One of the favorite things I like to do each season is to run what I call “The Coffee Game.”
What is the Coffee Game?
A ‘coffee game’ is when the coaches simply grab a coffee, stand behind the bench, and do … nothing.
This is the opportunity for the players to run everything as they would like. Players create the lineup, choose warmups, line changes, etc.
It’s really fun and entertaining. There is often the seemingly inevitable ‘too many men’ penalty too.
Coffee Practice?
A similar principle could be applied to practice. This could be an activity, a section or time, or the whole practice.
Giving players a chance to lead everything is often humbling and leads to a lot more respect for what the coaches do. It’s great when there is a player(s) who believes they can run the team better. They tend to be humbled quickly.
Flip-Flop Game
The flip-flop game is where the defensive corp moves to forward and forwards move back to play defense.
The defense tend to love it immediately and the forwards a little slower. They both learn quick lessons (eg. Rims are lazy and a bad play!) I’ve also seen this lead to position changes that worked out well.
Give It a Try
If you’re a coach… give the coffee game a try. If you’re not a coach… mention it to your favorite coach. The world could use more coffee games.
If you love this concept, you’ll love the book “Let Them Lead: Unexpected Lessons in Leadership from America's Worst High School Hockey Team.”