Field Generals

This weekend I managed to consume a good amount of adult beverages talking to one of my best friends about coaching.

Bob is one of the best “people” persons I know.  And, with a lot of experience in coaching baseball, Bob is one of those people that I try to emulate in my dealings with others.

What he got me thinking about is how individual members of a team direct what is going on during a game.

In hockey, it’s pretty much the puck carrier.  As the guy with the puck moves around, it’s the job of other players to move in support of the puck carrier and provide him with passing or shooting options.

It’s kind of like passing.  The job of the guy passing the puck is to make the guy receiving the puck look good by putting the puck on his tape.

It’s the job of the team mates to make the puck carrier look good by being in a good position to support, in a good position to receive a pass or make good on a rebound, so that instead of the puck carrier having to find his options…the options just appear as if by magic.

Naturally, communication is essential.  Just like I mentioned defensive partners talking to each other, everyone on the team has to communicate.

Making a good pass is so ouch easier when the receiver is in such a good position that I can’t help but get the puck to him.

The puck carrier is the “Field General” of hockey.