Welcome Jr. Grizzlies Coaches 2025-2026
In an effort to create consistency throughout the organization and be consistent with our Code of Conduct, these videos and articles can be supportive to help the players understand the main ideas of our program.
These are meant to be resources for you as a coach that can support and reinforce the concepts, ideas, characteristics and values that the Junior Grizzlies strive to embody and instill in the players. It is encouraged that you take the time to hold video sessions during mini camp or other times before or after practices at some point during the first month to show and discuss the messages from these videos.
Thank you for your cooperation and efforts to coach for the Jr Grizzlies and good luck to you and your teams this season.
STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE!
**Newly Added
COACH THE BELIEF.....COACH BY CARING
Below is a brief article from a football coach who realized at one point that he got a better "Buy-in" from his players when they felt a sense of belonging and a sense that their coach cared about them on a level deeper that was more than just on the surface.
Although every player is different and responds to a different approach, perhaps keep these suggestions in mind over the next several weeks especially with those players on your team that might require an approach that requires a "checking-in" or more personal chat just to touch base.
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EARN THE TITLE Weekly
by Coach Cano of OneEighty Athlectics
You can be the smartest coach in the room.
The most intense. The most prepared.
But if you don’t win the kids…
none of it matters.
Early in my career, I thought leadership was just about commands:
“Lift harder.”
“Run faster.”
“Lock in.”
But I started noticing something…
The athletes who showed up early, leaned in, and gave everything--
Weren’t responding to my words.
They were responding to the relationship.
They felt seen.
They felt believed in.
They knew I had their back… even when I was coaching them hard.
And the ones I couldn’t reach?
They didn’t need louder cues or tougher drills.
They needed connection.
That’s when it clicked:
You don’t coach behavior.
You coach belief.
And to coach belief, you have to win the kid first.
------------------------
For Coaches:
This week go beyond sets and reps.
Ask questions.
Know their story. Learn their name right.
When they know you care, they’ll run through a wall for you.
You want buy-in? Start with belonging.
Win the kid. Win the room. Win the season.
For Athletes: Being a leader on your team doesn’t mean yelling louder.
It means caring deeper.
Ask your teammate how their week’s going. Check in. Speak life.
You can’t lead someone you don’t respect.
Wanna be trusted on game day?
Start earning trust today.
🎯 This Week’s Challenge:
Have one meaningful conversation with a teammate or athlete.
Not surface-level. Not just about practice.
Ask something real. Connect. Listen.
Because when it’s hard...and it will get hard...
connection is what keeps teams from cracking.
EARN THE TITLE.
Win The Kids.
Coach Cano👊
Although every player is different and responds to a different approach, perhaps keep these suggestions in mind over the next several weeks especially with those players on your team that might require an approach that requires a "checking-in" or more personal chat just to touch base.
-------------------
EARN THE TITLE Weekly
by Coach Cano of OneEighty Athlectics
You can be the smartest coach in the room.
The most intense. The most prepared.
But if you don’t win the kids…
none of it matters.
Early in my career, I thought leadership was just about commands:
“Lift harder.”
“Run faster.”
“Lock in.”
But I started noticing something…
The athletes who showed up early, leaned in, and gave everything--
Weren’t responding to my words.
They were responding to the relationship.
They felt seen.
They felt believed in.
They knew I had their back… even when I was coaching them hard.
And the ones I couldn’t reach?
They didn’t need louder cues or tougher drills.
They needed connection.
That’s when it clicked:
You don’t coach behavior.
You coach belief.
And to coach belief, you have to win the kid first.
------------------------
For Coaches:
This week go beyond sets and reps.
Ask questions.
Know their story. Learn their name right.
When they know you care, they’ll run through a wall for you.
You want buy-in? Start with belonging.
Win the kid. Win the room. Win the season.
For Athletes: Being a leader on your team doesn’t mean yelling louder.
It means caring deeper.
Ask your teammate how their week’s going. Check in. Speak life.
You can’t lead someone you don’t respect.
Wanna be trusted on game day?
Start earning trust today.
🎯 This Week’s Challenge:
Have one meaningful conversation with a teammate or athlete.
Not surface-level. Not just about practice.
Ask something real. Connect. Listen.
Because when it’s hard...and it will get hard...
connection is what keeps teams from cracking.
EARN THE TITLE.
Win The Kids.
Coach Cano👊
**Newly Added
Ryan Huska on Passing at the youth level
**Newly Added
Controlling Attitude and Effort
**Newly Added
Hunting Dogs or Show Dogs?
**Newly Added
Creating Habits
This video is from the Coaches Site and has been condensed. The content is taking from the U of Maine and may be appropriate for older players but some of the ideas and concepts used in an age-appropriate manner, might be helpful when coaching your teams.
**Newly Added
Standards vs Hard Work
- Arctic Sled Dog or Purse Puppy?
FORECHECK 1-2-2
- This video is posted here due to a discussion with our 10U teams. They may be using portions of this video to give a visual example of how this forecheck structure can look.
Importance of the first meetings of the
Season
Earning Trust from Teammates - Bill
Belichick
DO THINGS THE RIGHT WAY
TEAM CULTURE
ATTITUDE
EFFORT
BODY LANGUAGE
GRIT
JR GRIZZLIES TEAM DEVELOPMENT OUTLINE AND OBJECTIVES
This document is a general outline of the overall expectations and progression of team play and concepts at each age level. The goal of this plan is to create more consistency in the coaching that players receive as they move up in age and between different teams.
| jr_grizzlies_-_team_development_outline_and_objectives_-_2025-2026.pdf |
JR GRIZZLIES CODE OF CONDUCT
This Code of Conduct is a standard template that each head coach will be expected to complete and submit to the Jr Grizzlies Board for approval. The portions of the document that are written in red are the areas in which head coaches can edit and/or omit, depending on the age group you are coaching. More will be discussed at the Coaches Camp prior to mini camps.
| code_of_conduct-jr_grizz-template_2025-26.doc |
| code_of_conduct-jr_grizz-template_2025-26.pdf |
Are you a "Get" or "Give" Player?
This is a great article for players that should get them thinking about how their attitudes and behavior are toward the team and how they respond to certain situations. This message and article can and should be shared with parents so they are also informed and hopefully carrying on this message throughout the year at home, in the car or on the road with their player.
In an effort to create consistency within our program with this type of mindset and culture, it is encouraged that you please find a time to discuss and share this with your players and parents.
In an effort to create consistency within our program with this type of mindset and culture, it is encouraged that you please find a time to discuss and share this with your players and parents.
| are_you_a_get_or_give_player.pdf |
Values, Culture and Character
Great article from Scott Sandelin, head coach of University of Minnesota Duluth, discussing culture and characteristics of the players they like to recruit and a message for parents as well.
| values_culture_and_character.pdf |
How I stopped 'dealing' with parents
This is an interesting article from a coach of a youth girls basketball team that explains an exercise and approach they did with the parents of their team at the first meeting of the season. The idea was to get more insight as to what they wanted for their kids from the season and what kind of an experience they as parents were expecting. The goal was to understand and hopefully be more in tune or in line with the parents and to understand the 'Why', or the bigger picture of their involvement with the sport and the team. It may help to give ideas on how you can possibly get more insight to the expectations of the parents and players and understand more about what the parents are expecting of you as a coach.
| dealing_with_parents.pdf |
Parents Responsible for Team Success
This is an interesting article aimed at parents and how they can think of and be supportive for the team's success. Feel free to use this and share with the parents of your team if you chose.
| parentsresponsibleforteamsuccess.pdf |