If my coaches didn’t yell, scream, throw stuff and curse, something was usually wrong.
As a coach, I am not PC by any stretch of the imagination. I also tell the players parents in our first meeting that I am not PC and their kids are going to hear some colorful language, things they probably hear and say everyday at school and with their buddies.
The only time I was called on the carpet is when I called one of my players a p$**y for refusing to go into the corners to get the puck. I had to deal with the parent, the board and the coaches association. I had to apologize to the player, the parent and do it in front of the team. The kid never stepped on the ice for me again.
When the parent complained the next time and I had to meet with everyone, I explained that hockey is a very dangerous game and it is clear the player is afraid. I am just protecting him from getting injured. That’s why we practiced these drills over and over. The mom said I was targeting her son for retaliation. The board agreed with me.
A week later the mom called me and asked me what can I do to reinstate her son on the team. I told the mom she had to apologize to her child for putting him in this situation and apologize to me, the board and the coaches association for wasting our time.
She did. Never heard another word from her.
When I coached lacrosse, from “very rec league” to pretty competitive levels. In the program, I was known as the coach who would sometimes pepper my talks with cursing so it’s not like the kids who played for me never heard it. Also, I don’t think it hurt them too much because most of them are playing are varsity lacrosse at their respective high schools.
That being said, how did calling the kid that name help in teaching what is actually a important concept in hockey, i.e. you need to go into the corners?
Do you rant and rave and yell at your employees or co-workers? If not, why is it okay to do that when you coach?