Boardregeln » subconscious but this is a job now

TORONTO – They were making Morgan Rielly hold the shopping bags as they strolled through Eaton Centre during a rare day off the ice. Nazem Kadri was there and so was the 24-year-old walking backwards and documenting the light mocking of his junior teammate with a cell phone camera. Then he tripped over a garbage can. Things just aren’t going Jake Gardiner’s way these days. Gardiner has been a healthy scratch in each of the past two games, an odd show of faith to a player who signed for five years and more than $20 million in late July. The Maple Leafs, though, have consistently taken a tough love kind of approach to the former Ducks first round pick. The results mostly indicate that such an approach has failed to reap much in the way of reward, Gardiner struggling to find consistent form in each of the past two seasons – some of that, no doubt, the growing pains of a young defenceman. In question is whether such an approach is beneficial to the long-term development of a talent the organization is clearly high on, but also someone whom the head coach, Randy Carlyle, has prodded most often. Tough love from a coach can have its benefits, say various players in the Toronto room, but only if the personality in question is right for that type of motivation. Some respond to old-school types, benefiting from constant barks in the ear. Dion Phaneuf, for example, recalls his time under hard-edged former Flames coach, Mike Keenan, fondly. Others need that positive voice. Nazem Kadri would probably fall more under the latter. He took his share of prodding over his early Toronto years from the likes of Dallas Eakins and Ron Wilson. And while he hated it, he also was the fiery type to respond to it. “It sucks,” said Kadri. “I don’t like it all. But I’m not going to let it ruin my confidence or my self-esteem as a player because at the end of the day I know what I can do and I believe in myself. “I don’t want to say it works because then they’ll just keep giving me tough love,” he continued. “[But] I think I respond well to it. It doesn’t really bother me. I’m a pretty thick-skinned kid, even going back to minor hockey; I’ve had some pretty tough coaches. I don’t like it so much and sometimes I’m not so patient with it, but I think I react well. It doesn’t really bother me. It’s not like I go into a shell after I get ripped out or reamed out, I just continue playing my game.” Gardiner isn’t really that fiery type. And the odd seat in the press-box or even down to the Marlies hasn’t done much to affect his performance positively. When the lockout ended in Jan. 2013, Gardiner was first healthy scratched and then sent to the American League, where he lingered unhappily for weeks. He finally returned to the NHL in March – amid the ranting of fans, media and his agent at the time – played a couple games, and then was sent back to the press box for the final days of the regular season and even Game 1 of the playoffs. Gardiner flourished when the Leafs turned to him for the rest of that playoff series with Boston, but promptly struggled again the following fall – drawing another prominent healthy scratch in late November. Is this the best way, then, to motivate Gardiner? A player, mind you, who questioned his security with the Leafs before – amid ongoing trade rumours – only to believe he was done with all that when the team sprung for a five-year deal in the summer. There’s nothing wrong with scratching a player from time to time despite media and fan protests, but to do so three games in the season – given the history of disconnect between player and team, the splashy new deal, and fact that said player hadn’t played so poorly – seems off the mark. Gardiner has ultimately been pushed out of the lineup by rookie Stuart Percy, an early revelation in a top-four role. But is removing Gardiner, who was by far the Leafs top possession player a year ago and leading defensive point-getter at even-strength, best for the team and best for his development as a young player? That’s unlikely, especially given the predictable early season struggles of Stephane Robidas. Carlyle, speaking generally, says his motivational tactics are dependent on the individual. “I think a lot of that is feel and a lot of it is personality,” he said. “Some people take coaching as criticism and other people take criticism as personal. Those things are things that you to weigh and have to measure when you’re applying it.” Carlyle admits to making mistakes in how he’s handled things in the past, though not specifically with Gardiner. Sometimes, he says, it might be the wrong time or the wrong setting for certain tactics. “We’re all human,” he said. “We all make mistakes. Those are things that you have to gauge with experience. I think those are learning curves for a coach.” Communication can make all the difference. And to Carlyle’s credit, he has been up front with Gardiner about why he’s not playing – though not anymore so than usual. He’s told the Minnesota native that his play hasn’t been up to the level that they expect. Today’s players, Carlyle says, want more of that. They want answers and responsibility. And despite his old-school leanings, it’s apparent that Carlyle has tried to adapt. There was a point last year before a game in Philadelphia that saw him bring Gardiner onto the visitors’ bench at Wells Fargo Center, pull out the iPad and show him a few video clips on what needed improvement. More of that might be helpful. And through some film dissection this fall, Gardiner has been told that he needs to contain the opposition more effectively in the defensive zone and move the puck quicker. Cody Franson wasn’t afforded such treatment by the team’s previous head coach, Ron Wilson, during his first training camp in Toronto. Franson found out he’d be the seventh defenceman to start the regular season not from the coach himself, but from an online video of the coach speaking to media. The worst part about it, he says, was leaving the rink every day uncertain of why he wasn’t playing and when he’d get back in. “When I went through it it wasn’t the best thing for me,” Franson said. “But every guy’s a little different. Some guys need stuff like that. Some guys just need to be talked to. It all depends on the individual.” “It always helps when you get some words of encouragement,” Kadri observed. The leash for Gardiner, however, has seemed short at times and especially now. He seemed to say as much in his exit meeting with Carlyle last spring – revelations that went beyond the imagination of the head coach. All that being said, Carlyle did doll out more even-strength minutes to Gardiner than any other player on the team last season, an indication of trust if there was ever was one. “We feel that we have a quality hockey player that can play to a higher level and he agrees with that,” said Carlyle earlier this week. “So to me that’s end of story.” Asked what Gardiner could do to impress once he earned another opportunity, Carlyle responded bluntly, “Play better.” Time will tell if he does and Carlyles tough-love approach is worth pursuing. China Shoes Wholesale . While coach Doc Rivers high-fived fans and pumped his fist at the crowd, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul quietly congratulated each other. Jordan From China . 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When your mind is clear and you understand expectations it is amazing what can be accomplished on an individual basis and as it relates to football, collectively. And as the 2014 CFL season is about to start it is up to the head coach to be demanding on his expectations and desires from his players. He demands not only that they be the best they can be but also dictates what is expected from them as personalities and players, never forgetting that as a head coach he is their boss and is always evaluating one thing every day...them. What are those demands? Well, some are obvious and logical but until articulated perhaps not put as a priority. But given my top 10 list of demands that if you have them, you are going to win no matter the absence of excessive talent, if you dont...I doubt it. 1. Realize the opportunityTime moves on at a disturbing rate, and before you know it you have become a veteran player and youth is no longer on your side. Realize that pro football is not a career, it is an experience and given that fact you must win now. Not because that is what you are paid to do, but more because pro football careers are shorter than any other in team sports. In many ways there is no tomorrow, just today. So as the season beings you must have a "win now" mentality because there is no tomorrow, only today and only this year. 2. Be dedicatedThe CFL regular season goes from the last week of June to November 30 this year. There is no reason that you can take that time frame and put football as a complete priority. Do not be the last to show and the first to go, quite the opposite, be the first to show, last to go and use the time to know you have improved. There is nothing more aggravating on a football team than apathy. If youre the last to show and first to go, it expresses apathy in loud clear volume. 3. Make football a study, not a jobI loved university life when at school at University of Arizona. Because everything was interesting, including football. And one of the reasons I excelled was that I looked at the meeting the same way as I looked at school, I studied. There is a magnificent mental element to football when you study the game. Watching video of yourself and opponent, perfecting plays and knowing not only your position but everyones position. Knowing philosophy of the game, history, mechanics, techniques and adjustments. Look at football as if you just enrolled at the University of Football and you must graduate. Make it a study and by doing so you make it interesting. 4. Work with people, not because of themIn any locker room you have a lot of people from a lot of different backgrounds that do not always have the same values. To think you will get along well with everybody is ridiculous. There will be personality conflicts and problems. But that does not mean it has to be a detriment. Quite the opposite, it can be an asset if youre the one that makes the effort to get along. It does not mean you change, it means you accept that not everyone is like you and there is nothing wrong with it. Great teams are great teams because they make an effort for the cause. You dont have to like the guy or even respect him. But you have to understand his success is your success so concentrate on success and not the person and his personality. Make the effort. 5. Stay off the streetsThere is a saying, "nothing good ever happens after midnight". Very true. It is one of those subjects that is awkward to talk about but so critical to success. No one has the right to tell you what to do with your free time but the consequences of being at the wrong place at the wrong time can be devastating. Fans of football and athletes in general do not respect seeing their stars, players out in a club at 2am intoxicated. It is a respect crusher and a conversation that never ends at the other persons place of employment. In many CFL cities players are recognized everywhere. Being 67" and on national TV I know what it is like and must stay aware at all times. Many in the public want to see you fail and the first and best place to do it is late in the club trying to impress. I have known a few, but very few, that can run the streets and run a successful career. Not just in football, but in any worthwhile occupation. 6. Keep your moneyThere may be nothing in sports more difficult to understand than the high number that dont have anything to show for it whenn it is all over.dddddddddddd And when I say anything to show for it I mean cash. You want football players to play football because they love football. Its motivating. But to think some play because of the fame and money is true. And nothing is wrong with that, if that is how you are wired then that is the way you are. Still if you love the game and what the game can get you so be it. It sounds so cliché but if you have 80 per cent of what you earned when the season is over than in an abstract way it was a winning season. If when 2014 is over you lost 80 per cent of what you earned it was a losing season. Keep your money...it makes you feel good and if you feel good you will play good. 7. Stand up for your teammatesThere is a lot of intimidation that goes on that goes unnoticed and is very subtle. There is nothing better than when you are in your personal battle that is about to get out of hand when instead of a one-on-one it becomes a three-on-one with your advantage being the three. The best teams are the teams that know everyone will defend everyone. The worst are teams where its you and only you defending you. Football like all team sports has a "gang mentality" of creating confidence. You see it in hockey perfectly when a role player defends the different role player. Football teams have to have that too or they dont become teams, they become individuals on teams. Working with each other is important but defending each other makes ann even bigger difference. 8. Take video critique as serious as the gameThe day after every game players receive their grades and watch every play, and I mean every play. If youre winning and playing well it can be an enjoyable experience. But if you are losing and not playing well it can be agony. Film analysis, video analysis leaves clues. Clues of what is right, wrong and everything in between. The keys are the preparation for the game, the performance of the game, but the most important aspect is the evaluation of the game. So significant as the honest evaluation improves the next weeks preparation which improves the performance which leads back to the evaluation again. It is this game after game cycle that when mastered, guarantees improvement. It begins with evaluation of performance. If you take it as serious as the game you will excel at an exceptional rate. It is inevitable and logical - iff you dont you flat line or regress. It is that simple. 9. Take the game and make the game personalI will be the first one to say football is just a game. There are so many other things in life that are so much more important it is staggering. Still, if you blow it up in your mind and trick or convince yourself that nothing is more important, you again are guaranteed enhanced success. Take your individual play personally, take winning and losing personally. When you do you tap into hidden resources that maybe you did not realize you even had. Pride is motivating. Being respected is exhilarating. The more you play with pride, the more you demand respect and the better you are. Taking the game personal means you care and is the exact opposite of apathy. Your grade after the game should be extremely important to you. Winning should be incredibly important to you. Blow it up in your mind. Benefits will follow quickly. 10. Earn your paychequeSome people think that it is their right to have a job. Other feel they need to earn the job and make it right. Either way we all want to get paid. A great feeling is the feeling that you earned your paycheque. Earned money feels good and satisfying. Often players forget that they are being paid to be at their best both on and off the field. Because the cheques can come frequent and fast you as a player forget you are a paid professional. It is an unusual statement and it is almost subconscious but this is a job now. Youre a pro and you must perform. College is over and anytime money is involved everything changes. Being a pro is being aware you now paid to play and although it is called a game it is no long the same game you used to play. Stay aware, earn your paycheque or someone will be very happy to earn it for you. From June to November, some will rise and some will fall. But given the memories and moments with money and a bit of fame, it is all worth it. And to stay focused on the goal of becoming a Grey Cup champion, a little sacrifice for the next six months is not much to ask for. ' ' '