This season marks the ninth year of the OMHA Coach of the Month presented by The Coaches Site. We asked for nominations of deserving coaches and after much deliberation, Ryan Chambers of the Flamborough U10 B team was selected as the Coach of the Month for December.

Know someone who should be Coach of the Month? Click here to nominate them.

Here's his story as told by his nomination:

Coach Ryan Chambers has been incredible with our U10B team and especially with my son.

Ryan creates such a positive, relaxed environment for the kids. They work hard, but they also have fun, and you can tell the players really enjoy coming to the rink. He treats every kid the same and makes sure no one is left behind.

One thing that really stands out to me is how much he genuinely cares about the players. My child needs to take an inhaler during practices and games, and Ryan checks in on him every single time. It might seem small, but to us as parents, it means the world. It shows that he’s paying attention and that he’s looking out for our kids’ well-being, not just their hockey skills.

He’s patient, positive, and always keeps things respectful — towards the kids, the officials, and the other teams. You can see how much the kids look up to him, and how much confidence they’ve gained since the start of the season.

We’re really grateful to have him coaching our kids, and I think he deserves to be recognized for everything he puts into this team

My background as a player started in the very same town and rinks that I am currently coaching. All my minor hockey was played as a Sabre here in Flamborough having great coaches along the way starting with my dad. I continued to play one year of Junior "C" hockey in the neighbouring community of Glanbrook as Flamborough no longer had a team at that time. Having kids is what brought me back to the local rinks. I have coached my son's team in some capacity since he started playing at IP-1 (4 years old). Always in Flamborough, I have been a head coach for 4 of the 5 years and was an assistant during the other year. Coaching in Flamborough gave me the perfect opportunity to give back to the very thing that I cherish so deeply in my child hood memories, being a Flamborough Sabre.

Like most things, confidence is acquired thorough time, reps and experience. While there is still lots of room to grow, my goal is for each player to improved in the core areas of hockey, skating being the most important. During practices, we repeatedly use simple drills that at this point in the season the players are comfortable doing and have now acquired the necessary skills to perform those same drills at greater speed and efficiency. As a whole our coaching staff is constantly reminding the players how far they have come in such a short amount of time. Talking to younger players in the "affirmative" allows you to focus on what you should be doing rather than on what you should not be doing. This helps instill confidence as you remain positive in your messaging. Nothing gives a player more confidence than knowing their teammates have their back. Our Sabre players know that, we stick together no matter what.

This year, we only have 2 jersey colours for our practices, black and white. In my experience the players are having the most fun when they are battling and competing. Most of our drills surround that thought process. During our practices we create lots of mini competitions. The players love coming up with high stakes for each competition (push ups, hard laps). Another way we try to allow fun is some free time at the beginning of a practice. Time when the kids can pretend they are out on the frozen pond skating around doing whatever one timers, slap shots or dangles that they want to try. As coaches we sift around the ice and offer saucer passes or full rink passes for the players searching for the next puck. During this free time, it is common for you to see a one of the coaches engaged in an intense game of "keep away" with a few players. This kind of thing always puts smiles on everybody's faces. The staff at U10B does a great job of staying even keel. We don't get too high and never too low. I think this mindset helps the players remain calm and bring those smiles to the rink that we see 4 to 5 times a week. 

I know it is a complete copout to say "I have seen improvement in all areas since the start of the year" but it is the absolute true. From day 1 this team has been fueled by their willingness to become better skaters. Hockey is unique in that you can't walk or run to play it, you have to wear skates. People inside my close circle will often hear me say that "you can't play hockey unless you can skate". While this might sound harsh, it is true and the better you can skate, the better you will get at hockey. That's the tangible stuff. Where I have seen amazing improvement is in the intangible stuff. Things we don't necessarily teach on the ice but the relationships that form in the room and/or on the bench. Sticking up for each other, drawing plays on the whiteboard, sitting with your linemates, singing your favorite tune that came on the speaker, taping your sticks etc. It is remarkable how much they have improved and hopefully that trend continues for the rest of the season. 
 

To conclude, my memories playing hockey as a Flamborough Sabre are not about one or two specific plays, wins, or championships. They are about all the relationships forged along the way including a parent coach and a best friend that I still talk with on most days. We were confident as kids because we had each other. I am so very lucky to live and help create those memories each day coaching my son. We get to spend so much time together which is priceless. Hopefully the things that I value so much that minor hockey gave me, these players one day realize the same!

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the fantastic coaching staff that is so supportive and knowledgeable, the parents that have been patient and kind and of course the players who give up their time and give all their effort for the game we all love so much. 

Please note that all previous submissions are still eligible for upcoming Coach of the Month awards and do not need to be resubmitted.