At zero dark dark my son and I had a deep conversation regarding risk.

He is such a perfectionist that he gets visibly upset if he doesn't get something correct.

His hockey coach wrote a nice note saying that he has noticed that Hunter is quite tough on himself when he doesn't get a drill.  Hence the conversation.

He told me he doesn't like getting yelled at.  Well, I don't yell at him, never have, never will.  But I told him that different coaches have different "teaching" styles.  The key to a GOOD coach is to know which technique is best for which player.  I will never tell the coach HOW to teach my son.  I also believe, and I told Hunter, that it's not the yelling you should concern yourself with.  It's the NOT yelling, or the teaching, or whatever you want to call it...but the CRITICIZING of an athlete is not as big an issue as the NON criticizing.

I've learned that I will put effort into a kid that has the talent but doesn't know it.  It is MY job to see the athlete where they are going, not where they are.  So if I yell, criticize, instruct, TEACH...then I know the kid has more to give.  When I think that the athlete has "tapped out" and is at the limit, then I come off the gas (or heat) because I understand there is NO MORE in the kid's tank.  He's done!

I also told Hunter that PRACTICE is where he's suppose to make mistakes.  He should actually go ahead and TRY new things at practice.  THAT way he can either prove to himself that something will work or if it should be shelved for "later".

The GAME its NOT the best time to try unproven techniques or ideas.

So TAKE those calculated risks.  DO what the coaches tell you to do.  Skate UP a bit closer and launch BOMBS from inside the blue line when you are playing defense.  The coaches KNOW you have speed to GET BACK.  They wouldn't be BARKING to do so if they weren't confident in your skills.

Now the only person you have to prove things to, is YOU!

He got through his workout in time to work the MONO LIFT for me and my training partner, Al.  Pretty cool to have him in the mix.

 

For today.

 

Prowler: 10 x 40 in a three man rotation.  One of those men was my son.  He's a machine.

24" Box Jumps: 10x2

Dynamic Effort Squat: 10x2x55%

Dead Lift: 10x2x55%

Bike Commute