Competition within the team. Good or bad?

JCarlson · Post by **JCarlson** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 9:37 am

I always wonder if more mature-minded HS teams do better overall than immature thinking teams. Many AA high school teams have 1 or more solid, top-end lines. There may be 2-4 players with serious firepower. Does competing amongst teammates as to who has the most goals/points on the team get in the way of the ultimate goal of winning? I know it does on some smaller class A teams, and it's too bad. Goals mean more than assists, they think. They're just kids I know, but if there is a player that can get it done, help him get it done if it means you can win the game.

stmartin123 · Post by **stmartin123** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:20 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7Lh-hzEAnY
This should be the mentality of every player in a team sport!

JCarlson · Post by **JCarlson** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:28 am

Right on

bestpopcorn · Post by **bestpopcorn** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:49 am

It is tough to watch the top few fellows on your team competing for most goals. If they work together they might win a few games.

observer · Post by **observer** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:55 am

Does competing amongst teammates as to who has the most goals/points on the team get in the way of the ultimate goal of winning?

Absolutely.

It's a team game. For me, the very best coaches are the ones that can get a team to all get along and pull on the same single rope together.

And, assists are better than goals anyday.

bestpopcorn · Post by **bestpopcorn** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:58 am

Maybe +/- is a better stat?

Bronc · Post by **Bronc** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:17 am

bestpopcorn wrote:Maybe +/- is a better stat?

I love the +/- unfortunately the kids get recruited and in the paper for goals and sometimes assists.

Having top lines is a coach's dream, but there are dynamics to manage the ego's (both parents and players). You have to have a strong coach and administration that lets him coach.

The way this thread started it reminded me of a parent wanting people to understand they need to get their kid the puck and to get it to them is for the good of the game....... I could be wrong.

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 11:48 am

Maybe if the selfish kid didn't score, the team wouldn't win as many games. Probably has played that way through youth, so why the complaing now?

northwoods oldtimer · Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:51 pm

observer wrote:
Does competing amongst teammates as to who has the most goals/points on the team get in the way of the ultimate goal of winning?
Absolutely.

It's a team game. For me, the very best coaches are the ones that can get a team to all get along and pull on the same single rope together.

And, assists are better than goals anyday.

Best post ever Observer......agree!

Roy01 · Post by **Roy01** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:54 pm

I think it depends on a couple things, first the position:

Example being goaltending - If you have two goalies that are proving to be capable in the nets, then shake things up a bit and rotate them for a while. In my conversation with a coach in the off-season, his starter was definitely going to be the starter this season. Undoubtedly. He, had asked for my input and I had requested he rotate them even if it's just for the first two to five games to keep the goalies on their toes. If nothing else, it shows your starter he needs to work to keep his spot. And also, it gives the back-up some confidence knowing he can step up too and (though he may not realistically be given the opportunity by the coaching staff) play.

With forwards it's can be a blessing and a curse... We have all seen the case of "senior-itis" when the player develops Mario Lemieux syndrome and attempts to take the puck down the ice through all five players only to be stopped at the blueline about eight times over the course of the game... That isn't beneficial.

I feel camaraderie and understanding of the circumstances for these players is the most beneficial. If there are the two to four players on the team who are elite skaters and are capable of putting up high points, they need to understand their roles. You can still have competition and benefit everyone by playing together, rather than have competition and being a selfish player. In Class A, you can get away with this type of play a bit more than in Class AA.

Regardless, at the end of the day, it's a team effort and a team sport. The players need to work together to succeed.

observer · Post by **observer** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 1:25 pm

I do remember reading about one internal competition that I thought was great. A couple of team members counting the number of goals each scored during practice each day. Sometimes players forget these are scoring drills and not flick the puck at the goalie drills. This internal competition in practice I'm sure sharpened their scoring ability. Maybe it's 22 to 18 at the end of practice, or whatever, but these two players placed importance on competing and finishing every drill every day.

nahc · Post by **nahc** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 2:41 pm

With kids striving to play in elite leagues, parents telling kids they are the next best thing since sliced bread and to keep shooting and not passing, and coaches allowing this type of behavior, no wonder some skaters appear a bit "selfish"........

Team sport and a team game............

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Fri Jan 18, 2013 5:59 pm

The cool thing about hockey is that an assist is worth just as many points as a goal and affects the scoreboard the same. Being a player who can pass and see the ice is a great skill. If you care more about being the one who scores the goal than the goal happening at all, you are setting your team up for failure and less goals will be scored overall. Good players can put their teammates in a position to score and ultimately open themselves up for more opportunities.

nobama · Post by **nobama** » Sun Jan 27, 2013 10:02 pm

Zamman · Post by **Zamman** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 6:43 am

I think that the 3rd and 4th lines should always be competing to play better and possibly get a chance to love up. Also, the JV players who play hard should be rewarded sometime to give them a chance to prove themselves on the varsity. Keeping the JV as just a JV is not good. Eventually they will be the varsity. A chance to skate with the "big boys" would only be good for them.

Metrohockeyfan · Post by **Metrohockeyfan** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:01 am

Competition between lines during practice is always good, as it does help the team improve. However, if this spills over in to games to see who can get more points, that can be very, very bad for a team. In regards to goaltending, it is always good as they push one another for that starting spot.

bestpopcorn · Post by **bestpopcorn** » Mon Jan 28, 2013 11:58 am

Metrohockeyfan wrote:Competition between lines during practice is always good, as it does help the team improve. However, if this spills over in to games to see who can get more points, that can be very, very bad for a team. In regards to goaltending, it is always good as they push one another for that starting spot.

Agree.