Ask Dan Question & Answer

(An index of subjects covered on the Q & A page of the web site,

 the Newsletters, and Dan and Jay's books  can be found on the

 Index of Subjects page)

Question #41:
Dan: As a coach how do you correct a team's bad habits of taking too many penaltys each game? My Pee Wee team takes 10-15 per game and most of them are bad penalties. Mike

Dan Replies:
Dear Mike: You have two tools to handle too many penalties. They are that most kids want to win and most kids want to play. The correlation between too many penalties and losing should correct the situation by itself if it's pointed out, that is: "we were tied, we took an unnecessary penalty, they scored, we lost. It would be more fun to win, therefore, don't take unnecessary penalties". This won't give you any comfort, but I think every coach in the NHL could empathize with you from time to time as it isn't only in PeeWees that that correlation is lost.

If unnecessary penalties continue, you can make the offending player (and if he is a slow learner, perhaps his linemates as well) take a seat for an additional two minutes for each offense. You need to make that clear in advance and I suggest including your player's parents in the notification. One game of warning ("that's the kind of unnecessary penalty for which you will sit out for an additional two minutes next game") to make your point clear, then if it continues, bring the hammer down. The lack of ice time and if it continues, the pressure from the offending player's linemates who also sit, should be enough to bring the message home.

I am willing to be firm on this because it's not fair for one player to lose his precious ice time, or to have to play short handed, or lose because of another player's inconsideration - in that order of importance.

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