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When Coaches Check In With Players At Practice, It Makes Them Feel Valued

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Brad Frost is the Head Coach for the University of Minnesota Women's Ice Hockey (@GopherWHockey) team. The Bethel University graduate has guided the Gophers to four NCAA national championships, six NCAA Frozen Four appearances, five WCHA regular season titles and three WCHA Final Face-Off championships. Frost concluded the 2015-16 season with a career record of 293-45-22 (.844) and has not had a team finish lower than second in the WCHA.

Touch points, according to Frost, are an invaluable method to make sure no player goes without attention throughout practice. Frost advises coaches to find a way check-in with each player at practice every day. By check-in, Frost urges coaches to talk to players about their day, their family, and other things that may matter to them. By doing this, your players will notice that you care, and each player will feel valued throughout a season at each practice. Often coaches talk to the team as a group and maybe select individuals, but the one on one check in is particularly valuable in helping kids know they matter to a coach as more than just a player, but as a person.