Scotty Fagotter did an excellent job as a team manager as well. Great job Scotty!
Dave Beehler was a very strong and effective captain. I’m looking forward to working with Dave as a team captain again next year.
On Ice Performance
The Reserve Grade players started the season without a clear goal or style of play. Several players were new to the team or grade. Also, there were few leaders at the start and a lack of organisation. We lost quite a few games at the start as our direction was inconsistent. Injuries and absence of several key players compounded our slow start. Lack of experience was amplified by the need to use many young junior players to fill out the roster.
However, we slowly developed a consistent strategy of a relentless pressure attack and responsible but aggressive defense. Over time the players also gained greater experience playing together. This resulted in greater trust in each other on the ice and we started to turn the corner.
Several players returned from injury / absence – Kel Boers, Dereck Hales, Joel Unruh, Grainge Phillips and Tristan Woods. At the same time several players emerged as leaders. Dave Beehler, Kel Boers, Ryan Jeary, Sammy Diluca, Tristan Woods and Nick Trusewicz began leading by example. The combination of a gameplan fitting of our style of play, leadership and numbers resulted in a long winning streak at the end of the year to take us from last place into fourth place – locking in a finals berth on the last night of the season!
In the finals we continued our aggressive play with big wins over the Demons and Saints en route to a Grand Final appearance against the Sharks. We eked out a tight but deserved win in Game 1 but at a cost. We lost two defenceman in Games 2 & 3. We also lost a forward for Game 3. Despite a depleted bench, we pushed the Sharks to the limit losing by one goal in each game – the premiership winning goal coming in the final two minutes of Game 3.
Overall, our performance was very strong down the stretch and we lost out due to injuries.
Player Development
Most reserve grade players started the season without clear direction or goals. By season’s end most players had personal and team goals they were driven to achieve.
Attendance at practice was continuously strong throughout the year.
I found it challenging to effectively develop reserve grade players in training sessions as their skill level and ice hockey knowledge differs greatly from the A Grade players. As such, they’re often confused and unable to learn from combined team drills.
When separated on our own, the Reserve Grade players were better positioned to work on fundamentals that A Grade players have already locked down.
Personal Development
I enjoyed coaching and felt I progressed as a leader and motivator. Glen Grandy and Tommy Powell were helpful in providing guidance throughout the season. I feel I’ve improved in communicating direction / motivation to the players but still have a ways to go.
While I personally have a deeper experience level than the players I coach, I lack the training to effectively impart the knowledge. I am keen to return as the Reserve Grade coach in 2010 but I will be better served in completing a Level 1 coaching program to improve my skills.
Outlook for 2010
The Reserve Grade team enters 2010 as a favourite to win the league given our end of season momentum and the fact we fell short on account of injury. We will need to consider a change to strategy in order to take the next step to champions. This change may mean a different style of attack and defense as well as better player development.
However we may have a challenge regarding numbers next year as our team was at best 13 skaters plus a goalie. If we lose any players we’ll be short again. This presents a need to recruit a couple of Reserve Grade quality players.
Suggestions for Improvement
- Linkage between A Grade and Reserve Grade was limited and not very effective. I recommend clear expectations and objectives be agreed at the start of the year including:
- who the selection committee is
- how selections are made
- Reserve Grade should update A Grade coach monthly on progress of Reserve Grade side
- I believe we should provide more opportunities for Reserve Grade players to play A Grade games when it’s earned. Reserve Grade demotion for underperformance should also be clearly actioned when warranted. Clear expectations and communications across selection committee and coaches as noted above will help ensure this.
- Reserve Grade and A Grade coaches should plan to segregate the teams at earlier points – particularly before the A Grade focuses on drills that are above the skill level of some Reserve Grade players.
- Use of junior players policy was confusing and grew even more so as the season progressed. I agree with the idea that junior players should have the chance to try different clubs but we need clear directions and a simple approach to bring junior players out to our clubs – especially when we’re short numbers.
- Can we change the rules to allow a Time-Out in the Finals? It only adds 1 minute to a game and can be a huge factor. In Game 3 of the Grand Final, our depleted bench just didn’t have the lungs for a final push to score at the end. A Time-Out may have made a huge difference. I’d rather see a team win because they deserve it, not because the other team is tired.
- Assignment of skill class is not clear. We had one or two players that would have been better served developing their skills in Senior C. It would help to receive clear rules / steps for assigning players to divisions fitting of their skill level.
- Can we recognize the Reserve Grade Players better? Perhaps we could work with the other clubs to have an All Star Game where the coaches from the teams vote the fitting players for a late season all star game?
Dereck Hales
