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CoachE

@coache.ca

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CoachE 🏒 🏈
Helping youth coaches grow — and young players develop.
Long-term athletes over short-term wins.
🇨🇦 Alberta

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SATURDAY REFLECTIONS | LEGACY 🏈🌱

Before anything can grow, somebody has to turn the ground.

These seniors have spent two years doing exactly that for a fledgling football program. Breaking new ground. Planting seeds. Putting in hard work without any guarantee they’d still be wearing the jersey when the harvest came.

Building a program is hard. You’re learning football while helping establish what football at your school will mean. The expectations. The habits. The way teammates treat each other. The willingness to come back and work after a tough Friday.

There’s no shortcut through those first few seasons. These young men have lived that.

They are pioneers of football at their school. Years from now, players will pull on these colours and step onto a field made more familiar by the footsteps of this group.

Some of what these seniors have planted will bear fruit long after their final snap. They can always take pride in that. Their contribution belongs to this program’s story, and nobody can take it away.

Fellas, we coaches are prouder of you than we can properly put into words. We’ve watched you struggle, learn, adapt, support each other and keep showing up. We know how much you’ve given.

Next week brings one more game.

One more week of practice. One more chance to line up beside your brothers. One more opportunity to leave this program better than you found it.

You’ve already done that. Now we get to keep building together for another week.

This old coach can’t wait to get back on the practice field with you. Then we’ll take the game field together one more time.

The ground was hard. You planted anyway.

That’s a legacy worth being proud of. 💜🏈

#CoachE #SaturdayReflections #Legacy #SeniorFootball #ProcessOverPodium WeTheHerd taken in Blackfalds. by @coache.ca

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2 days ago

TEAMWORK WEDNESDAY: YOUR CONTRIBUTION MATTERS 🏈

Watch a football game and your eyes naturally follow the ball. Same thing in hockey with the puck.

It makes sense. That’s where the action is, right?

Well… some of it.

On a Canadian football field, the ball carrier is one of twelve players. The other eleven have work to do that can make or break that play.

The lineman holding his block.
The lead blocker creating a lane.
The receiver running his route with purpose, even when the ball is going somewhere else.

Plenty of that effort never gets a name announced over the speakers. It still helps put points on the board.

If you’re playing away from the ball, take pride in your assignment. Learn it. Understand why it matters. Give it the attention and effort your teammates are counting on.

That applies on the field, on the ice, at work and at home. Your contribution doesn’t need an audience to have value.

Coaches, we have a job here too. Notice that block. Recognize that route. Celebrate the effort that created an opportunity for somebody else. We can’t ask players to value those contributions if we only praise whoever scores.

Do the small things well. Help someone else succeed. Take pride in moving the whole team forward.

You don’t need the ball to make a difference.

Who’s a teammate whose work deserves a little more recognition? 👇

#CoachE #TeamworkWednesday #ProcessOverPodium #EveryRoleMatters #YouthSports CoachingCoaches taken in Red Deer, Alberta by @coache.ca

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5 days ago

COACH, WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN?

I heard a player from my son’s hockey team say, “I’m still not sure what hard-nosed hockey is.”

That stopped me.

To a guy of my generation, those words paint a picture immediately. Get your nose into the battle. Compete physically. Keep working for the puck. Be a handful for the opposition.

But that’s MY picture. It might not capture the details his coach wants.

Naturally, I started thinking about my own favourite instructions.

“Play fast.”
“Be hard to play against.”
“Bring more intensity.”

They sound great coming over the boards. But do my players know exactly what I’m asking them to DO?

Thirty years of coaching experience doesn’t automatically download into a teenager’s brain. Apparently, the Bluetooth on this old coach isn’t that impressive. 😂

If I’m wondering whether they understand, I probably need to explain it better.

Depending on the situation, my definitions might look like this:

🏒 “Play fast”: Scan before the puck arrives. Move it, then move your feet to support.

🏒 “Hard to play against”: Stay between your opponent and our net. Keep your stick in passing lanes. Stay in the battle for loose pucks.

🏒 “Bring intensity”: Close space with purpose. Stop on the puck. Recover immediately after a mistake.

Now we have something to demonstrate, practise and recognize.

Then I can ask: “What does that look like to you? Show me.”

I want to check my teaching, and make it comfortable for a player to say, “Coach, I’m not sure.”

My kids and I can’t be on the same page if I haven’t even written the notes.

Clear expectations start with us.

Coaches: What’s one phrase you use that could use a clearer definition?

#CoachE #CoachingCoaches #ProcessOverPodium #YouthHockey #AthleteDevelopment taken in Great Plains Rec Center by @coache.ca

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8 days ago

🏈 WHERE’S COACH EATING? 🍜
📍 Thap Ba Vietnamese Restaurant | South Red Deer

Thap Ba has been moving up Coach’s depth chart lately, and their vermicelli bowls have officially earned a starting spot.

Friday night, Mrs. Coach and I stopped in for the grilled pork and spring roll bowls after another very full week. Some couples unwind with a candlelit dinner. We went with noodles and fish sauce. That’s what I call a bowl-mantic evening. 😂

The flavours? Top notch for Vietnamese food here in Central Alberta. Fresh ingredients, delicious grilled pork, crunchy spring rolls, and everything working together like a team that actually listened during practice.

The fish sauce brings it all together. The satay oil brings the heat. Coach brings a questionable joke and absolutely no resistance to spring rolls.

I considered asking the bowl about its goals for the season, but it already had plenty on its plate.

Mrs. Coach deserved a relaxing evening. Instead, she got dinner and another live performance from a man who thinks “wok this way” is quality comedy. The woman’s patience belongs in the Hall of Fame. ❤️

Good food. Great company. A little time to catch our breath together.

Thap Ba, you’ve earned your spot in Coach’s starting lineup. No tryout required next time.

Process over podium. Spring rolls over pretty much everything. 🏈🥢

#WheresCoachEating #CoachE #RedDeerEats #SupportLocal #VietnameseFood taken in Red Deer, Alberta by @coache.ca

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9 days ago

DON’T LET A FALSE PREDICTION PLAY YOUR NEXT SHIFT. 🏒

Sometimes the toughest opponent is the voice inside our own helmet.

“I’m going to mess this up.”
“I don’t belong at this level.”
“Coach won’t trust me after that mistake.”

Those thoughts can feel like facts. But feeling certain doesn’t make us right.

One useful way to reframe F.E.A.R. is:
False Expectations Appearing Real.

Our thoughts sometimes give us accurate information. Other times, they give us a prediction built from nerves, one bad experience, or an assumption we haven’t checked.

Here’s how that can become a loop:

We expect to fail.
We hesitate, hide, or avoid trying.
We miss an opportunity to learn or contribute.
Then that voice says, “See? I told you.”

We’ve helped create the evidence for a story that wasn’t settled in the first place.

Positive self-talk helps us interrupt that loop. It means giving ourselves something honest and useful to work with.

“I’ll never get this” becomes “I haven’t learned it yet. What can I adjust?”

“I can’t make a mistake” becomes “Mistakes happen. I can respond and stay involved.”

“I’m going to have a terrible shift” becomes “Move my feet. Keep my stick ready. Make the next play.”

A useful thought gives us a useful action.

That action won’t guarantee the outcome. Opponents, teammates, bounces, and circumstances have a say too. But it gives us a better chance to contribute, learn, and build confidence through experience.

Coaches, we can help players practise this by making our own feedback specific, steady, and focused on what comes next.

You don’t have to feel fearless to step onto the ice.

Check the thought. Choose the action. Play the next shift.

What’s one phrase that helps you reset? 👇

#CoachE #PositiveSelfTalk #ProcessOverPodium #YouthSports #NextPlay CoachingCoaches taken in Great Plains Rec Center by @coache.ca

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9 days ago

GRATEFUL FOR THE PEOPLE 🍁

Thanksgiving weekend here in the true north strong and free has this old coach thinking about how lucky he really is.

Not because of a scoreboard. Because of the people.

My family, who share me with practices, games, and “just one more thing before I come home.” Thank you for your patience, your love, and for reminding me there is more to life than the next play. You’re my home team.

The staff I work alongside and the coaches I share the field and rink with. Thank you for caring, pitching in, challenging me, and finding reasons to laugh when the days get long. Good people make a difference far beyond their job descriptions.

The players, who keep showing up to do difficult things. Who ask questions, make mistakes, try again, and work hard for themselves and each other. Thank you for trusting me to be a small part of your journey. You teach this coach plenty, too.

After 30 years of coaching, I’m still grateful I get to do this.

I am a very lucky coach because of these folks, and I know it.

Happy Thanksgiving. Make some room for gratitude this weekend. Preferably beside the people you love. There should still be room for pie. 🥧

#CoachE #HappyThanksgiving #Gratitude #ProcessOverPodium #MoreThanAGame taken in Red Deer, Alberta by @coache.ca

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10 days ago

COACH THE KID, NOT JUST THE POSITION.

These photos cover a lot of years.

They remind me that before every athlete is a position, a depth-chart spot, a stat line, or a role they can help us fill, there is a kid trying to figure out who they are.

I remember being that kid. I remember the nerves, the hope, the desire to belong, and the feeling that one good rep could make your whole week.

Now I get to coach kids like that. I have watched my own son be one of them.

Yes, teach the stance. Teach the read. Teach the route, the tackle, the technique, and the details that make a team better.

But never forget the bigger job.

Notice the quiet kid who needs a little encouragement.
Challenge the talented kid who needs accountability.
Celebrate effort before outcomes.
Make room for mistakes, because that is where learning lives.
Help every player leave your program with more confidence, character, and belief than they arrived with.

The position matters.

The kid matters more.

#CoachTheKid #LongTermAthleteDevelopment #CoachingMatters #PositiveCoaching #ProcessOverPodium taken in Red Deer, Alberta by @coache.ca

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11 days ago

MINDSET MONDAY: CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES

I’ve spent enough years on sidelines and behind benches to know how easy it is to spend energy on things we can’t change.

The officials. The opponent. The last mistake. Someone else’s opinion.

Meanwhile, the things we can do something about are waiting for our attention.

Our sleep routine. How we fuel and hydrate. The effort and attention we bring to practice. Our preparation. Our willingness to listen, learn, and be a good teammate.

We won’t control every feeling or every circumstance. We can work on what we do next.

Frustrated? Take a breath before you speak.
Made a mistake? Get ready for the next rep.
Teammate struggling? Be someone they can lean on.

Coaches, this applies to us too. Our preparation, our words, and our response when the plan falls apart help set the tone.

This week, pick one controllable that needs more of your attention. Give it a small, specific action you can repeat.

You can’t guarantee the result.
You can give yourself a better chance.

Own your next choice.

What’s one controllable you’re working on this week? 👇

#CoachE #MindsetMonday #ControlTheControllables #ProcessOverPodium #CoachingCoaches taken in Blackfalds. by @coache.ca

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14 days ago

FORWARD FRIDAY: CLOSING THE GAP

You don’t always close the gap all at once.

Sometimes you play your best football yet and still lose 22–8.

Early in the second quarter, we lost our quarterback and another key two-way player. Suddenly, guys were stepping into roles they hadn’t practised, including taking snaps at QB.

There’s no tidy playbook page for that. You adjust, support each other, and figure out the next rep together.

That’s what these young men did.

Against a tough, physical Stettler Wildcats team, our defence played inspired football. Pursuit to the ball. Grit. Fire. Players refusing to leave a teammate to do the work alone.

Our offence kept adapting. Guys accepted unfamiliar jobs and gave everything they had.

We wanted the win. We’re not pretending otherwise. Credit to Stettler for earning it.

But as a coach of a young program, I also need to recognize the growth in front of me. This group showed resilience, adaptability, and a whole lot of heart when the game got difficult.

The gap is still there. So is the work.

We’ll reload, keep building, and prepare for Camrose in two weeks. First, we’re hoping for a good recovery for our injured teammates.

Proud of these guys. Ready for the next rep.

#CoachE #ForwardFriday #ProcessOverPodium #YouthFootball #KeepBuilding taken in Stettler, Alberta by @coache.ca

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17 days ago

Today, we pause to honour the children who never came home from residential schools, the Survivors, and the families and communities who continue to carry the impacts.

As a coach, I think about the trust placed in us whenever a child steps onto the ice or field. Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and proud of who they are. Every child deserves to belong.

Our responsibility includes listening to Indigenous voices, learning the truth about residential schools, and examining the barriers and prejudices that still affect young people in our communities and in sport.

I have more to learn. Today is a reminder to make time for that learning and to carry it into how I coach, lead, and treat others throughout the year.

Remember. Listen. Learn.

Every Child Matters. 🧡

#NationalDayForTruthAndReconciliation #EveryChildMatters #orangeshirtday taken in Red Deer, Alberta by @coache.ca

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19 days ago

WHERE’S COACH EATING? 🏈🍜
Michi Vietnamese Restaurant | Blackfalds

Tuesday night’s scouting assignment took Coach to Michi. Happy to report there’s plenty of talent on this roster.

The atmosphere? Top notch. Warm, inviting, and full of character. The menu is eye-catching and focused, with a lineup of key dishes they clearly take pride in.

The young man serving that evening deserves a special shout-out. Happy, bright, kind energy that made you feel welcome right away. The coach in me sees a bright future for someone with people skills like that. Whatever path he chooses, he’s bringing something valuable to the team.

Now, those deep-fried spring rolls.

Some of the best I’ve had in Alberta. Seriously good. The dipping fish sauce was sweet, bright, and tangy. I could have built my entire game plan around that combination.

I ordered the special beef pho, with thicker noodles and a broth that had a more pronounced cinnamon and warm spice flavour than I usually encounter locally.

My personal preference leans toward the thinner noodles and broth of southern-style pho, but there was plenty to appreciate here: fresh ingredients, great presentation, and fresh lime and mint that really lifted the flavours.

A quality bowl with its own character.

Coach’s score: 🏈🏈🏈🏈
4 footballs out of 5.

I’ll be back. Those spring rolls have earned another start. 😉

#CoachE #WheresCoachEating #Blackfalds #SupportLocal #VietnameseFood taken in Blackfalds. by @coache.ca

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19 days ago

WHAT’S COACH WORKING ON TODAY? 💪🟡

Day 4: Chest. Shoulders. Triceps. Core.

Two months ago, getting back into the gym was mostly about one thing: showing up.

Now I’m starting to ask a little more of myself.

A little more weight.
A little better control.
A few stronger reps.
A little more confidence in what this body can still do.

Today is an upper-body push day. Nothing fancy. Press, lift, brace, breathe, repeat.

At 54, I’m not trying to train like I’m 24.

I’m training for 64.

I want to be strong enough to keep doing the things I love, healthy enough to enjoy them, and capable enough that age doesn’t get to make all the decisions for me.

So today we push.

Not to exhaustion.
Not for ego.
Not because every workout has to be heroic.

Because consistent work adds up.

Fuel the work. Build a stronger tomorrow.

What are you working on today?

People. Process. Progress.

#CoachE #WhatsCoachWorkingOn #ProgressOnPurpose #FunctionalStrength #Over50Fitness taken in Motion Fitness RD Timberlands by @coache.ca

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19 days ago