President Mark — Support Even in the NHL: Coach the Next Play — Lesson 7 of 8.
Choose your age-specific lesson
President Mark’s NHL example is adapted into five separate lessons. Each has its own Coach–Player and Coach–Parent exchange, practice steps, and Parent quiz.
U8–U10 — Notice One Learned Skill
U11–U14 — Review the Actual Play
U15–U18 — Connect Numbers to Context
Junior — Agree on Useful Evidence
Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. This lesson uses that perspective to improve the conversation after a discouraging statistic. The goal is a useful exchange between Coach and Player, and a clear explanation between Coach and Parent.
All conversations are suggested THR language, not quotes from NHL Coaches. Return to the series guide for the full approach.
Start with the NHL example
Ovechkin scored 51 goals and finished minus-35 in 2013–14. NHL historical comparison.
Plus/minus reflects certain goals scored while a skater is on the ice; it does not count individual mistakes or isolate responsibility. Review actual plays and assignments. A scoring total also does not erase a defensive issue.
Coach Q&A: a recommended response
Question: How should I respond when a negative statistic hurts a Player’s confidence?
Coach: “Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Johnny, one number cannot explain your whole game. Let’s look at one play and choose something you can improve.”
Johnny: “I was minus-three. I played terribly.”
Coach: “That number cannot tell us everything. Let’s review one shift and your assignment. We can recognize what worked and identify what needs practice.”
This is an example exchange. Listen to the real Player’s explanation and adjust the instruction to the actual play. The NHL example puts the setback in perspective; the teaching gives the Player something to do.
Coach to Player: adapt the words by age
| Age group | Suggested exchange |
|---|---|
| U5–U7 | “Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Johnny, tell me one thing you enjoyed trying.” |
| U8–U10 | “Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Johnny, show me one thing you learned today.” |
| U11–U14 | “Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Johnny, let’s review your positioning on this play, rather than guess from a number.” |
| U15–U18 | “Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Johnny, check the assignment, the support and your execution. Which part could you change?” |
| Junior | “Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Johnny, use the number as a question. Then test it against the shifts and your role.” |
Use the short cue during a game and demonstrate it at practice. Age is a starting point: experience, readiness and the program’s purpose also matter.
Coach to Parent: explain the same lesson
Parent: “Johnny was minus-three. Was he the problem?”
Coach: “Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Plus/minus does not isolate responsibility. We will review the relevant plays, his assignment and the support around him. Then I can explain the specific teaching point.”
Coach, on support at home: “You can ask what he is learning instead of using the number as a label. We will still be honest about areas that need work.”
| Age group | What the Coach can explain to the Parent |
|---|---|
| U5–U7 | Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. We do not need personal statistical judgments. Talk about enjoyment and a skill the child tried. |
| U8–U10 | Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Use one clear example of effort or learning rather than a ranking. |
| U11–U14 | Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Johnny can begin reviewing specific decisions with the Coach instead of drawing conclusions from one number. |
| U15–U18 | Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. We will connect statistics to context, role and video or direct observation. |
| Junior | Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. The Player and Coach will evaluate meaningful evidence against agreed role expectations. |
For older Players, involve the Player in the conversation and let them explain their learning goal. A Junior Player should lead their own performance discussion.
Change the exchange
| Common phrase | A more useful exchange |
|---|---|
| “Look at your numbers.” | Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Johnny, one number cannot explain your whole game. Let’s look at one play and choose something you can improve. |
| “He was our worst Player tonight.” | Even an NHL star can have a negative statistic. Plus/minus does not isolate responsibility. We will review the relevant plays, his assignment and the support around him. Then I can explain the specific teaching point. |
Practice the recovery
1. Choose a relevant shift or recreate the situation at practice.
2. Ask the Player to explain the assignment and what they noticed.
3. Identify one controllable action, rehearse it, then review another opportunity.
What progress looks like: The Player can describe the assignment and make the chosen adjustment. Revisit the evidence rather than replacing one label with another.
Keep the expectation clear: A positive points total does not excuse poor defending, and a negative rating does not prove poor defending. Review the actual work.
Parent quiz: apply the lesson
A Player finishes minus-three. What can plus/minus alone establish about that Player’s mistakes?
A. Exactly three individual defensive errors occurred.
B. The Player’s full responsibility cannot be determined from that number.
C. The Player was the Team’s weakest defender.
D. The Player’s offensive effort caused all three goals.
Show the answer and explanation
Answer B. The relevant plays, assignments and Team context are needed to assess responsibility.
What the Parent can say to the Player
“You are more than your points or plus/minus. What part of your game are you working on?”
The Parent’s role is to listen, encourage and support the agreed learning goal. In House League, keep the primary objective—having fun—visible in the conversation. Competitive development programs should explain their expectations honestly.
Even in the NHL, mistakes and setbacks happen. Put the play in perspective. Teach one adjustment. Practice the recovery.
Explore all eight lessons in Even in the NHL: Coach the Next Play.
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