Crisis Control

Crisis Control;

managing, mentoring, parenting, playing

Hockey is an impossible game to play afraid. It’s a violent sport and things happen out there. You can’t be tentative. If you are, you are going to get hit, and inevitably, hurt. Going hard gives you a chance to initiate versus retaliate. Playing afraid falls in to other categories like: Afraid to lose, afraid to perform and afraid to win. Just play your game, relax, be aggressive, go with your instincts and do what you do best. Panicking in any situation has never served anyone or anything well. Solve all the little problems and you are less likely to experience big problems; probably the best crisis control there is.

Crisis control, in all situations, is paramount. It comes in to play when attempting to make a team, being a part of the final roster, consistently performing day in and day out, coming off a bad performance or benching, coming out of losing streaks and in the play offs under stress. It all comes down to relaxing, doing what you do well and going with your instincts. Confidence in yourself and your team is all part of the equation. Having a trust in those you work for, and play with, is an important part of the equation. Trusting your instincts and your game is part of the equation. It starts with you doing very well without the puck and moves to doing what you can with a puck.

Crisis control starts with leadership; how they handle themselves in tough situations. Five men that come to mind for me are George Gund, eMario Lemieux, Craig Patrick, Fred Shero and Ray Shero; totally different personalities but a similar approach when it comes to crisis control. They believe that winners win and winners express themselves with no panic; and no one hands anything to them. "Just play; just work."

The game is an aspect of life. The people who play it have sons and daughter, fathers and mothers, relatives and friends. What happens out there can be bigger than the game; whether getting hurt or accepting the challenge when opportunity is there. The challenge may be the challenge of making a team, staying on the team, playing consistently well to avoid riding the pine, and going through ups and downs while winning championships. Every community, every organization, every team, every player, every situation, has a different meaning and different expectation. Expectations are in line with bringing others in to your life, talent levels and ability to express your talent individually as well as in a team setting.

The game is easier to play when you are both relaxed and angry. The thought of annihilating your opponent is a good thought and will go a long ways towards helping you survive in the game. Do everything in your power to make them fail. There is no room for gloating @ any time. There is plenty of time to reminisce when a successful career is over and you’ve embraced every challenged you faced.

Crisis control is all about defining the moments faced before they define you. Knowing that some form of crisis is in the future, prepare yourself to relax, go with your instincts and what you do well. Parents fall in to the same category as leaders. Do you pass the crisis control test, parents? We’ve asked all in the past if you pass the authenticity test. Now we are asking the same of crisis control.

Do you pass the crisis control test? You will need it to survive the slippery slope of managing, mentoring, parenting and playing. Childrens' and players’ problems need to be solved before they become a crisis. All problems need to be solved before there is a tragic ending. Taking care of the little problems as they happen averts tragedy and crisis. It all starts by being a detail person with a strict routine; one who cares about others before any personal gains.

Copyright by Chuck Grillo, Minnesota Hockey Camps, 24621 So Clark Lake, Rd P.O. Box 90, Nisswa, MN 56468-0090 Phone 218.96.2444 Fax 218.963.2325
Email: chuck@mnhockeycamps.com All rights are reserved. No part of this book, blog OR template may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from Minnesota Hockey Camps