I arrived at the local rink early yesterday to cut some sticks for a training ladder and prepare for running that nights practice when one of the kids in our youth organization found me. He had arrived early and sounded nervous but eager to talk with me because "people your age don't usually hang out with kids like me." It was flattering and we were very early so I thought it would be fun to play some bubble hockey with him. He was excited and was also better at bubble hockey than I would have imagined. Sure, I'm 26 and in my prime but he's a well tuned kid with some good hours of bubble hockey experience and it showed in his 3-1 thrashing he handed to me. After finishing the game we sat down and talked some school and hockey. I found out that Detroit was one of his favorite teams and that Vancouver used to be one of his favorites until this year. When asked why he replied "I liked them until the riots after the final."
Now this may not have struck such a chord if it wasn't for the fact that it reminded me of a similar incident that happened while I was in Canada this Summer at the Andrews Hockey Growth Programs in PEI. Wally Kozak, a great coach and motivator, was giving a talk to the kids at the Andrews Hockey Showcase and asked them what they remembered the most about the Stanley Cup Finals this year. The kids in this group were about 8-11 and the first kid raised his hand and said "the riots." The second kid said "some of the goals" and then another kid piped in and said "yea, the riots were awful." To both Wally and my surprise this younger group keyed right into the major social problem that stemmed from the Stanley Cup more than anything else.
With subsequent groups that all became older and older, when asked the same question, they focused on more of the hockey and less on the riots. It was an interesting observation and one that Wally used to be able to spread some light on the things that matter most. The values and life lessons. In discussing these things further I found myself becoming more inspired to focus on the deeper lessons in sports. I'm even attending a life coach certification in January to become even more well rounded and aware of the ways to help people develop their potentials and see the connections between sport and life.
The Vancouver Riots are a great talking point and opportunity to teach a lesson that can help people realize that deep connection between our character on and off the rink. A way to learn how to not just do what others are doing because other people are doing it. A way to learn that we have the choice to do what is right and not be a part of a "riot."
Let's go back to my little hockey friend at the rink yesterday. I feel very lucky and thankful to have had that opportunity to teach. Earlier, he had been telling me how his teacher threatened to send him to the principle that day because he was feeling hyper and decided to sing songs during class like yankee doodle dandy. After he had made the riot comment I used this as an opportunity to tease out some of the ideas of how people can act. I asked him how he thought the riot started? He wasn't sure, but it was "probably because some people were mad." I agreed and told him about the snowball effect and how things can become quite out of control if someone doesn't say anything and let's some out of control behavior go. I asked him what would happen if the teacher let you sing during their lesson and then other people started to sing and then everyone was singing and doing whatever they wanted. We agreed it would probably get pretty crazy and out of control. Finally, we talked about how we can be a leader and that we have a choice to do what feel and think is right or to do what other people are doing.
A great chance to allow a child to follow his heart and make good decisions....I love my job.
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