
This tee is really nice at giving visual feedback to players. It will indicate good bat to ball contact while also increasing focus. It’s mean to increase consistency in a players hitting. As most kids are visual learners, this tee can make a really big impact.
Friends of The Coaching Dad
A Refreshing Look at Fundraising
How many of you have teams that use fundraisers to help support the teams activities for the year. I don’t know about you, but I get tired of selling pizzas and other things that seem to be played out. These are customizable and so big! You’ll love them, I have no doubt.
Give our friends over at Fundraiser Blankets a look. Here’s a little bit about them: Fundraiser Blankets offer a unique and profitable fundraising opportunity for K-12 schools, sports teams and community groups. These $12.50, custom logo, full-color blankets are provided by a veteran teacher’s, women-owned small business and are printed in the USA.
Content
Free Content
You might be new to coaching a team or sport. You may be a grizzled coaching veteran. Either way, check out the content section of thecoachingdad.com. You’ll find resources that cover a large number of sports, including game refreshers, position breakdowns, injury management, practice ideas and more.
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