How Coaches Can Motivate Their Team During Tough Times
Every team, at some point in the season, will face adversity. Maybe it’s a losing streak, injuries, internal conflicts, or simply the grind of a long season wearing players down. These challenging moments are inevitable, but they also present some of the greatest opportunities for growth. As a coach, how you lead your team through adversity can shape not only the season but also the long-term resilience of your players—both on and off the ice.
1. Control the Controllables
One of the most important lessons in hockey, and in life, is learning to focus on what you can control. When times get tough, remind your players that they can’t always dictate outcomes, but they can control their effort, attitude, and response to challenges. Instilling this mindset helps players stay composed and motivated rather than feeling overwhelmed by external pressures.
Example: If the team is struggling with tough losses, shift the focus from the scoreboard to the process—winning battles, improving defensive zone coverage, or increasing shot totals. And celebrate them. Progress in these areas will eventually lead to better results.
2. Stay Positive and Set the Tone
During difficult stretches, players look to their coach for cues on how to react. If you panic, complain, or lose confidence, your team will likely follow suit. Instead, maintain a calm, positive demeanor and reinforce the belief that struggles are temporary and growth comes from facing them head-on.
Example: If the locker room feels defeated, highlight examples of past teams or athletes who faced adversity and came back stronger. This perspective shift can reignite motivation and belief in the process.
3. Lean on Team Leaders
Every team has leaders—whether they wear a letter or not. Coaches should empower these individuals to help steer the team through rough patches. Leadership from within the locker room is often more impactful than messages coming solely from the coaching staff.
Example: If the team’s morale is down, ask captains or respected veterans to step up. Encourage them to organize a players-only meeting (if age appropriate), lead by example in practice, or create a culture where accountability is driven from within.
4. Make Practices Fun and Engaging
When the team is struggling, sometimes the best thing you can do is loosen the grip. A change of pace in practice—small-area games, fun competitions, or team-building activities—can reset the mindset and remind players why they love the game in the first place.
Example: If the team is in a slump, consider a lighthearted practice with skills competitions, music, relay races, or even a fun shootout contest. A refreshed team plays better hockey.
5. Help Players See the Bigger Picture
Hockey is more than just wins and losses. The adversity players face now will prepare them for the challenges of life—whether it’s handling setbacks in school, careers, or personal relationships. Use the hard moments as teaching opportunities.
Example: Share stories of former players who struggled during a season but later credited those tough times with helping them succeed in their careers. Whether it’s dealing with rejection, staying disciplined, or overcoming self-doubt, these lessons translate far beyond the rink.
6. Reinforce the Team’s Identity
When a team is going through a tough stretch, it’s easy to lose sight of what makes them great. Reinforce your team’s identity—whether it’s being relentless on the forecheck, playing a structured defensive game, or having an unbreakable work ethic.
Example: If your team prides itself on being tough to play against, show clips of past games where they outworked opponents. This reminds players of their strengths and helps them refocus.
7. Celebrate Small Wins
When adversity strikes, small victories become even more important. Recognizing incremental progress—whether it’s a great backcheck, a selfless blocked shot, or a strong shift—helps build momentum and confidence.
Example: After a tough loss, instead of dwelling on mistakes, highlight individual efforts that exemplified hard work and commitment. Over time, these small wins add up to major breakthroughs
Every team faces adversity, but how coaches lead during these moments defines the team’s culture and character. The lessons learned through hockey’s challenges extend far beyond the rink, shaping players into resilient, disciplined individuals ready to handle life’s obstacles. By focusing on effort, mindset, leadership, and team identity, coaches can guide their players through adversity and come out stronger on the other side.
In hockey — and in life — it’s not about avoiding hard times; it’s about learning how to fight through them and emerge better, together.
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Check out our Short Shifts Podcast Episode on How to end practice to get the players fired up and excited for the next one!
Check out a great Hockey Think Tank podcast episode with Byron Bitz, former NHL player with the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and the Vancouver Canucks and former teammate of both Toph and Jeff. As a current hockey parent and coach, Bitz reflects on his professional hockey career, finding motivation anywhere you can, battling through injuries, and strengthening your team through adversity & picking up teammates when they need it.
Here is the link to another Hockey Think Tank blog post about Why Resilience Matters. It’s a great message for players: At the end of the day, what’s most important isn’t what happens to you. It’s how you choose to respond to the things that happen to you.
