Drill Breaker and Screaming Coach

When You Break a Drill

Every player breaks a drill at some point. Veterans do it. Beginners do it. It happens.

If you are confused by the drill, step back in line quietly. No announcement needed. No drama. Just move to the back and keep watching. Let a few more teammates go in front of you. Watch what they do. Watch what the coach corrects. You will pick it up faster that way than if you keep going and doing it wrong, because bad reps build bad habits and those are hard to undo.

Do your best and pay attention. That is all anyone can ask. The worst thing you can do is fake it, go through the wrong motion at full speed, and ingrain something that will take twice as long to fix later.

What to Do After Practice

After practice, go ask your coach to walk you through the drill you were struggling with. A good coach will be happy to do it. That one-on-one moment is often where real learning happens anyway. You are not on the ice with 15 other players moving around. It is just you, your coach, and the concept. Take advantage of it.

If you are shy about asking, write it down in your phone or a notebook right after practice so you do not forget. Come back the next day or the next practice with a specific question. Coaches respect players who want to understand, not just go through the motions.

Screaming Coaches

I get a lot of emails about screaming coaches. Parents ask me what to do. Players ask me how to handle it. It is worth talking about honestly.

Many times I see youth coaches screaming because it is a reaction to their own nervousness. They do not know how to communicate what they mean, so the volume goes up. Sometimes it is a screen for their ineptness. They are still learning the game themselves, maybe as a parent volunteer who never played at a high level. The screaming fills the gap where instruction should be. It does not help you get better and in most cases it slows your development down because you are playing scared instead of playing free.

That said, not every screaming coach is incompetent. Some coaches who yell actually know the game very well. They are just wired that way. You need to learn to separate the emotion of the delivery from the information inside it. That is a skill in itself, and it will serve you in hockey and in life.

The Best Advice I Ever Got About a Yelling Coach

A teammate of mine at Providence College, Rick Bennett, gave me the best advice I ever received on this topic. Rick is now the head men's coach at Union College. He won it all, the NCAA Frozen Four, and it could not have happened to a better person and coach. A true mentor, a brilliant hockey mind and tactician, a player's coach.

Rick's advice was not about an unknowledgeable coach. Our college coach knew the game. He was just a screamer. Rick would skate by me in practice and say, "Don't let him beat you, Jeff."

That is it. That was the advice. Simple and completely true.

The moment you let a screaming coach get inside your head, you have lost the battle before the drill even starts. Your job is to perform. His job is to coach. Do not mix those two things up. Stay locked in on your execution and let the noise be noise.

For Parents Dealing With a Screaming Coach

If your child is coming home upset after practice because of how a coach communicates, listen first. Take it seriously but do not react immediately. There is a difference between a coach who yells out of frustration or competitive intensity and one who is demeaning or targeting a specific kid. Know the difference before you act.

If it crosses a line, have a calm conversation with the coach directly, away from the ice and away from game day. Come with specifics, not emotions. Most youth coaches are volunteers who care about the kids. Sometimes they do not realize how they are coming across. A respectful conversation can change things.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I keep breaking drills in hockey practice?

Step to the back of the line quietly and keep watching. There is no shame in it. Watch your teammates go through the drill and study the pattern. If you are still unsure after a few reps, wait until after practice and ask your coach to explain it one more time. One focused conversation after practice is worth more than three confused reps during it.

How do I handle a coach who yells at me during games or practice?

Separate the noise from the message. If there is useful information in what the coach is saying, take it and use it. If it is just volume with no instruction behind it, let it go and focus on your next play. Do not let someone else's emotional reaction pull you out of your own game. As Rick Bennett told me, don't let him beat you.

Is it normal to have a screaming coach in youth hockey?

It happens more than it should. At the youth level especially, many coaches are parent volunteers who care deeply but are still developing their own coaching skills. Yelling is often a sign of frustration or nerves, not necessarily bad intent. That does not make it okay, but it helps to understand where it is coming from.

When should a parent speak to a youth hockey coach about their behavior?

If your child is consistently distressed, losing confidence, or dreading practice because of how a coach communicates, that is worth addressing. Choose a calm moment, not right after a game or a heated practice. Be direct, be respectful, and stick to what you observed. Most coaches want to do right by the kids. Give them the chance to course correct before escalating it further.