“Coach yourself before coaching others”

"You have to be able to coach yourself before coaching others."

It's a simple idea, but putting it into practice is what separates the professionals from the rest. Coaching isn't just about what happens on the ice; it's about the unseen work, the physical discipline, and the uncompromising standards you set for yourself every single day.

Here's my take on why self-leadership is the foundation of elite coaching:

A good friend of mine once said, "You have to be able to coach yourself before coaching others." That idea has stayed with me. But what does it really mean? It starts with self-leadership: taking care of yourself so you can effectively lead others. If your own daily habits, physical discipline, education, and standards aren't high enough, how can you expect to guide others to excellence? Take care of yourself first.

In professional life, one of the biggest challenges is continuous development. Formal education is only the starting point; you have to stay ahead of the game. For me, the best way to do that is through constant dialogue and sparring with trusted colleagues. I'm fortunate to have a network of professionals with whom I can exchange ideas about goaltending, player development, and tactical drills. Sharing ideas sharpens your thinking and expands your toolkit. "Steal with pride," as they say: take the best ideas and make them your own.

As a coach, you are responsible for preparation, game analysis, tactical planning, and setting the right atmosphere in the locker room. Everyone sees the games and practices, but few see the unseen work behind them: the late nights at the laptop, the hours at the drawing board, the meticulous planning, and the benchmarking of your goalies against the best. You coach yourself by staying at the absolute top of your profession.

Coaching is also physically demanding. Late games, disrupted routines, and constant travel take a toll. You must be able to lead drills on and off the ice and remain sharp under pressure. Your presence - what you say and how you act - matters. Body and mind work in tandem; the better your physical condition, the better you handle the demands of a long season. Coach yourself by respecting your own health.

In this role, no one is constantly looking over your shoulder. While a head coach assigns responsibilities, you are ultimately accountable for your own area - in my case, the goalies. My standard is simple: everything I do is done with quality. It doesn't matter if I'm working with a world-class professional or a junior prospect, or if we are preparing for an exhibition game or a final. The bar stays high.

Coaching is a team effort where everyone supports one another. However, a problem arises if you jeopardize your own primary responsibilities while trying to help everyone else. If you lack the time or energy to fulfill your own tasks, you aren't serving the team. Sometimes, you have to say "no" to maintain your standards. Much like pilots who have strictly defined protocols during takeoff and landing to ensure safety and quality, a coach must protect their core focus to ensure the highest level of performance.

There is always unseen work: the planning, the preparation, and the objective analysis required even for a short practice. It's about providing clear feedback to keep the process moving, supporting a struggling athlete, or maintaining the momentum of a successful one. It's about staying one step ahead.

As a coach, you must be ready. Curious. Intuitive. Disciplined. Do not let fatigue lower your standards. Do not let routine make you complacent. Do not let success distract you. Stay focused. Stay accountable. Coach yourself every day. That is what separates the true professionals from the rest.

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