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Is hiring a coach for Captains Practices something new? How many and which programs do it? Who does not do it? I thought Captains Practices were for leadership development and team building and bonding, along with some drills led by the Captains??? Please give me your feedback...

summer wrote:Is hiring a coach for Captains Practices something new? How many and which programs do it? Who does not do it? I thought Captains Practices were for leadership development and team building and bonding, along with some drills led by the Captains??? Please give me your feedback...

At least in my experiences, captain's practices haven't been run by only captains is quite some time. They're usually run by an assistant coach or a former player who has gone on to play at a higher level.

I know in EP all captians practices have absolutely no coaches in attendance.

I don't think coaches are allowed to be in attendance at captains practices. I have seen ex players run them.

BodyShots wrote:I don't think coaches are allowed to be in attendance at captains practices. I have seen ex players run them.

H.S. team coaches (head or assistant) are not allowed at all during captains practice. I have seen instances recently where there are former players, youth coaches or outside instructors brought in to facilitate some of the practices but typically the captains are still running things.

I agree that captains practice should be a time for leadership development and team building.

You'd be hard pressed to find a rink renting its ice out to high school kids, most say there has to be an adult there to supervise. Letting 15-17 years olds alone on the ice has liability and negligence lawsuits just waiting to happen.

Yes captains practice are run by captains, but there is nothing wrong with bringing in a "coach" to assist we keeping the skills up. Not a high school coach, but maybe a decent ex-pro or college player to help out.

Here is another question, what does your captains practice consist of?

Coaches are allowed to attend captains practice, talk with the players, and watch them practice. Coaches are not allowed to do any coaching however. Whether this be on the ice or off the ice. This rule is one of the big ones that parents dont really know, but assume it is against the rules for a coach to sit in the stands and watch. This is the rule. A coach watching his or her team skate has nothing to do with coaching.

Actually most teams bring in someone to supervise Captains Practice. Whether it be a coach from another team, a former player, or a friend of the coach.

Most teams do a lot of 5 on 5 and 4 on 4...

Are you sure Tigers33? I was under the understanding that coaches cannot even be in the building. Would put pressure on athletes(especially those in fall sports) to attend. That would violate the HS League policy of making, or appearing to make out of seaon practices mandatory.

Tigers33 wrote:Coaches are allowed to attend captains practice, talk with the players, and watch them practice. Coaches are not allowed to do any coaching however. Whether this be on the ice or off the ice. This rule is one of the big ones that parents dont really know, but assume it is against the rules for a coach to sit in the stands and watch. This is the rule. A coach watching his or her team skate has nothing to do with coaching.

Actually most teams bring in someone to supervise Captains Practice. Whether it be a coach from another team, a former player, or a friend of the coach.

Most teams do a lot of 5 on 5 and 4 on 4...

I believe the rule states...'NO COACHING'

Standing in the corner I dont believe is illegal. I do know that assistant coaches are NOT allowed to run them either.

Does someone know the absolute rule on this? I think it would be very difficult for the coach not to be in the building, especially if he/she has an office in the rink building. I think we agree that any coaching is absolutely forbidden, but what about watching from the stands, talking to players in the locker room before going onto the ice, running into them in the rink hallway and saying "Hi"? Seems it would be almost impossible for a coach to watch a captain's practice and talk to the players and not have it construed as coaching. I can't find specifics on this on the morass of MSHSL rules. Just curious where the line is, is the line etched in stone, or is the line drawn in constantly shifting sand?

I looked up the rule and it's very vague the way it's written. It says the HS coaches are not to participate in any way and it's the responsibility of the school district to make sure the intent of the rule is followed. This leaves one wondering what the intent or spirit of the rule really is. It does not say you as a coach cannot watch practice, but if you are watching the question remains: is this a form of participating? Really, you could pick your team this way if a coach could sit in the stands and have drills and scrimmaging ran.

I will guarantee you that a coach can go to the arena during captains practice. He just cant have anything to do with the coaching! He can sit in the stands, in the corner, and watch. He cant run drills, cant lend a hand while on the ice, cant tell them what to do, cant pick teams, etc etc...But a coach can attend.

Most coaches do not go at all, but some make an appearance from time to time...These rules hold true for any assistant coach also.

There is probably more coaching involved in the pre season meetings that schools hold for Winter sports than a coach sitting in the corner watching a captains practice session.

Here is yet another opportunity we can't resist, to structure and organize something for the kids. How about letting them do their thing, get to know each other, and have some fun while they prepare for a long season.

Left alone, I think they do just fine. If your Captains can't run a Captains practice that helps kids get ready for the season, then you probably didn't pick the right guys for your Captains.

The coaches have plenty of time with the kids during the season, and for 2 months in the summer- stay out of the Captains practice.

Once in a while it doesn't hurt to let these guys have a little fun and remember why they started playing this game in the first place.

DuluthHockeyBoy wrote:Here is yet another opportunity we can't resist, to structure and organize something for the kids. How about letting them do their thing, get to know each other, and have some fun while they prepare for a long season.

Left alone, I think they do just fine. If your Captains can't run a Captains practice that helps kids get ready for the season, then you probably didn't pick the right guys for your Captains.

The coaches have plenty of time with the kids during the season, and for 2 months in the summer- stay out of the Captains practice.

Once in a while it doesn't hurt to let these guys have a little fun and remember why they started playing this game in the first place.

You express my feelings exactly!

Tigers33 wrote:I will guarantee you that a coach can go to the arena during captains practice. He just cant have anything to do with the coaching! He can sit in the stands, in the corner, and watch. He cant run drills, cant lend a hand while on the ice, cant tell them what to do, cant pick teams, etc etc...But a coach can attend.

Most coaches do not go at all, but some make an appearance from time to time...These rules hold true for any assistant coach also.

There is probably more coaching involved in the pre season meetings that schools hold for Winter sports than a coach sitting in the corner watching a captains practice session.

If he is sitting in the stands, in the corner, and watching a captians practice, a coach/school is at risk for violating this MSHL rule:

Bylaw 307
Undue Influence on Students
A system of fines shall be imposed for schools whose personnel exert
undue influence on students to participate on non-school teams or to
attend camps, clinics, open gym, captains practice, weight training or
other related activities.

Bill Coleman wrote:I looked up the rule and it's very vague the way it's written. It says the HS coaches are not to participate in any way and it's the responsibility of the school district to make sure the intent of the rule is followed. This leaves one wondering what the intent or spirit of the rule really is. It does not say you as a coach cannot watch practice, but if you are watching the question remains: is this a form of participating? Really, you could pick your team this way if a coach could sit in the stands and have drills and scrimmaging ran.

Imagine that, a MSHSL rule with huge grey areas.

That is what happens when liberals make policy stay at Hill Murray kid